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NYC voters embrace democratic socialism as AOC, Sanders stump for Mamdani

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NYC voters embrace democratic socialism as AOC, Sanders stump for Mamdani

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Several New York City voters, who spoke to Fox News Digital at a Sunday rally, said New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., are the future of the Democratic Party.

Thousands of voters gathered at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens on Sunday for the “New York is Not for Sale” rally in support of Mamdani, the 34-year-old self-identified democratic socialist and frontrunner in the race for Gracie Mansion. Flanked by Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the trio of democratic socialists rallied the large crowd on the first weekend of early voting in the city.

“There’s going to be no party unless they are the future,” Nuala O’Doherty-Naranjo, an immigration lawyer who lives in Ocasio-Cortez’s district in Jackson Heights, Queens, told Fox News Digital.

When asked if she identifies as a democratic socialist, like Mamdani, Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders, O’Doherty-Naranjo said, “DSA all the way.”

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PROGRESSIVE POWER PLAYERS RALLY VOTERS FOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI AS EARLY VOTING KICKS OFF IN NYC MAYORAL RACE

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., react on stage during a “New York is Not for Sale” rally at Forest Hills Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City on Oct. 26, 2025.  (Reuters/Eduardo Munoz)

Mamdani is a member of New York City’s chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. The DSA has endorsed his candidacy and some of its members delivered remarks during the star-studded rally on Sunday.

BERNIE SANDERS, ZOHRAN MAMDANI TEAM UP TO ‘FIGHT OLIGARCHY’ IN NYC

Hallie, who lives in Bushwick, Brooklyn, said she supports Mamdani for the “obvious reasons,” including representing “every New Yorker” with his commitment to affordability and safety.

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She said that Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez are “absolutely” the future of the Democratic Party and that his candidacy gives her hope.

“I feel like that’s very clear with the turnout for this election, for the primaries, and just like seeing the people that are here filling a stadium just to support him, I think that’s a big indication of the future,” Hallie said.

More than 10,000 supporters packed into Forest Hills Stadium on Sunday, according to the Mamdani campaign.

New York Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani, center, celebrates with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., left, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., right, during an election rally on Oct. 26, 2025, at Forest Hills Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City.  (Andres Kudacki/Getty Images)

“To me, socialism just means that there’s more advocacy and more attention being paid to the working class, the people who are actually uplifting society and working to make it what it is,” Hallie said, explaining that, to her, socialism is about everyone paying their fair share.

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“I speak the language of democratic socialism only because he spoke it first,” Mamdani said of Sanders as the crowd joined him in declaring, “New York is not for sale” on Sunday.

The trio has invigorated the Democratic Party’s progressive base at a time when Democrats are still grappling with devastating losses in 2024 as growing discontent with President Donald Trump’s sweeping, second-term agenda.

A slew of state and local leaders also joined the rally, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., who endorsed Mamdani last month and has since campaigned for him.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., speaks on stage during a campaign rally for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani at Forest Hills Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City on Oct. 26, 2025.  (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

Hochul was heckled by attendees several times during her remarks, who chanted, “Tax the rich!”

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Mamdani’s plan to raise taxes on corporations and the top 1% of New Yorkers to pay for his campaign promises, like free childcare, free buses and city-run grocery stores, would require Hochul’s approval, and the governor has ruled out raising taxes.

“I hear ya,” Hochul responded as the stadium erupted with pleas to “tax the rich!”

“I love everything Zoran is bringing to the table as far as giving a new sort of energy and enthusiasm to New York City politics, actually caring about the citizens of New York City, finding life to be affordable and enjoyable and healthy for all of us. I don’t see how anybody couldn’t get behind that,” Matt Ransdell, who lives in Manhattan’s Washington Heights, told Fox News Digital.

Ransdell said Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez “could be” the future of the Democratic Party, adding that the democratic socialist movement of Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez and Mamdani is “so fresh and encouraging.”

“There’s something incredibly communal about it,” Ransdell said. “The way I feel actually bonded, even here at this rally, it’s insane. The energy is infectious,” he said.

