NEW YORK — October 27, 2025 — In a thunderous display of progressive muscle, thousands of New Yorkers flooded Forest Hills Stadium in Queens on Sunday to rally behind Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, who arrived flanked by heavyweights Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and, in a surprise twist, Governor Kathy Hochul.
The electrifying “New York Is Not For Sale” event marked a pivotal moment in the heated race for City Hall, with Mamdani surging in the polls as early voting shatters records just days before the November 4 election.
Under a crisp autumn sky, the stadium pulsed with energy as more than 15,000 supporters—overflowing from the 13,000-seat venue—waved signs reading “Rent Freeze Now” and “Tax the Rich.” Mamdani, the 33-year-old state assemblyman and son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, took the stage to a deafening roar, outlining a bold vision to reclaim the city from corporate greed.
“New York belongs to the workers, the families, the dreamers—not the billionaires who treat our streets like their playground,” Mamdani declared, his voice echoing off the rafters.
At the heart of his platform: an immediate rent freeze for more than two million rent-stabilized tenants, free citywide bus fares to slash transit costs for low-income riders, and universal childcare for every New York family. To fund it, Mamdani proposed a suite of progressive taxes targeting corporations and the ultra-wealthy, including a “millionaire’s tax” increase and a crackdown on Wall Street loopholes..
“We’re not asking for charity,” Mamdani said. “We’re demanding justice. This city has enough wealth to lift everyone up—if we stop letting the few hoard it all.”
The rally’s star-studded lineup amplified his message. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, the godfather of modern democratic socialism, condemned America’s “grotesque level of wealth inequality,” painting a stark picture of billionaires amassing fortunes while working families scrape by on stagnant wages.
“Zohran Mamdani gets it,” Sanders thundered. “He’s fighting for a New York where no one goes hungry, no child is left behind, and the rich finally pay their fair share.”
The crowd erupted in chants of “Bernie! Bernie!” as Sanders gripped the podium, his signature mittens drawing cheers from longtime fans.
Next came Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Bronx-born firebrand whose star power rivaled the stadium’s floodlights. She defended New York City’s immigrant soul with poetic fervor, invoking the Ellis Island legacy amid a surge of anti-immigrant rhetoric.
“This is a city built by dreamers from every corner of the globe—my parents included,” she said, her voice rising over the applause. “Zohran isn’t just running for mayor; he’s running to protect the heart of what makes New York unbreakable. Immigrants aren’t the problem—we’re the promise.”
But the evening’s biggest surprise came from an unlikely ally: Governor Kathy Hochul, the moderate Democrat who has long walked a tightrope between the party’s progressive and centrist wings. In a move that sent ripples through political circles, Hochul strode onstage to a thunderous ovation, offering a full-throated endorsement.
“New York needs bold leadership to tackle our housing crisis, our transit woes, and our childcare deserts,” she said, linking arms with Mamdani. “Zohran has the vision and the fire to deliver. Let’s send him to Gracie Mansion.”
The endorsement—amid chants of “Tax the rich!” that nearly drowned out the sound system—signaled a rare bridge between the party’s left flank and its establishment wing, potentially sealing Mamdani’s path to victory.
The rally wasn’t just spectacle—it was strategy. Mamdani now holds a commanding 12-point lead in the latest Siena College poll, buoyed by overwhelming support from young voters, renters, and communities of color. Early voting turnout has already surpassed 2021 records, with more than 500,000 ballots cast in the first week—a 25% increase that bodes well for the nominee’s grassroots ground game. Organizers credited the event’s massive draw to an aggressive social media push and neighborhood canvassing, transforming Queens’ historic stadium into a progressive fortress.
Critics, including Mamdani’s Republican challenger and business lobbies, dismissed his proposals as “pie-in-the-sky socialism” that could drive jobs and investment out of the city. But for the sea of supporters—many donning “Not For Sale” T-shirts and clutching MetroCards as symbols of solidarity—the message was unmistakable: New York is ready for change.
As the sun dipped below the Queens skyline, Mamdani closed with a call to action:
“On November 4, we vote not just for a mayor, but for a movement. Let’s take our city back.”
With Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez, and Hochul by his side, Mamdani exited to “New York, New York,” leaving no doubt that the Empire City’s political earthquake is only just beginning.
