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

NEW YORK – Progressive Stars Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., teamed up with New York Metropolis mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for a “New York will not be on the market” rally at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York Metropolis, on Sunday night.

The high-profile marketing campaign occasion passed off almost every week earlier than Election Day, as New Yorkers head to the polls for the primary weekend of early voting, capping a contentious mayoral race through which Mamdani’s sudden success has put him on the nationwide stage.

“Zohran Mamdani is a mannequin for a distinct form of politics,” Sanders, the previous Democratic presidential candidate and longtime progressive chief, mentioned in a press release forward of the assembly.

And when Mamdani took the stage earlier than the energetic crowd in New York Metropolis, the mayoral candidate thanked Sanders and admitted that he was there as a result of “the senator dared to face alone for thus lengthy.”

BERNIE SANDERS RIPS DEM LEADERS FOR SNOBBING MAMDANI IN MAYORAL RACE: ‘THIS IS OUR MAN!’

New York Metropolis mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks throughout a marketing campaign rally at Forest Hills Stadium within the Queens borough of New York Metropolis on October 26, 2025. (Angela Weiss/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

“I converse the language of democratic socialism solely as a result of he spoke it first,” Mamdani mentioned as the gang joined him in declaring, “New York will not be on the market.”

The trio of self-described democratic socialists have strengthened the Democratic Social gathering’s progressive base at a time when Democrats are nonetheless grappling with devastating 2024 losses amid rising dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump’s sweeping second-term agenda.

When Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez teamed up for the “Preventing Oligarchy” tour earlier this yr, they induced a stir, firing up 1000’s of Democrats at rallies throughout the USA who had been left with out a clear social gathering chief.

BERNIE SANDERS AND ZOHRAN MAMDANI TOGETHER AGAINST ‘OLIGARCHY’ IN NYC

“As mayor, he won’t lead a top-down, billionaire-funded, consultant-driven authorities. As a substitute, Zohran might be a champion for New York’s working individuals,” Sanders mentioned.

Each Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez have campaigned alongside Mamdani in his bid to steer the nation’s most populous metropolis and ignited the Queens crowd on Sunday evening.

Ocasio-Cortez, talking earlier than Sanders and Mamdani, mentioned New York Metropolis will ship a message to Trump on Nov. 4 that “his authoritarianism right here will not be good.”

“That we’re all right here, at this second, throughout this time, isn’t any coincidence, and additionally it is no coincidence that each of the visionary forces Zohran faces on this race are a mirrored image of what we face nationally: each an authoritarian felony presidency fueled by corruption and bigotry and a rising right-wing extremist motion,” Ocasio-Cortez mentioned.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., speaks on the podium throughout a marketing campaign rally for New York Metropolis mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani at Forest Hills Stadium within the Queens borough of New York Metropolis on October 26, 2025. (Photograph by ANGELA WEISS/AFP) (Photograph by ANGELA WEISS/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

Ocasio-Cortez mentioned former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who’s working as an unbiased, displays a “renegade, bygone political institution,” and accused him of being blinded in his “pursuit of energy.”

“At a time when Individuals are extraordinarily involved about the place we’re as a nation, economically and politically, a victory right here in New York will give hope and inspiration to individuals throughout our nation, around the globe. That is what this election is about, and that is why Donald Trump is taking note of this election,” Sanders added.

A slew of state and native leaders additionally attended the assembly, together with Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., who endorsed Mamdani final month and has campaigned for him since.

Hochul was heckled a number of instances throughout her remarks by attendees, who chanted, “Tax the wealthy!”

Mamdani’s plan to lift taxes on firms and the highest 1% of New Yorkers to pay for his marketing campaign guarantees, resembling free baby care, free buses and city-run grocery shops, would wish Hochul’s approval, and the governor has dominated out a rise in taxes.

“I hear you,” Hochul responded because the stadium erupted with pleas to “tax the wealthy!”

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani maintain arms in the course of the “Preventing Oligarchy” occasion at City Corridor at Brooklyn School on September 6, 2025. (Angela Weiss/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

On Friday night, Sanders appeared for a digital “Get Out the Vote” occasion with Mamdani. Final month, Sanders and Mamdani teamed up for a “Preventing Oligarchy” city corridor in Brooklyn.

Earlier than the occasion at Metropolis Corridor in Brooklyn, the 2 progressive leaders marched alongside union members within the Labor Day parade in Manhattan. That afternoon, Mamdani posed for a photograph with Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez in Astoria, Queens, with tens of millions of views.

Sanders, a two-time runner-up for the Democratic presidential nominee, was an early supporter of Mamdani’s main marketing campaign, together with Ocasio-Cortez. Their endorsements helped Mamdani consolidate progressive help within the 11-candidate area in the course of the ultimate weeks of the primaries.

Mamdani’s major upset induced a political earthquake when the democratic socialist handily defeated Cuomo, who was extensively anticipated to safe the Democratic nomination.

Mamdani’s cross-affirmation with fellow progressive New York Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander paved the best way for Mamdani to consolidate help towards Cuomo via ranked alternative voting.

Senator Bernie Sanders and Consultant Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez greet the gang collectively throughout a “Preventing Oligarchy” tour occasion at Arizona State College, March 20, 2025, in Tempe. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

Cuomo has since launched an unbiased marketing campaign, starting a aggressive and contentious election battle.

Since Mamdani secured the Democratic nomination, Trump has labeled him a “100% communist lunatic” and “my little communist,” launching Mamdani onto the nationwide political stage. Mamdani has rejected the title, claiming he identifies as a democratic socialist, like Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez.

When Trump started criticizing Mamdani, New York Democrats selected to withhold their help for the socialist candidate, who has made a slew of bold marketing campaign guarantees resembling quick and free buses, city-run supermarkets and free baby care, all of which he plans to pay for by elevating taxes on firms and the highest 1% of New Yorkers.

After months of withholding their approval, Hochul endorsed Mamdani final month, and Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries lastly reaffirmed his help in a press release on Friday. Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer should nonetheless approve the invoice.

Supporters of Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani collect exterior 30 Rock in New York Metropolis on October 16, 2025. (Fox Information Digital/Deirdre Heavey)

Since Mamdani gained the Democratic main in June, stress had elevated on Mayor Eric Adams, who was additionally working as an unbiased candidate, or Cuomo to drop out of the race to consolidate help towards Mamdani. Adams dropped out Thursday and endorsed Cuomo.

That stress reached a boiling level final week when billionaires together with Pink Apple Media CEO John Catsimatidis and hedge fund CEO Invoice Ackman known as on Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa to drop out of the race to clear the trail to victory for Cuomo.

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The newest Fox Information ballot, carried out Oct. 10-14 forward of final week’s first basic election debate, confirmed Mamdani with a considerable lead within the race. In line with the ballot, Mamdani has a 21-point lead amongst New York Metropolis registered voters, with 49% of voters backing Mamdani, whereas 28% go for Cuomo and 13% go for Sliwa.

Mamdani additionally rose above the 50% threshold amongst seemingly voters, receiving 52% help, whereas Cuomo took 28% and Sliwa solely 14%.