Mamdani Facing Allegations
In the final stretch of New York’s mayoral race, a fresh scandal has broken open—and it’s one that would, under normal political conditions, send shockwaves through a campaign. But this is New York. And this is Zohran Mamdani.
According to records unearthed by The New York Post, the socialist mayoral frontrunner has accepted nearly $13,000 in illegal foreign donations, including one from his mother-in-law in Dubai. Federal, state, and city campaign laws are crystal clear: only U.S. citizens and permanent residents can contribute to political campaigns.
And while $13,000 may seem like a drop in the ocean compared to Mamdani’s $15.3 million war chest, this isn’t about numbers—it’s about the law. Or at least, it should be.
As of now, Mamdani’s campaign has not returned 88 of those foreign donations, totaling $7,190. That’s not just oversight—that’s inertia. And with the Campaign Finance Board launching a citywide audit, this should be a moment of reckoning. But here’s the uncomfortable reality: it probably won’t matter.
Why? Two reasons. First, Mamdani holds a double-digit lead in the latest polls. RealClear Politics averages place him at 38.2%, trailed distantly by Andrew Cuomo (23.2%), Curtis Sliwa (16.6%), and the limping Eric Adams (10.4%). Theoretically, if the opposition unified behind Cuomo, there might be a path to stopping Mamdani. But we’re just three weeks out from Election Day, and that kind of last-minute alliance is, frankly, fantasy.
Second, money talks—and Mamdani’s campaign has been shouting. With $15.3 million raised and over $6 million still on hand, his financial machine dwarfs every other candidate. Cuomo has $9.3 million. Adams has $6.8 million.
Sliwa trails at $4.2 million. In a city that rewards aggressive ad buys, digital outreach, and ground-game operations, that kind of cash provides not just visibility—but momentum.
Yes, it’s disturbing. Yes, it’s potentially illegal. But in a political culture where rules bend beneath ideology, and where enforcement moves at the pace of molasses, Mamdani may well cross the finish line before accountability even ties its shoes.
The Mamdani campaign did release a statement claiming it would return “any donations that are not in compliance,” but tellingly, they’ve refused to explain why the funds haven’t been returned yet. Transparency, it seems, is a post-election promise.