Bernie Sanders Swears In NYC’s Democratic Socialist Mayor, Leaves Iconic Mittens Behind
In a powerful display of progressive politics, Senator Bernie Sanders administered the oath of office to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at City Hall on Thursday. The ceremony marked a significant moment for the democratic socialist movement, though observers quickly noted the absence of Sanders’ famous mittens—the handcrafted woolen accessories that transformed him into an unexpected viral sensation during President Biden’s inauguration in 2021. Instead, the Vermont senator appeared in a more conventional winter outfit, sporting standard gloves, a blue beanie, and a puffy green coat as he formally swore in the self-described democratic socialist mayor who has promised to bring substantial progressive change to America’s largest city.
Before administering the oath, Sanders delivered an impassioned speech celebrating Mamdani’s grassroots campaign and policy vision. With characteristic fervor, Sanders framed the election as a direct challenge to entrenched power, telling the enthusiastic crowd that volunteers had successfully “taken on the Democratic establishment, the Republican establishment, the president of the United States and some enormously wealthy oligarchs.” This framing resonated with the audience, who erupted in chants of “Zohran” following the oath. The senator’s presence added significant symbolic weight to the ceremony, representing a torch-passing moment within the progressive movement and legitimizing Mamdani’s democratic socialist agenda on a prominent stage.
Sanders took particular care to defend Mamdani’s platform against critics who had dismissed the mayor’s proposals as “radical” or “communistic.” The senator argued that policies like affordable housing, free childcare, free public transportation, and increased taxation on wealthy citizens were not extreme positions but necessary measures in “the richest country in the history of the world.” This defense parallels Sanders’ own political journey, having spent decades advocating for similar policies that were once considered fringe but have increasingly entered mainstream political discourse. The ceremony thus represented not just a mayoral inauguration but a milestone in the normalization of democratic socialist ideals within American politics.
Mayor Mamdani embraced his political identity unambiguously in his inaugural address, stating plainly: “I was elected as a democratic socialist, and I will govern as a democratic socialist.” He outlined an ambitious agenda for New York City that includes freezing rents for stabilized apartments, implementing universal childcare, making public buses free, and increasing taxes on wealthy residents. Mamdani promised to “govern expansively and audaciously,” signaling his intention to pursue transformative policies rather than incremental changes. The ceremony included symbolic touches reflecting this political orientation, including a performance of the socialist anthem “Bread and Roses” by musician Lucy Dacus, during which Sanders was observed sitting cross-legged in the audience—a posture reminiscent of his famous inauguration moment.
The absence of Sanders’ iconic mittens served as a subtle reminder of how unexpected moments can transcend politics and enter popular culture. Those brown chevron mittens, handmade by Vermont schoolteacher Jen Ellis, had catapulted Sanders into a global pop culture phenomenon during Biden’s inauguration when photos of him sitting alone, bundled up with crossed arms and legs, spread rapidly across social media. The image sparked countless memes, merchandise, and even substantial charitable fundraising. According to Ellis, the viral moment ultimately generated approximately $2 million for Vermont charities through mitten-related fundraising efforts, demonstrating how political imagery can sometimes serve purposes far beyond its original context.
This mayoral inauguration also made history in other ways, as Mamdani became the first New York City mayor to be sworn in on the Quran. This milestone, combined with his explicitly socialist political identity, represents the increasing diversity of both backgrounds and political perspectives in American elected leadership. The ceremony brought together various progressive figures, including Sanders and other prominent left-wing politicians, creating a visual representation of a movement that has gradually built power from the grassroots level to major municipal governance. As Mamdani begins his term with ambitious plans for structural change in New York City, the question remains whether his administration will succeed in implementing the democratic socialist vision championed by figures like Sanders—moving from campaign promises to concrete policies affecting millions of New Yorkers’ daily lives.
