Senator Bernie Sanders has officially endorsed Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani in the race for New York City mayor, amplifying momentum for the progressive candidate as he takes on former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the upcoming Democratic primary on June 24.
Sanders, known for championing progressive causes, praised Mamdani’s platform of affordable housing and fare-free public transit funded through taxes on corporations and the wealthy. He called the campaign a model of grassroots organizing and said the city needs leadership that breaks from establishment politics.
The endorsement aligns Sanders with other prominent progressives backing Mamdani, including Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velázquez. Ocasio-Cortez appeared alongside Mamdani at a recent Manhattan rally, which drew a large crowd. Velázquez endorsed him earlier this week, adding institutional weight to his campaign.
Mamdani acknowledged Sanders’s support in a post on X, calling the senator “the most influential political figure” in his life. He pledged to follow that example by championing working-class New Yorkers and representing his Brooklyn roots with pride.
The race will use ranked-choice voting, giving voters the option to rank up to five candidates. Mamdani has joined forces with City Comptroller Brad Lander and former Assemblymember Michael Blake, encouraging mutual second-choice support to broaden their appeal.
With early voting underway through June 22, Mamdani’s campaign is relying on a network of volunteers and community organizers to match Cuomo’s name recognition and media presence in the final days of the race.
