New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has gained significant momentum in the closing weeks of the race, energized by strong endorsements from prominent progressive figures including U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. At a lively rally held in Queens, Mamdani portrayed his campaign not simply as a bid for office but as a broad-based “movement of the masses” aimed at challenging entrenched wealth and power in the city.
Mamdani, the Democratic nominee and a 34-year-old state assemblymember, addressed a packed small stadium where he and his influential backers criticized the billionaire class and so-called “oligarchs” who have financially supported his opponents. Emphasizing inclusivity, Mamdani urged supporters to build a diverse coalition that represents all New Yorkers, declaring, “When you insist on building a coalition with room for every New Yorker, that is exactly what you create: a tremendous force.” His message was met with enthusiastic chants from the crowd, underscoring the grassroots energy behind his candidacy.
Throughout his speech, Mamdani outlined a progressive policy agenda focused on key issues affecting everyday New Yorkers. He promised to hire thousands of new teachers to alleviate overcrowded classrooms and improve education quality. He also pledged to renegotiate city contracts to ensure fairer terms, freeze rent for low-income residents to combat housing insecurity, increase the supply of affordable housing, and implement universal child care. These proposals reflect Mamdani’s democratic socialist platform aimed at reducing inequality and expanding social services in the city.
The mayoral race has grown increasingly contentious as it approaches the November 4 election, with early voting already underway. Mamdani faces stiff competition from former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani in June, as well as Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, who campaigned in Queens the same day. Cuomo has sought to undermine Mamdani by portraying him as inexperienced and warning that his democratic socialist platform would drive residents and businesses out of New York City.
In a radio interview on the morning of the rally, Cuomo claimed that he remains the true Democrat in the race, accusing Mamdani and his supporters, including Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, of attempting to take over the Democratic Party. Cuomo warned voters to prepare for a mass exodus to Florida if Mamdani wins, stating, “The socialists want to take over the Democratic Party. That’s what Bernie Sanders is all about. That’s what AOC is all about... He wins, book airline tickets for Florida now.” Cuomo’s campaign continues to leverage concerns about Mamdani’s progressive agenda as a potential threat to the city’s economic stability.
Cuomo’s political career has been marred by controversy; he resigned as governor in 2021 amid numerous sexual harassment allegations, which he has denied. Mamdani has repeatedly confronted Cuomo over these allegations, and at the Queens rally, he urged supporters to reject the “playbook of the past” associated with the former governor. Despite leading in some polls, Mamdani cautioned the crowd against complacency, emphasizing the importance of high voter turnout to secure victory. “We cannot allow complacency to infiltrate this movement,” he said, underscoring the competitive nature of the race.
Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez have been vocal supporters of Mamdani since before the Democratic primary, lending their national profiles and progressive credibility to his campaign. At the rally, both framed Mamdani’s potential victory as a beacon of hope against what they described as the authoritarian tendencies of the Trump administration and the rising threat of right-wing extremism.
Ocasio-Cortez, whose congressional district includes Queens, highlighted the national significance of Mamdani’s candidacy. She noted that the forces opposing him in New York mirror broader struggles across the country, including an “authoritarian, criminal presidency fueled by corruption and bigotry” alongside a growing right-wing extremist movement. For Ocasio-Cortez, Mamdani’s success would send a powerful message that progressive politics can triumph on a large stage.
Senator Sanders echoed this sentiment, portraying Mamdani as a candidate who stands with working families rather than the billionaire elite. “In the year 2025, when the people on top have never, ever had so much economic and political power, is it possible for ordinary people, for working class people, to