In a surprising turn of events, Democratic socialists Senator Bernie Sanders and New York City's Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani are set to join forces this Saturday.
Their mission? To combat the oligarchy that they believe is plaguing the nation's financial capital.
According to Fox News, Mamdani expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming "Fighting Oligarchy" event in Brooklyn, stating, "It is an honor to welcome Senator Sanders to New York City as we fight against the corporate greed, billionaires, and corrupt politicians responsible for the affordability crisis."
This statement comes after Mamdani's shocking victory in the June primary, which left both the political establishment and the city's economic drivers - real estate and business leaders - in a state of disbelief.
Both Sanders and Mamdani have made affordability a cornerstone of their platforms, consistently voicing their concerns about America's wealth inequality. "While oligarchs and Donald Trump try to place their thumb on the scale of this election, were laser-focused on the New Yorkers who built this city, call it home, and deserve a leader who will deliver dignity for all," Mamdani said.
This statement was in response to reports from The New York Times alleging that President Donald Trump has conspired against Mamdani's campaign. Trump, on his part, has labeled Mamdani a "100% Communist Lunatic."
The White House has yet to respond to these allegations, and both Trump and former Governor Andrew Cuomo have denied discussing strategies to defeat Mamdani in the upcoming November elections.
Before the town hall in Brooklyn, Sanders and Mamdani plan to march with union members in Manhattan's Labor Day parade. Sanders, who recently headlined the New Hampshire AFL-CIO's annual Labor Day breakfast, told Fox News Digital that Trump is "leading us toward authoritarianism, toward more income and wealth inequality and making the planet even more dangerous." He added, "No, billionaires should not be able to get away with not paying their fair share of taxes while working people are being, in many cases, overtaxed."
Sanders and Mamdani first met in July during a digital campaign skill-sharing breakfast hosted by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Mamdani referred to Sanders as "Brooklyn through and through" and expressed his admiration for the senator, calling him "one of my heroes."
Sanders reciprocated the sentiment, stating that he was "deeply impressed by the grassroots campaign he is running."
Sanders, a two-time Democratic presidential nominee runner-up, was an early endorser of Mamdani's primary campaign, alongside Ocasio-Cortez. Their endorsements played a significant role in consolidating progressive support for Mamdani during the final weeks of the primary campaign.
The "Fighting Oligarchy" tour, led by Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, has sparked considerable excitement among Democrats across the United States. This enthusiasm was further fueled by Mamdani's unexpected primary win, which seems to have reignited the Democratic base in a new, albeit more progressive, direction.
Mamdani's campaign platform includes progressive ideas such as rent freezes, city-run grocery stores, free buses, and raising the minimum wage. He plans to fund these initiatives by increasing taxes on corporations and the wealthiest 1% of the population.
These ideas align with the Democratic socialist agenda that Sanders has been advocating for years.
Sanders, in a statement ahead of the Brooklyn town hall, said, "At a time of massive and growing income and wealth inequality, we are building a strong grassroots movement to take on the billionaire class and corporate greed." He warned that the "oligarchs" wealthy business leaders with political influence could "undermine democracy" and even "buy elections."
However, he remained optimistic, stating, "When we stand together we can defeat authoritarianism and create an economy that works for all our people, not just the privileged few."
Sanders' campaign has boasted of attracting more than 300,000 people across 34 rallies in 20 states since the launch of his "Fighting Oligarchy" tour this year.
Fox News Digital reached out to Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, Cuomo, and Adams for comments regarding Mamdani's event with Sanders, but they have yet to respond.
Login