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Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont chastised New York’s Democratic party leaders Saturday night for not endorsing Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race — despite the nominee’s clear popularity with city voters.
“I find it hard to understand how the major Democratic leaders of New York state are not supporting the Democratic candidate,” Sanders said during a rally with Mamdani — a stop on the progressive leader’s “Fighting Oligarchy” tour.
The senator didn’t name names but his attack was likely aimed at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Gov. Kathy Hochul — moderate New York Democrats who have yet to publicly back Mamdani even after his 12-point win over Andrew Cuomo in the June Democratic primary.
Sanders suggested if any other Democrat had that kind of success, party leaders would be lining up to support them.
“If a candidate started at 2% in the polls, gets 50,000 volunteers, creates enormous excitement, gets young people involved in the political process, gets nontraditional voters to vote, Democratic leaders would be jumping up and down,” Sanders said.
Mamdani’s success with voters seemed to exacerbate a schism between progressives like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and moderates like Schumer and Jeffries — who were leading the party during its total electoral defeat last year.
Their relative silence on Mamdani also comes amid reports that President Donald Trump and business leaders such as hedge fund manager Bill Ackman have sought to narrow the field of candidates and consolidate the anti-Mamdani vote behind Andrew Cuomo, the former governor who is running as an independent after losing the Democratic nomination.
Mamdani has faced withering criticism for his stance in support of Palestinians, past statements he’s made in support of defunding the police, and his relative inexperience. The 33-year old nominee served only one term in the state Assembly before running for mayor.
His platform for mayor, however, has been less controversial. Mamdani has proposed creating more city-run grocery stores, free buses, free child care and a rent freeze for rent-stabilized tenants. He’s said police play a “crucial role” in public safety but proposed a new city agency to provide a “whole government” response to drivers of violence, such as poverty and lack of mental health care.
Sanders said the wealthy donors trying to prop up Cuomo were concerned primarily with their bottom line.
“What are these people, these oligarchs afraid of?” Sanders said. “Mr. Mamdani becoming an example of what could happen all over this country.”
Mamdani cast his candidacy as an affirmation of democracy.
“This is a city where we will choose our own mayor,” he said. “It’s not going to be Donald Trump. It’s not going to be Bill Ackman. It’s not going to be DoorDash. We will choose our mayor.”
The rally came at a moment of high drama in the city mayoral race.
Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams insisted on Friday that he would remain in the race following rumors that he would drop his independent re-election bid in exchange for a job with the Trump administration.
“I am in this race and I’m the only one that can beat Mamdani,” Adams said on Friday.
Cuomo accused Mamdani of being a “terrorist sympathizer” on Saturday and said Republicans want him to win so Trump can take over New York City.
He spoke during a Labor Day parade in Midtown where Mamdani and Sanders marched together along with other politicians, including Hochul. The parade’s sponsor, the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, is among a number of labor unions that have backed Mamdani.
Sanders endorsed Mamdani, a fellow democratic socialist, shortly before June’s Democratic mayoral primary, throwing his clout behind a campaign that many considered a longshot at the time.
Mamdani is the front-runner according to the latest polling, trailed by Cuomo, Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa and Adams.
The town hall took place in a packed venue at Brooklyn College, Sanders’ alma mater. When Mamdani asked attendees if they’d canvassed for him, a sea of hands shot up from the crowd.
“These are my two favorite politicians in one,” said Griffin Foote, a 19-year-old Brooklyn College student. “So I was like oh my God, I have to go.”
Some attendees said they wished the Democratic Party would follow Sanders’ and Mamdani’s lead, and embrace the pairs’ messaging.
Kat Rodrigues, 31, said she was disappointed that some top Democrats had refused to endorse Mamdani.
“The Democratic Party has a long way to go,” said Rodrigues, a special education teacher from Astoria. “What happened to vote blue no matter who?”
When Sanders and Mamdani mentioned Cuomo, the crowd repeatedly booed.
The pair both emphasized the amount of money they expected Mamdani’s rivals to spend in their effort to defeat him.
“We will face the kind of opposition that we have not yet seen in this city,” Mamdani said.
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Arya Sundaram
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