Bernie Sanders Endorses Fellow Socialist and Controversial NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani

Bernie Sanders just endorsed the most radical mayoral candidate in New York City’s history, a self-proclaimed socialist who wants taxpayers to fund city-owned grocery stores and implement a massive rent freeze across the five boroughs.

Key Points

Bernie Sanders endorsed 33-year-old Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani for NYC mayor, marking his first involvement in the city’s mayoral primary since 2017
Mamdani’s far-left agenda includes city-owned grocery stores, universal free childcare, 200,000 new “affordable” housing units, rent freezes, and free public buses
He plans to fund his socialist wish list by raising taxes on corporations and the wealthiest 1% of New Yorkers
The New York Times Editorial Board warns against voting for Mamdani, citing his lack of experience and comparing his agenda to “a turbocharged version of de Blasio’s dismaying mayoralty”

Sanders Throws Weight Behind Inexperienced Socialist

In a move that should surprise absolutely no one, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has officially endorsed the most radical candidate in New York City’s mayoral race. Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist from Queens with minimal governing experience, now has the backing of America’s most famous socialist. This endorsement comes as Mamdani attempts to close the gap with frontrunner Andrew Cuomo, who apparently hasn’t learned his lesson about pursuing political power after his scandalous exit as governor.

Sanders’ endorsement is clearly intended to energize the far-left base in New York City. “We need a new politics and new leadership which is prepared to stand up to powerful corporate interests and fight for the working class,” Sanders declared, using his standard talking points about corporate interests while conveniently ignoring the economic devastation similar policies have brought to other major cities. This marks Sanders’ first endorsement in a NYC mayoral primary since supporting Bill de Blasio’s disastrous re-election campaign in 2017.

I’m not surprised! Sanders never represented us! https://t.co/xhbI5LtRFS

— Anat Alon – Beck (@anatalonbeck) June 17, 2025

A Socialist Wish List That Will Bankrupt New York

Mamdani’s campaign platform reads like a college freshman’s first attempt at economic theory after skimming through “Das Kapital.” He’s promising 200,000 new “affordable” housing units, citywide rent freezes, free public transportation, reduced fines for small businesses, expanded mental health services, city-owned grocery stores, universal free childcare, and minimum wage increases. It’s a Santa Claus list of government handouts that would make even AOC blush – which explains why she’s endorsed him too.

“Zohran Mamdani is running an inspirational grassroots campaign, centered on the construction of 200,000 new affordable housing units, a rent freeze, free public buses, cutting fines and fees for small businesses, investing in citywide mental health services, city-owned grocery stores, universal free childcare and a minimum wage increase. He will pay for this agenda by asking corporations and the richest 1% of New Yorkers to pay their fair share in taxes.” – Bernie Sanders

The most revealing part of Mamdani’s platform is how he plans to pay for this socialist utopia: by “asking corporations and the richest 1% of New Yorkers to pay their fair share in taxes.” Translation: massive tax hikes that will accelerate the exodus of businesses and wealthy taxpayers from New York City, further eroding the tax base needed to fund basic city services. But why bother with economic reality when you can promise voters free stuff paid for by someone else?

Even The New York Times Is Sounding The Alarm

When even the left-leaning New York Times Editorial Board is warning voters against Mamdani, you know he’s dangerously extreme. In a surprising moment of clarity, the Times explicitly advised New Yorkers not to vote for him, citing his thin resume and radical agenda. “We do not believe that Mr. Mamdani deserves a spot on New Yorkers’ ballots. His experience is too thin and his agenda reads like a turbocharged version of Mr. de Blasio’s dismaying mayoralty.” – The New York Times Editorial Board

That comparison to Bill de Blasio should send shivers down the spine of any New Yorker who lived through his eight years of mismanagement, which saw crime rates surge, quality of life plummet, and businesses flee. Yet Mamdani’s platform promises to double down on those failed policies while adding new layers of government control over the economy. If elected, he would turn New York City into a laboratory for the most extreme socialist policies seen in any major American city – exactly what a city struggling to recover from COVID shutdowns and rampant crime doesn’t need.