Bernie Sanders, DSA reveal demands for Dem party after socialists sweep New York elections

Following a socialist sweep in New York City’s Tuesday elections, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are dictating their terms and sending warnings to the Democratic Party not to cross them.

In a post-election call clipped by Manhattan Institute analyst Stu Smith, a DSA leader remarked that in addition to socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, "more than three million New Yorkers are now represented by socialists at multiple levels of government, and in some cases that is every level of government."

To anyone looking to break the DSA’s hold on these areas, the leader warned, "Don’t even try it," adding, "We control these areas."

"We have a democratic socialist mandate in New York City," he said.

ZOHRAN MAMDANI IN POSITION TO HELP SOCIALIST PARTY 'SEIZE STATE POWER,' DSA LEADER ADMITS

New 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)

Meanwhile, Sanders, once one of the few openly socialist politicians on the national stage, declared that "working people" across New York "delivered a powerful message: the era of status quo politics is over."

Sanders boasted in a post about "lessons" from Tuesday’s election that "when working people stand together, organize, and fight back, they can defeat establishment politicians and enormous amounts of money and political influence."

"We’re making progress. The task before us now is to build on that momentum," he continued, cautioning that "if Democrats regain control of Congress next year, they must listen to the people who put them in office."

NYC MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI SAYS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY 'LOST ITS FOCUS ON WORKING PEOPLE'

Brad Lander, former New York City comptroller and U.S. House candidate, stands with Zohran Mamdani, New York mayor, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, Independent of Vermont, at a Get Out The Vote rally at Kings Theater in Brooklyn on June 18, 2026. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

At least a dozen candidates endorsed by New York City-DSA statewide were victorious on Tuesday night, signaling the embrace of Mamdani’s socialist policies and the reach of his influence in the party.

Tuesday's primaries also cemented Mamdani's status as a kingmaker in the Democratic Party. Most notably, Mamdani's endorsed Democratic Socialist candidates Brad Lander, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez won their primary races in deep-blue congressional districts, with two of them ousting incumbent Democratic Reps. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat, all but securing their seats in the November general election.

All three candidates ran on platforms broadly aligned with Mamdani’s socialist economic agenda, anti-Israel posture and opposition to ICE, while facing candidates backed by the establishment wing of the party.

RISING SOCIALIST STARS ON TRACK TO CONGRESS: WHO ARE DARIALIZA AVILA CHEVALIER, BRAD LANDER AND CLAIRE VALDEZ?

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., aside from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

The victories sent a warning shot to Democratic leadership, with both House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer representing New York.

Socialist supporters at Valdez’s election night party were seen shouting "you’re next" at a television screen showing Jeffries on Tuesday night.

Sanders, a close ally of Mamdani’s, praised the candidates for having "ran bold campaigns focused on the struggles facing working people."

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He also noted that these victories occurred "despite the fact that super PACs funded by AIPAC [American Israel Public Affairs Committee], the crypto industry, AI and other billionaire-backed groups have spent tens of millions of dollars trying to defeat progressive candidates and crush a movement that threatens their economic and political power."

"Status quo establishment policies are not enough," said Sanders. "We must be bold. We must take on Oligarchy. We must represent working families and create a government that works for all, not just the few."

Fox News Digital's Andrew Mark Miller and Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.