One year after sending political shock waves across the country with his New York City Democratic primary victory en route to winning election as mayor of the nation's most populous city, Zohran Mamdani is testing the limits of political power as he takes on the party establishment.The 34-year-old democratic socialist mayor is teaming up with longtime progressive champion and two-time Democratic presidential nominee runner-up Sen.Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., at a get-out-the-vote rally in the New York City borough of Brooklyn on Thursday, less than one week before crucial primary elections.Mamdani and Sanders are aiming to boost a slate of candidates backed by the mayor, including two who are running against Democratic congressional incumbents, as part of their bid to mold a more progressive party.DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUBNew York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani hugs Rep.
Bernie Sanders during an address marking Mamdani's first 100 days in office at the Knockdown Center in New York on April 12, 2026.(Andres Kudacki/AP)The left-wing candidates endorsed by Mamdani include political organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier, who is primary challenging Rep.
Adriano Espaillat, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus chair, in New York’s 13th U.S.House District, which covers the northern third of Manhattan and a sliver of the Bronx.
Espaillat is supported by a slew of party leaders, including New York Gov.Kathy Hochul.The mayor is also backing former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who ran against Mamdani last year in the crowded primary field but became one of his biggest backers.
Lander is challenging incumbent Democratic Rep.Dan Goldman in the 10th Congressional District, which includes lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn.
Goldman's supporters include former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.And in New York’s 7th, which covers parts of Brooklyn and Queens, Mamdani's endorsed socialist state Assembly Member Claire Valdez, who is battling Brookly...