Bill Ackman donates $1 mln to anti-Mamdani PAC in NYC mayoral race

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
Today 14:51
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Billionaire Bill Ackman donates $1 million to Defend NYC, a super PAC opposing Zohran Mamdani in the heated New York City mayoral race ahead of the November election.

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Bill Ackman speaks about higher education and Harvard University at the twenty-eighth annual Milken Institute Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on May 6, 2025. (Patrick T. Fallon/ AFP via Getty Images)

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has donated $1 million to Defend NYC, a super PAC opposing Zohran Mamdani’s bid for New York City mayor, according to state campaign finance filings released Tuesday.

The pro-"Israel" Ackman's contribution marks the largest single donation to the group to date, bringing Defend NYC’s total fundraising to $1.3 million. The group was registered by Jason Meister, a former advisخr to Donald Trump and former employee of Ackman-Ziff Real Estate Group, the firm founded by Ackman’s father.

A spokesperson for Ackman declined to comment on the donation when questioned by Bloomberg, which comes amid a surge of high-dollar super PAC donations targeting the pro-Palestine Mamdani, the Democratic nominee who currently leads the polls heading into the New York City mayoral race on November 4.

Super PACs flood NYC mayoral race with millions

The race intensified after Mayor Eric Adams announced his withdrawal late last month. Since then, super PAC fundraising has accelerated, with more than $3 million raised across nine PACs supporting or opposing the remaining candidates.

Multiple PACs backing Mamdani have raised a combined $550,000 since September, while PACs opposing his campaign have raised over $2.7 million, outpacing both pro-Mamdani and general candidate PACs.

Among the opposition funders is hedge fund billionaire Dan Loeb, who contributed $75,000 to an anti-Mamdani PAC and $100,000 to Fix the City, a PAC supporting Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor now running as an independent.

Cuomo and Sliwa trail Mamdani in tightening polls

Mamdani maintains a double-digit lead in the latest polls, though the margin has narrowed since Adams’ departure from the race. His challengers include Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, both aiming to consolidate support among centrist and conservative voters.

Ackman, who previously donated to Whitney Tilson’s failed campaign earlier this year, gave $500,000 to Fix the City ahead of the June primary. Following Cuomo’s loss in the Democratic primary, Ackman publicly called for a new centrist alternative to challenge Mamdani and encouraged Adams to step aside.

Fix the City has spent approximately $1.3 million since the primary, with expenditures including $561,000 on palm cards and $70,000 on a campaign website. Meanwhile, Defend NYC has spent more than $100,000, primarily on polling, legal services, and consulting fees.

Another PAC, New Yorkers for a Better Future Mayor 25, has spent $500,000 on digital ads targeting Mamdani, which came under fire for using stock photos to represent local voters. A smaller PAC, Anyone But Mamdani, has so far spent $15,000 on legal and accounting services.