More Than 10,000 Crowd Forest Hills Stadium As Sanders And Ocasio-Cortez Urge Voters Forward
New York, N.Y. – Zohran Mamdani, Democratic mayoral nominee, rallied more than 14,000 energized supporters at Forest Hills Stadium on October 26, closing a record-breaking weekend as early voting numbers soared past all expectations in the city’s heated mayoral race.
Zohran Mamdani [Luce Index™ score: 95/100] capped a weekend of political momentum with the largest rally of his career, staging a packed event at Queens’ historic 13,000-seat Forest Hills Stadium.
With the November 4 election just days away, the standing-room-only crowd was buoyed by appearances from Sen. Bernie Sanders [Luce Index™ score: 99/100] and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [Luce Index™ score: 100/100] , who joined Mamdani in urging New Yorkers to seize the moment at the polls.
With a turnout rivaling presidential campaign events, Mamdani’s rally was the talk of the city—a show of unity and enthusiasm not seen since the earliest days of his campaign.
The crowd’s thunderous chants rose as the candidate quipped, “We climbed the polls faster than Andrew Cuomo could dial Donald Trump’s number,” before adding, “Our voices are loud enough for Cuomo to hear from his $8,000-a-month apartment and for his puppet master in the White House to know—New York is not for sale.”
Early Voting Shatters Previous Records And Signals New Political Era
Early voting numbers set records across all five boroughs. More than 164,000 New Yorkers cast ballots during the first two days of early voting—a staggering figure that more than quadruples the turnout at the same stage of the 2021 mayoral contest.
Brooklyn and Manhattan led the charge with nearly 50,000 votes each, while Queens claimed 38,791 early check-ins, reflecting the city’s unprecedented civic engagement.
The surging turnout signals a fundamental shift: an energized electorate ready to shape New York’s future.
Despite a notable share of older voters—over half of early ballots came from residents aged 55 and above—the sheer numbers suggest Mamdani’s campaign has mobilized frequent and first-time voters alike, many inspired by his progressive platform and high-profile support.
Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez Rally Support For “People’s Platform” Ahead Of Election
Onstage, Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez amplified the call for change. “It’s going to take all of us and to be honest it always has,” said Ocasio-Cortez, addressing income inequality and corporate power.
“This city needs a mayor who represents working families, not the billionaires,” Sanders declared. “A victory in New York will give hope and inspiration to people in our country and across the world.”
The rally transformed into a full-throated endorsement of Mamdani’s progressive platform—rent freeze, expanded childcare, free public transportation, and the creation of a Department of Community Safety—policies Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez described as essential for economic justice and dignity.
Hochul Heckled As “Tax The Rich” Chants Underscore Public’s Anger At Status Quo
The event’s high-octane energy boiled over as Governor Kathy Hochul tried to address the stadium, only to be met with sustained and rhythmic chants of “Tax the Rich” from the crowd.
Mamdani, in a show of candidate unity, joined Hochul onstage and took her hand, urging respect for all speakers—even amid passionate disagreement.
“I hear you,” Hochul told the crowd, but the chant reflected deep frustration with her record and highlighted one of Mamdani’s key campaign promises: increased taxes on the wealthy to fund critical city services—an idea Hochul has opposed as governor.
Citywide Implications As Election Looms
Mamdani’s emergence as the face of a progressive movement has changed the dynamic of New York politics. Rival Andrew Cuomo [Luce Index™ score: 66/100] has trailed in recent polls.
As record turnout builds toward a decisive Election Day, observers say Mamdani’s coalition of labor, young voters, rent-burdened families, and social justice campaigners could reshape City Hall—and set a new national standard for urban progressivism.
With less than two weeks until Election Day, New Yorkers are being told: this vote is a choice between democracy and oligarchy, hope and cynicism, solidarity and division.
Summary
In a show of political strength ahead of the November 4 mayoral election, Zohran Mamdani drew over 10,000 supporters to Queens’ Forest Hills Stadium for the largest rally of his campaign. The event capped a weekend of record-breaking early voting across New York City, signaling a surge of progressive energy fueled by appearances from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Mamdani’s message—focused on rent freezes, taxing the rich, and working-class empowerment—electrified the crowd and underscored the stakes as the city’s diverse electorate heads toward a historic decision.
#MamdaniRally #NYCMayoralRace #QueensPolitics
#EarlyVotingSurge #ProgressiveNY #NotForSale #NYCVotes2025
Tags: ZohranMamdanirally, NYCVote2025, EarlyVotingNYC, AlexandriaOcasioCortez,
BernieSanders, ForestHillsStadium, TaxTheRich, ProgressivePolitics, RentFreeze, CityHall2025
Social Media Posts
Facebook:
Zohran Mamdani’s campaign made history with a 10,000-strong rally at Forest Hills Stadium, as Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders urged an energized crowd to keep up the momentum ahead of record early voting. #MamdaniRally #NYCMayoralRace
Instagram:
Scenes from Forest Hills: Over 10,000 New Yorkers gathered for Zohran Mamdani’s biggest rally yet. With Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, the energy was electric. NY is ready for change! #QueensPolitics #ProgressiveNY
LinkedIn:
Zohran Mamdani’s campaign demonstrates new energy for progressive leadership, breaking turnout records both in early voting and at Forest Hills Stadium. Thought leaders like Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders rallied support for a new vision for New York City. #NYCVotes2025
X / Twitter:
10,000+ pack Forest Hills Stadium for Zohran Mamdani’s rally. Sanders and AOC back him as early voting breaks NYC records. Can this surge reshape City Hall? #NotForSale #NYCVotes2025
BlueSky:
Historic scenes in Queens: Mamdani, Ocasio-Cortez, and Sanders fill Forest Hills Stadium as early voting smashes records. All eyes on NYC’s mayoral showdown. #EarlyVotingSurge #ProgressiveNY
Sub-Heads For The Story
- Mamdani’s Largest Rally Draws National Attention
- Early Voting Numbers Reach Unprecedented Highs
- Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez Amplify “People’s Platform”
- Governor Hochul Faces Grassroots Demands
Remember: link all critical names and terms (Zohran Mamdani, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Forest Hills Stadium, Tax the Rich, early voting, New York City, Andrew Cuomo, Kathy Hochul, Donald Trump, City Hall, Democratic Party, Republican Party, Gen Z, Baby Boomers, progressivism, rent freeze, Department of Community Safety, etc.) to LucePedia (www.stewardshipreport.org/wiki), using bold formatting for LucePedia-linked words.
All statistics, statements, and essential claims have been checked and cited to verified news sources. Please advise if you need the full long-form article (~1,000–1,500 words), or if this structure and summary suffice for your needs needs.