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New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during a campaign rally at Forest Hills Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City on Oct. 26, 2025.  (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

“The voice of the younger generation is speaking as loud as it can, and if the older generation isn’t willing to listen, we’re going to have a problem,” Randsell added.

Lane, another New Yorker who attended Sunday’s rally, said he hopes they are the future.

“Look, not everyone’s going to support him,” Lane said. “He’s got maybe a brand that’s a little bit further ahead of what some people’s tastes are, but I certainly support him. I certainly hope that that’s the direction that the party goes in.”

Lane said he “absolutely” identifies as a democratic socialist, “maybe even further if that’s possible.”

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Jessica, who lives in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and works for Voters of Tomorrow, a Gen Z-led progressive political action group, said Mamdani’s campaign has “energized a lot of young people,” inspiring them to get out and vote.

She said Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez “both understand the affordability crisis that young people face right now and are both actually proposing policies to fight that and make young adults’ lives better.”

“Young people are the future of the Democratic Party,” Jessica said. “I think it’s young voters who are canvassing, getting out there, making their voices heard, that’s who’s shaping it,” she said.

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The latest Fox News survey, conducted Oct. 10-14, ahead of the first general election debate last week, revealed that Mamdani has a substantial lead in the race.

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According to the poll, Mamdani has a 21-point lead among New York City registered voters with 49% of voters backing Mamdani, while 28% go for Cuomo and 13% favor Sliwa.

Mamdani also rose above the 50% threshold among likely voters, garnering 52% support, while Cuomo picked up 28%, and Sliwa received just 14%.

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Video: Steve Hilton Holds Slim Early Lead in California Governor’s Race

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Video: Steve Hilton Holds Slim Early Lead in California Governor’s Race

new video loaded: Steve Hilton Holds Slim Early Lead in California Governor’s Race

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Steve Hilton Holds Slim Early Lead in California Governor’s Race

Steve Hilton, a Republican and former Fox News host, held a narrow lead in early votes over two Democratic opponents in California’s nonpartisan primary for governor. The top two candidates will advance to the general election in November.

“Change is coming to California, and it’s long overdue. I want to just say something from my heart to every single person who’s voted for me. We’re not — We’re not there yet, but it’s looking good.” [cheers] “Tonight, the people of the great state of California, in the greatest nation on earth, have spoken. [cheers] Loudly and proudly. [cheers] And while I take nothing for granted, there are lots of ballots left to be counted, it appears that we are on track to advance to November.” [cheers] “It might take some time to figure out where this is going. We’re going to wait until every ballot is counted. We’re going to give democracy a time to work, and we know we finished really strong.” [cheers]

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Steve Hilton, a Republican and former Fox News host, held a narrow lead in early votes over two Democratic opponents in California’s nonpartisan primary for governor. The top two candidates will advance to the general election in November.

By Axel Boada

June 3, 2026

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Spencer Pratt surges to runoff in LA mayor’s race after angry voters send message to Karen Bass

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Spencer Pratt surges to runoff in LA mayor’s race after angry voters send message to Karen Bass

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Reality television personality Spencer Pratt appears on track to clear a key hurdle in Los Angeles’ mayoral race as he seeks to unseat incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in November.

Bass, who has led the city since 2022 amid a turbulent stretch rocked by her response to wildfires, advanced to a runoff after failing to secure a majority of the vote in Tuesday’s primary election. With no candidate surpassing the 50% threshold, the top two finishers will face off in a November runoff.

The anticipated runoff is a symbolic blow to Bass, who was endorsed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., and former Vice President Kamala Harris and has spent decades serving California in a series of elected Democratic offices.

Pratt, a first-time candidate known for the MTV reality show “The Hills,” was running in second place as of Wednesday morning.

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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass attends the Women for Bass Phone bank event in the Baldwin Hills area of Los Angeles on June 1, 2026. (Louise Barnsley/Splash for Fox News Digital)

REALITY TV STAR SPENCER PRATT TESTS LA VOTERS’ APPETITE FOR POLITICAL OUTSIDER

“Obviously, God wanted five more months of me exposing the failures of our mayor,” Pratt gloated to reporters as the returns came in Tuesday evening. 

