Sanders endorses socialist Mamdani in move to block Cuomo in NYC mayoral race

Rising antiauthoritarian socialist New York City mayoral campaigner Zohran Mamdani has secured the backing of 1 of the astir influential figures connected the American Left arsenic helium looks to borderline retired erstwhile Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the Democratic nomination.

Mamdani, 33, a New York authorities assembly member, connected Tuesday secured the backing of erstwhile statesmanlike campaigner Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

It’s a large boost for Mamdani, who has besides scored the endorsement of progressive firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., thereby locking successful the 2 astir salient nationalist figures of the Left. Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders took portion successful a nationwide "Fighting Oligarchy Tour" earlier this twelvemonth which tapped into discontent with President Donald Trump and sought to energize the antiauthoritarian socialist question portion advocating for policies akin to Mamdani.  

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has endorsed Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor, praising his grassroots run arsenic progressives effort to unite down a azygous campaigner against mean Andrew Cuomo. (Joe Maher/Getty Images For Fane; Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo/Bloomberg)

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"We request a caller authorities and caller enactment which is prepared to basal up to almighty firm interests and combat for the moving class," Sanders said successful a statement, according to respective reports. 

"Zohran Mamdani is moving an inspirational grassroots campaign, centered connected the operation of 200,000 caller affordable lodging units, a rent freeze, escaped nationalist buses, cutting fines and fees for tiny businesses, investing successful citywide intelligence wellness services, city-owned market stores, cosmopolitan escaped childcare and a minimum wage increase."

Sanders besides said that Mamdani volition wage for his docket by taxing the richest 1% of New Yorkers, and said that his run is being funded mostly done small-dollar donations, "unlike the firm Democratic establishment," successful a excavation astatine Cuomo.

Mamdani has been rising successful the astir caller nationalist sentiment polls successful the mayoral superior contention and is present a wide 2nd to the much mean erstwhile governor.

"At this unsafe infinitesimal successful history, presumption quo authorities isn’t bully enough," Sanders, who was calved successful Brooklyn, wrote connected X connected Tuesday, sharing a Mamdani station astir his endorsement. "We request caller enactment that is prepared to basal up to almighty firm interests and combat for the moving class."

Zohran Mamdani, a New York State Assemblyman and mayoral campaigner for New York City, speaks astatine a rally held by the Working Families Party to knock the Trump administration, aft ICE agents arrested Ras Baraka, politician of Newark and New Jersey Democratic campaigner for governor, astatine Foley Square successful New York, New York, U.S., May 10, 2025. (REUTERS/Bing Guan)

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Mamdani, who was calved successful Uganda and moved to the U.S. erstwhile helium was 7, gushed implicit the endorsement successful his post.

"As for truthful galore crossed this country, @BernieSanders has been the azygous astir influential governmental fig successful my life," Mamdani wrote. "As mayor, I volition strive to unrecorded up to his illustration by warring for the moving people each time and hopefully marque Brooklyn’s ain proud."

Mamdani has scored the endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. The brace are pictured astatine a halt connected the "Fighting Oligarchy" circuit astatine the Dignity Health Arena, Theater successful Bakersfield, California, connected April 15, 2025. (REUTERS/Aude Guerrucci)

With aggregate progressive candidates successful the superior race, the endorsement of Mamdani by Sanders seeks to unite fractured progressive voters towards a azygous campaigner successful an effort to artifact the much mean Cuomo from returning to power. 

New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and authorities Sen. Jessica Ramos are among the progressives inactive successful the race. Ramos has adjacent endorsed Cuomo portion staying successful the contention herself. 

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Four years ago, New York City's progressives failed to unite down a azygous candidate, which paved the mode for now-Mayor Eric Adams, a mean Democrat, to triumph the superior and yet the wide election. Adams announced successful aboriginal April that helium would tally for re-election arsenic an autarkic campaigner alternatively than question the Democratic Party nomination.

Andrew Cuomo, New York City mayoral candidate, is seen during a Democratic mayoral superior statement successful New York connected June 4, 2025. (Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Early voting kicked disconnected connected Saturday, with Election Day being connected June 24.

Sanders was archetypal elected to the House of Representatives successful 1991, serving for 16 years earlier being elected to the Senate.

Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.