Sen. Bernie Sanders on Saturday sharply criticized top New York Democratic leaders for declining to endorse Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race, saying the party risks a broader fight over its future if it does not rally behind the progressive nominee.
Speaking at a "Fighting Oligarchy" town hall with Mamdani at Brooklyn College, Sanders, I-Vt., said he could not "understand how the major Democratic leaders in New York State are not supporting the Democratic candidate." "This is our guy!" Sanders told the crowd, arguing that Mamdani's volunteer turnout and ability to mobilize young and nontraditional voters merited party backing.
Sanders, an early endorser of Mamdani's primary bid, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who also backed the candidate, helped consolidate progressive support that propelled Mamdani to a surprise Democratic primary victory in June. The senator and Ocasio-Cortez have been touring under the "Fighting Oligarchy" banner this year, seeking to energize Democrats after significant 2024 losses.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, when asked about Sanders' public urging, told Fox News Sunday that she believes voters should decide and that there should be no outside influence from the White House downward. "There's been so much speculation about what I'm going to do. I think the bigger question is what the voters of New York want to do," Hochul said, adding that she votes in Buffalo and is "not a New York City— I'm here part-time." Her office later reiterated her focus on public safety and protecting the Jewish community regardless of who wins the mayoralty. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Mamdani, a Brooklyn native, is competing in a crowded, high-profile general election. He faces independent challengers including former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, as well as Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. The general election has drawn national attention, in part because of Mamdani's progressive policy platform, which includes proposals such as rent freezes, city-run grocery stores, free buses and raising the minimum wage, funded through higher taxes on corporations and the wealthiest residents.
The town hall included visible signs of both support and opposition. A protester shouted at Mamdani, calling him a communist during his remarks. President Donald Trump has described Mamdani as a "100% communist lunatic" since the primary. Sanders and Mamdani also participated in Labor Day events earlier in the weekend, marching with union members in Manhattan before posing for a widely shared photograph with Ocasio-Cortez in Astoria that amassed millions of views on X.
Sanders framed his comments Saturday as part of a larger struggle over the direction of the Democratic Party. "We got another fight on our hands, and that is the future of the Democratic Party," he said, pointing to the energy Mamdani brought to the primary from volunteers and younger voters. Supporters and organizers on stage highlighted the campaign's grassroots organizing, which Sanders said included tens of thousands of volunteers.
Campaigns for Mamdani and for his rivals have sought to capitalize on differing constituencies and institutional relationships across the city and the state. Analysts have noted that endorsements from prominent statewide and national figures can shape donor behavior and volunteer networks, but have not necessarily predicted electoral outcomes in the fractious and closely watched New York mayoral contest.
Mamdani's proposals and his backing by progressive figures have reignited debates within the Democratic Party about ideological direction and electability. His primary victory in June marked a shift toward a more progressive nominee in a major American city, and the general election will test whether that coalition can broaden its base against challengers with substantial name recognition and institutional support.
As the campaign continues, party leaders and elected officials remain divided over endorsements and strategy, and voters will decide among a three-way field that includes a former governor, a sitting mayor running as an independent, a progressive Democrat and a Republican hopeful. The outcome could influence conversations about the Democratic Party's approach to urban policy and coalition-building ahead of future statewide and national contests.