Pratt has relentlessly hammered Bass on issues that have long plagued the city, including fire recovery, street homelessness and crime. The insurgent candidate holds Bass personally responsible for devastating wildfires that destroyed more than 18,000 structures in the city, including his Pacific Palisades home. 

Pratt’s surge appears to have shut out Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman, a former ally of Bass who challenged the incumbent from the left and was once viewed as a threat to her bid for a second term. Raman is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and has argued for steering the city in a more progressive direction.

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Raman has not yet conceded despite running well behind Bass and Pratt as of Wednesday morning.

Pratt, a registered Republican, faces an uphill battle to defeat Bass in November if he advances to the runoff election.

Less than 20% of voters in the heavily Democratic city identify with the GOP, though Los Angeles’ mayoral contest is officially nonpartisan. 

Media personality and independent candidate Spencer Pratt, left, pictured alongside LA mayor Karen Bass, right. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images; Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

KAREN BASS GRILLED OVER BROKEN HOMELESSNESS PROMISE, BLAMES BUREAUCRACY FOR SLOWED PROGRESS

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Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who represents a San Diego-anchored seat, told Fox News Digital that Pratt has won a following in the mayoral contest due to widespread voter discontent with Bass’ leadership.

“He’s catching fire among ardent historic Democrat voters because Karen Bass has been so ineffective,” Issa said in an interview. “And every time she opens her mouth, she’s talking about more of the same to people who have seen their streets, both crime-ridden and in fact … ineffectively managed.” 

Bass, conversely, argues that her leadership is leading Los Angeles in the right direction.

“Los Angeles is at a turning point. After decades of rising homelessness, under-built housing and a shrinking police force, it’s Mayor Karen Bass who finally stepped up to change how City Hall works,” Bass’s website reads.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman appears likely to finish in third place, keeping her out of the November runoff. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

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“Homelessness is down, more housing is being built, and the LAPD is hiring new officers,” it also claims.

Fox News Digital’s Leo Briceno contributed reporting.

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Early returns indicate L.A. County voters have doubts about healthcare sales tax measure

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Early returns indicate L.A. County voters have doubts about healthcare sales tax measure

Los Angeles County’s half-cent sales tax to fund healthcare services was trailing Tuesday, with early returns showing a majority of voters rejecting the measure.

The tax — a half-penny of every dollar spent in the county — is meant to prop up local hospitals and clinics that are hemorrhaging funding after recent federal cuts.

The sales tax, which needs a simple majority to pass, would take effect Oct. 1 and last five years. Officials say it would pull in $1 billion annually to help plug the budget holes hitting local hospitals and clinics.

L.A. County health officials anticipate the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by President Trump last summer, will slash more than $2 billion from the county’s health services budget within the next three years. Due to eligibility changes, the county will no longer be able to get reimbursements for many Californians who have lost Medi-Cal.

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The measure was championed by a coalition of healthcare advocates called Restore Healthcare for Angelenos who warned that mass layoffs and emergency room closures could be imminent if new funding didn’t come fast. The Department of Public Health recently closed seven clinics — a grim sign, supporters said, of service cuts to come.

Voters haven’t rejected a sales tax hike since 2012, when a transportation measure fell just short with 66.1% support. It needed 66.7% to pass.

A majority of county supervisors had supported the new tax proposal, voting 4 to 1 this February to put it on the ballot. But the measure faced significant opposition from local cities, with opponents arguing the sales tax hike would unfairly burden the poorest county residents and encourage people to spend their dollars across the county line.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger, the board’s lone opponent of the tax, said she was concerned it was a “general” tax, meaning the money wouldn’t be earmarked for healthcare costs. Instead, she argued, politicians would have final say over how the money gets spent.

The supervisors have created a plan for spending the tax money, with the largest chunk of the money meant to cover the costs for patients without insurance. The measure also asked voters to sign off on a nine-member oversight committee.

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The county currently has a base sales tax rate of 9.75%, and cities impose local taxes on top of that.

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