News Summary
In New York City, political spending has surged with wealthy businessmen contributing over $3 million to super PACs aimed at undermining mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. The contributions coincide with Mamdani’s lead in polls ahead of the upcoming election. PACs like For Our City have already begun targeting Mamdani with advertisements, raising questions about the influence of money in local politics and the effectiveness of grassroots campaigns. As election day approaches, discussions about potential shifts in race dynamics continue among analysts.
New York City is experiencing a surge in political spending as a group of wealthy businessmen has contributed over $3 million to super PACs aimed at undermining mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani ahead of the election. This unprecedented financial maneuvering can significantly impact the upcoming race, scheduled for November 4.
The contributors include notable figures such as Ricky Sandler, CEO of Eminence Capital, along with real estate investors Richard Mack and Marty Berger. The financial backing was funneled through a corporate entity known as Put NYC First Inc. The total contributions from these businessmen amount to $3.264 million, with the largest single donation being $2 million made to a super PAC named For Our City.
For Our City has actively spent $1.5 million on advertisements targeting Mamdani. Specifics about the content of these ads were not disclosed. Alongside this, over $1 million was allocated to another PAC, Stop the Socialists, and an additional $255,000 was channeled to Good Growth NYC, a PAC that has previously supported Andrew Cuomo’s campaign.
The timing of these contributions aligns with Mamdani’s notable lead in recent polls, where he is reported to be ahead of Cuomo by a double-digit margin. The current mayoral race features independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, who is trailing significantly in third place. As the election approaches, early voting is set to begin on Saturday.
Mamdani’s campaign is centered around a progressive agenda, emphasizing tax increases on millionaires and corporations to fund initiatives like affordable housing and free child care. The campaign has faced pushback from the newly established super PACs, which aim to leverage significant financial resources against Mamdani’s grassroots support. Campaign spokeswoman Dora Pekec has criticized these PAC efforts, asserting that they are ineffective against the momentum generated by Mamdani’s campaign.
Super PACs are unique in their operational capacity, being permitted to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money. This has led to unusually high levels of outside spending in this election cycle. Before this latest round of contributions, Put NYC First Inc. had already donated $750,000 to various other PACs, including $250,000 to New Yorkers for a Better Future Mayor 25.
Among the PACs opposing Mamdani, Fix the City has raised considerable funds, with over $30 million collected, bolstered by a significant donation from Airbnb founder Joe Gebbia. In spite of these robust spending strategies, polling data indicates that this influx of cash has not significantly altered the race dynamics or impacted Mamdani’s position in the polls.
A key aspect of Mamdani’s campaign includes policy proposals aimed at reforming existing scaffolding laws in New York City. He has pledged to work on reducing the number of sidewalk sheds in the city, especially those from city-owned properties that have remained in place for over three years. This issue has raised public safety concerns and impacted local businesses significantly due to the prevalence of scaffolding occupying city streets.
Mamdani’s plans have received endorsement from various elected officials, emphasizing the urgent need for reform in this area. Additionally, Mamdani has criticized outgoing Mayor Eric Adams’ administration for its management regarding sidewalk shed removals, calling for more efficiency and accountability.
Looking ahead, there are discussions among political analysts about the potential shifts in the race dynamics. Should Cuomo exit the race, it is suggested that it could provide Curtis Sliwa with an opportunity to gain traction in the election. The upcoming polls indicate that the mayoral race carries significant implications for broader voter sentiments, reflecting current national political issues.
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Additional Resources
- amNY: Mamdani’s Scaffolding Removal Proposal
- ABC7: Vote 2025 Live Updates
- New York Times: Cuomo and NYC Subway
- Google Search: New York City Mayor Race 2025
- Newsweek: Mamdani’s Chances in NYC Mayoral Race
Author: STAFF HERE NEW YORK WRITER
The NEW YORK STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENewYork.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in New York, the five boroughs, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as New York Fashion Week, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Tribeca Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and United Way of New York, plus leading businesses in finance and media that power the local economy such as JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Bloomberg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBuffalo.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into New York's dynamic landscape.
