Progressive capitalist rallies for democratic socialist NYC mayoral candidate

JAMAICA, QUEENS – Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., is a “progressive capitalist,” but ahead of New York City’s highly anticipated Election Day, the Silicon Valley congresswoman rallied for self-described democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani.

As a broad coalition of Mamdani supporters gathered at Major Mark Park in Queens on Saturday, a socialist and a capitalist, both of Indian descent, found common ground despite the Democratic Party’s looming identity crisis.

Speaking to Fox News Digital after the rally, Khanna said, “My vision is economic patriotism” and explained that he wants to “build a broad FDR-Obama-like coalition” to overhaul the US economy. “I think we need to be a large tent.”

Khanna said he is one of “probably a small number” of Democrats campaigning for the Democratic nominee in all three major races this election cycle, as well as gubernatorial candidates who are on the campaign trail in their states this year, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D.N.J. and former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., said she agreed.

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“When I was growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, if you had asked me if an Indian American of Hindu faith representing Silicon Valley would be introduced, an African-born Indian of Muslim faith to be the next mayor of New York, I would have told you only in a Mira Nair movie, but it happens,” Khanna told the crowd, referring to Mamdani’s filmmaker mother. he said.

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Those rallying in Queens included coalitions of New Yorkers of Afghan, Muslim, Pakistani and Bangladeshi descent, as well as local elected officials, including former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-D.Y.), who lost the Democratic primary to a more moderate opponent last year.

Speakers at Saturday’s rally and launch denounced Islamophobia after Mamdani criticized his rivals in the mayoral race last week; these included former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, an Independent candidate, Curtis Sliwa, a Republican candidate, and Mayor Erics Adams, who suspended his re-election campaign and endorsed Cuomo for what he claimed was “Islamophobic rhetoric.”

Mamdani asked the assembled New Yorkers to raise their hands if they are called terrorists, if employers “squash” their names, or if they are made to feel “less than” because of who you are.

“On Tuesday, we are not only saying goodbye to a disgraced former governor, we are also saying goodbye to the politics of this disgrace,” Mamdani said. he said.

But just minutes earlier, a protester interrupted Mamdani’s remarks and chastised the leading mayoral candidate for refusing to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” widely considered a call for violence against Jews. Mamdani said he would discourage others from using the phrase but was reluctant to condemn it.

“You’re a communist!” The protester shouted from the press pen as Mamdani continued speaking and the crowd booed her.

“This is not Cuba! This is not Venezuela!” a protester wearing a shirt bearing a Cuban flag shouted.

Finally, the police officers yelled at him, “Damn you, Zohran!” He was taken out of the rally while shouting.

President Donald Trump labeled Mamdani “100% Communist Crazy” and “My little communist”; Mamdani rejected this nickname.

Mamdani’s ambitious campaign agenda includes fast and free buses, city-run grocery stores and free child care; He plans to pay for this by increasing taxes on corporations and the richest 1% of New Yorkers.

New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul hold hands on stage while attending the “New York Is Not For Sale” rally at Forest Hills Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City on October 26, 2025. (Reuters/Eduardo Munoz)

Pressed by Mamdani supporters about “taxing the rich” during last Sunday’s rally, New York Governor Kathy Hochul rejected the tax increase, despite supporting Mamdani’s mayoral campaign.

Following Saturday’s rally and promotional launch, Khanna told Fox News Digital that Hochul “should be taxing billionaires.”

“What’s wrong with taxing that wealth to pay for child care?” Khanna questioned Elon Musk, explaining that a 10% “trillionaire tax” he said he was keen on could pay for universal child care in the United States.

“I don’t understand why you don’t agree with the basic wealth tax,” Khanna added.

Mamdani’s mayoral campaign revealed division within the Democratic Party, as New York Democrats were reluctant to endorse his democratic socialist agenda.

A Zohran Mamdani supporter holds a “Freeze the Rent” banner at the canvas launch in Hells Kitchen on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in New York City. (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)

After months of withholding support, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries finally endorsed Mamdani last week. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has yet to endorse Mamdani, with days remaining in the race.

As the Democratic Party grapples with more or less losses in the 2024 elections, a new report released this week urged Democrats to soften their positions.

The report was released on the heels of a trio of self-described democratic socialists — Mamdani, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, DY, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. – Joining forces to bring together more than 10,000 New York City voters at Forest Hills Stadium last Sunday.

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When asked about the value of forming a coalition with Mamdani despite Khanna rejecting socialism and describing himself as a “progressive capitalist,” he told Fox News Digital that the real challenge is the “wealth divide.”

“People can’t afford the rent,” Khanna said. “People can’t afford child care. SNAP is being cut. I stand for more wealth than ever before, and I say you can tax billionaires so people can have health care and education. We can have a vision of how to create high-paying jobs, not just here in Queens, but in rural America, in the factory cities of this country.”

Fox News Digital’s Olivia Palombo contributed to this report.