Bernie Sanders Slams Democrats Over Refusal to Back Zohran Mamdani

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is urging Democratic leaders in New York to support Zohran Mamdani in the upcoming mayoral race, warning that the party is in a “fight for the future” as leadership distances itself from the progressive candidate, as reported by Fox News.

Speaking at his “Fighting Oligarchy” town hall at Brooklyn College on Saturday, Sanders criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for declining to endorse Mamdani.

“I find it hard to understand how the major Democratic leaders in New York State are not supporting the Democratic candidate,” Sanders said.

“One might think that if a candidate starting 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. This is our guy!”

Sanders added that the refusal to back Mamdani highlights larger issues within the party. “We got another fight on our hands, and that is the future of the Democratic Party,” he said.

Mamdani, who secured the Democratic nomination earlier this year, faces competition from independent candidates former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, as well as Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.

Hochul’s office responded to Sanders’ remarks by citing her recent comments on Fox News Sunday.

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“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. I vote in Buffalo, New York, just for the record. I’m not a New York City — I’m here part-time. But listen, it is up to the voters and there should not be outside influences on this decision from the White House on down. Let the voters of New York decide,” Hochul said.

The governor added that whoever wins the race must work with her administration to protect the Jewish community and ensure affordability and public safety for businesses. Schumer and Jeffries did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The event also drew detractors. At one point, a protester shouted “You are a communist!” at Mamdani while he addressed the audience. President Donald Trump has previously described Mamdani as a “100% communist lunatic” following his primary win in June.

Ahead of the Brooklyn town hall, Sanders and Mamdani joined union members at Manhattan’s Labor Day parade. Later that day, Mamdani appeared in a widely shared photo with Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) in Astoria.

The post garnered more than six million views on X by Monday morning.

Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez were early endorsers of Mamdani’s candidacy, helping him consolidate progressive support in a crowded primary field of 11 candidates.

Mamdani’s campaign platform includes policies such as rent freezes, city-run grocery stores, free public buses, and an increased minimum wage funded through higher taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals.

The New York City mayoral race is scheduled for later this year.

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