New York City Democrat mayoral nominee Zohran Kwame Mamdani, a self-described socialist, has built his campaign on claims of grassroots independence. But campaign finance records reveal a different story—one involving over $2 million in outside PAC spending, much of it funded by progressive elites and Silicon Valley billionaires.
While Mamdani raised $1.7 million in direct contributions and received $7 million in public matching funds, two major PACs—Working Families Party National PAC and New Yorkers for Lower Costs—spent a combined $2.2 million to boost his campaign and attack his main opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo. That outside support exceeded the total raised by Mamdani’s official campaign.
An investigation by forensic accountant Sam Antar traced much of the PAC money to high-dollar donors from outside New York, contradicting Mamdani’s populist image. The Working Families PAC spent over $539,000 attacking Cuomo, while New Yorkers for Lower Costs used nearly $900,000 to promote Mamdani’s image and messaging.
