New York City's mayoral race has hit a contentious point as Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani faces allegations of accepting at least $13,000 in foreign campaign contributions. Reports indicate that Mamdani’s campaign received funds from non-U.S. sources, which is against federal campaign laws that limit contributions to citizens and permanent residents. As the city gears up for elections, these revelations have raised serious concerns about compliance and the integrity of campaign financing.
Campaign finance records have revealed that out of approximately 54,000 contributions to Mamdani's campaign, at least 170 came from addresses outside the United States. Notable among these are donations from his mother-in-law, Bariah Dardari of Dubai; Ugur Macit from Germany; and Australian environmental scientist James Furlaud. Although the campaign has returned $5,608 of the funds, it still holds $7,190 in contributions that are suspected to be from foreign sources, according to a report by The Daily Caller.
In response to the controversy, the Mamdani campaign assured the New York Post of their commitment to legal compliance, stating, “We will of course return any donations that are not in compliance with CFB law.” However, the persistence of 88 unreturned donations has attracted criticism, especially as the election looms closer.
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa has voiced his concerns, emphasizing the potential risks posed by foreign money in political campaigns. Sliwa remarked, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, so I would be very concerned. It’s very problematic, not just for Zohran Mamdani, but anybody who has these kinds of PACs because it’s a license to illegally funnel money.” He also underscored the tactics foreign entities might use to influence U.S. elections and called for increased federal oversight to ensure transparency in campaign financing.
Meanwhile, former Democratic candidate Eric Adams, who recently exited the race, accused the New York City Campaign Finance Board of favoritism towards Mamdani. Adams highlighted the discrepancy in treatment between his and Mamdani’s campaign, alleging bias in the enforcement of campaign finance rules. Adams's campaign was denied matching funds over allegations he deemed baseless, while Mamdani’s campaign received substantial funding despite the controversy.
The scrutiny extends beyond Mamdani's campaign financing to his policy proposals. His plan for free bus service has been met with opposition from the Washington Post Editorial Board, which estimated the cost at nearly $800 million annually and raised concerns about practicality and safety. The editorial warned of a decline in quality and potential misuse of the service, stating, “Vagrants and drug addicts would camp out all day on New York’s buses, especially in the winter.”
As the election nears, Mamdani is under increasing pressure to address these financial and policy concerns. The unfolding situation, compounded by federal scrutiny and ongoing media attention, may significantly impact the closing weeks of the race and voters' decisions.
🚨 UPDATE: Republicans are demanding an immediate investigation into Zohran Mamdani's campaign finances after revelations of potentially illegal foreign donations.
