Mayor Zohran Mamdani rallies progressive candidates ahead of New York Democratic primaries

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a 34‑year‑old democratic socialist, held a get‑out‑the‑vote rally in Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre alongside Senator Bernie Sanders. Mamdani used the event to endorse three progressive congressional candidates for the June Democratic primaries: Assemblymember Claire Valdez in NY‑7, former city comptroller Brad Lander in NY‑10, and immigrant‑rights activist Darializa Avila Chevalier in NY‑13. He framed the endorsements as a response to a Democratic Party he says has “managed decline” and warned it would lose the 2028 presidential race. Mamdani also attacked “dark‑money” political ads and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, accusing them of preserving power at the expense of working‑people. The slate pits Mamdani against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who supports incumbents Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat. Chevalier has faced scrutiny over previous social‑media posts and her attendance at a pro‑Palestinian rally after the Oct 7 Hamas attacks. The rally, attended by thousands, signals Mamdani’s effort to shift the Democratic Party leftward and influence the outcome of New York’s key congressional races.