'Biiiiiig Fundraising Numbers' for Socialist NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani in First 80 Days

Zohran Mamdani, the Queens state assemblymember and democratic socialist who is running for New York City mayor, announced the results of his latest fundraising haul Tuesday, reporting that he brought in more money than any other campaign has so far and from the largest pool of unique donors.

Mamdani (D-36) netted $642,339 from 6,502 unique donors in the 80 days since his bid launched, according to a statement released Tuesday.

"Biiiiiig fundraising numbers for Zohran Mamdani in his first 80 days," wrote New York City journalist Christopher Robbins, who also reported on Mamdani's fundraising totals.

Those running for mayor—a crowded field that includes a number of progressive candidates—face a January 15 fundraising deadline for the filing period from October 8, 2024 through January 11.

Of Mamdani's total haul, the campaign estimates that at least $300,000 will be matched by the city's 8-to-1 public financing program, meaning an additional $2.4 million to the campaign next month, for a total of more than $3 million, according to the statement.

"We knew there was a hunger for a different kind of politics but this is beyond even our highest expectations," said Mamdani in the statement. "Our thousands of donors have launched us and our vision for a more affordable city into the top tier of this race."

Other Democrats running to be elected mayor include current City Comptroller Brad Lander, former City Comptroller Scott Stringer, state Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-13)—all of whom are to the left of current Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for re-election while facing five federal charges of bribery, fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. Adams has pleaded not guilty. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has also hinted that he will enter the race.

The candidates will face off in June primary in a ranked choice voting election.

Mamdani, who was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2021, has distinguished himself as a vocal figure on the left. The Ugandan-born, Manhattan-raised Mamdani was active in a successful effort to win New York City taxi drivers hundreds of millions in debt relief, including by participating in a hunger strike. He also helped spearhead the city's first free bus pilot.

Mamdani's campaign is focused on the city's affordability crisis. He has pledged to freeze rents for tenants who live in rent stabilized apartments; make city buses free; implement free childcare for children between the ages of 6 weeks and 5 years; and create a network of city-owned grocery stores focused on keeping prices low.

Speaking on WNYC last week, Mamdani said that one of the ways he intends to pay for these programs is by raising the corporate tax rate and increasing income taxes on people who make more than $5 million a year.

Mamdani was not considered a serious candidate when it was first reported that he was running, wrote City & State publisher Tom Allon in an opinion piece last week, but he's since distinguished himself as a consistent and clear communicator and "captured the left's imagination with a number of simple ideas that he's clearly articulated."

Recent polling indicates that Mamdani's bid is still a long shot, though he's currently neck and neck with the incumbent mayor. Politico, citing numbers from a survey commissioned by the 501(c)4 Progressives for Democracy in America that was conducted December 16-22, reported that Cuomo led with 32% when likely Democratic voters were asked to pick a favorite candidate. Stringer came in second at 10%; Lander came in third with 8%; Ramos was at 7%; and Adams and Mamdani both earned 6%. Two other candidates, Michael Blake and state sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-20), earned 2% and 1%, respectively.