AOC, Bernie rally for Zohran Mamdani as early voting begins in NYC mayor race

NEW YORK – Progressive stars Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, DY and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., joins New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for a “New York is not for sale” rally Sunday night at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York City.

The high-profile campaign event took place about a week before Election Day, when New Yorkers head to the polls for the first weekend of early voting, ending a contentious mayoral battle in which Mamdani’s unexpected success put her on the national stage.

“Zohran Mamdani models a different kind of politics,” Sanders, the former Democratic presidential candidate and longtime progressive leader, said in a statement before the rally.

The trio, who describe themselves as Democratic socialists, have galvanized the Democratic Party’s progressive base at a time when Democrats are still grappling with devastating losses in 2024 amid growing discontent with President Donald Trump’s sweeping second-term agenda.

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When Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez teamed up for a “Fighting the Oligarchy” tour earlier this year, they caused a stir and fueled thousands of Democrats left without a clear party leader to rallies across the United States.

BERNIE SANDERS AND ZOHRAN MAMDANI ARE TEAMING UP TO ‘FIGHT THE OLIGARCHY’ IN NYC

“As mayor, he will not run a top-down, billionaire-financed, consultant-driven administration. Instead, Zohran will be a champion for the working people of New York,” Sanders said.

Both Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez campaigned with Mamdani in her bid to lead the nation’s most populous city.

On Friday night, Sanders participated in a virtual “Get Out the Vote” event with Mamdani. Last month, Sanders and Mamdani met in Brooklyn for a town hall on the “Oligarchic Struggle.”

New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani answers questions from reporters after the final debate ahead of Election Day, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)

Ahead of the Brooklyn town hall event, two progressive leaders marched with union members in the Labor Day parade in Manhattan. Mamdani that afternoon posed for the photo Featuring Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez in Astoria, Queens, garnered millions of views.

Sanders, a two-time Democratic presidential candidate, was an early supporter of Mamdani’s primary campaign, along with Ocasio-Cortez. Their endorsements helped Mamdani consolidate progressive support in the 11-candidate field in the final weeks of the primary race.

Mamdani’s primary upset triggered a political earthquake as the democratic socialist easily defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was expected to secure the Democratic nomination.

Mamdani’s cross-endorsement with progressive New York City Comptroller Brad Lander paved the way for Mamdani to solidify her support against Cuomo through ranked-choice voting.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, DY, greet the crowd together during the “Oligarchic Struggle” tour event at Arizona State University on Thursday, March 20, 2025 in Tempe, Arizona. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

Cuomo has since launched an independent campaign, setting off a competitive and contentious general election battle.

Since Mamdani won the Democratic nomination, Trump has thrust Mamdani onto the national political stage, labeling her as “100% Communist Crazy” and “my little communist.” Mamdani rejected the name, arguing that it identified her as a democratic socialist like Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez.

When Trump began criticizing Mamdani, New York Democrats chose to withdraw their support for the socialist candidate, who had made a series of ambitious campaign promises, including fast and free buses, city-run grocery stores, and free child care; He plans to pay for it all by increasing taxes on corporations and the top 1% of New Yorkers.

After withholding her endorsement for months, Gov. Kathy Hochul finally endorsed Mamdani last month, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries finally confirmed his support in a statement Friday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has yet to approve the proposal.

Supporters of Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani gather outside 30 Rock in New York City on Thursday, October 16, 2025. (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)

Since Mamdani won the Democratic primary in June, pressure had been mounting for Mayor Eric Adams, who is also running as an independent, or for Cuomo to drop out of the race to shore up support against Mamdani. Adams dropped out of the race on Thursday and endorsed Cuomo.

That pressure reached boiling point last week, when billionaires including Red Apple Media CEO John Catsimatidis and hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman called on Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa to drop out of the race to clear the path to victory for Cuomo.

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The latest Fox News poll, conducted Oct. 10-14 ahead of last week’s first general election debate, found Mamdani with a significant lead in the race. According to the poll, Mamdani has a 21-point lead among registered voters in New York City; 49% of voters support Mamdani, while 28% support Cuomo and 13% support Sliwa.

Mamdani also garnered 52% support among likely voters, above the 50% threshold, while Cuomo received 28% support and Sliwa received only 14%.