Bernie Sanders To Swear In Bill De Blasio For 2nd Term

NEW YORK, NY — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders helped Mayor Bill de Blasio win re-election by standing with him on a subway platform. And on Monday, they'll be standing on stage together as Sanders swears in the mayor for his second term.

Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, will be the featured guest at de Blasio's Jan. 1 inauguration ceremony, City Hall announced Wednesday.

"Senator Sanders is a proud son of Brooklyn and a dedicated advocate for working people," de Blasio said in a statement. "Sen. Sanders' progressive leadership has helped reshape the American political debate in favor of men and women long left out of our city and nation's prosperity."

De Blasio has cozied up to Sanders since the senator's unsuccessful run last year for the Democratic presidential nomination. The mayor endorsed Sanders' rival, Hillary Clinton, in that contest. But he's since credited Sanders with starting a populist fire that he thinks will light the Democrats' path forward after Clinton's loss to President Donald Trump.

The choice marks a shift in de Blasio's allegiances from four years ago, when Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, issued the mayor's oath for his first term.

Sanders appeared with de Blasio about a week before this year's mayoral election, taking a subway ride with him before endorsing the mayor's so-called millionaire's tax, an income tax hike for the richest New Yorkers to help fund the public transit system.

Sanders also spoke at a de Blasio campaign rally, casting the mayor as an ideal leader of a progressive fight against Trump's right-wing policies.

The New Year's Day inauguration ceremony will start at noon outside City Hall. First Lady Chirlane McCray will give a speech before Sanders swears in her husband. Sanders' wife, Jane Sanders, will also be on hand.

Public Advocate Letitia James and City Comptroller Scott Stringer will also be inaugurated for their second terms during the 90-minute ceremony.

City Hall expects a crowd of up to 1,500 to come out in the freezing cold, mayoral spokeswoman Jaclyn Rothenberg said.

"It’s term two, so naturally this will be a smaller-scale event compared to 2014," Rothenberg said in a statement. "It’s going to be cold and weather could be an issue. We’re contingency planning for several weather scenarios."

The event will feature speeches and performances from the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music Chorus, city Youth Poet Laureate William Lohier, Broadway singer Mykal Kilgore, and Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy.

The ceremony will cost about $200,000, Rothenberg said. City Hall will pay for half, while the Transition Inauguration Entity, a fund similar to a political campaign account, will cover the rest.

The public can reserve two tickets online here.

(Lead image: Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks at an October campaign rally for Mayor Bill de Blasio. Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)