Mayor-elect of New York City Zohran Mamdani is facing scrutiny for asking supporters to donate cash a day after he successfully beat Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
Democratic socialist Mamdani, 34, soared to victory in Tuesday’s election, securing 1,036,051 votes, or 50.4%, while Independent Cuomo received 41.6% of the vote.
There was little rest between his victory speech and getting back to work, with the mayor-elect jumping straight into early morning interviews, transition announcements, and meetings on Wednesday.
Highlights
- Zohran Mamdani won the NYC mayoral race with 50.4% of the vote, defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
- A day after winning, Mamdani asked supporters to resume donating for his transition efforts via a video post.
- Post-election donations fund transition staff, research, and infrastructure, which are essential for starting administration work.
Zohran Mamdani asked for donations in a post on X
Image credits: Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images
As well as announcing his busy schedule on X, Mamdani shared a video thanking New Yorkers and urging them to resume donating.
“Remember how I told you a few months ago to stop sending us money?” Mamdani said in the video. “You can start again.”
“This transition requires staff, research, and an infrastructure that can meet this moment, and it will be made possible by the people who built and believe in this movement.
“I hope you will make a donation at transition2025.com. Now let’s get to work.”
The video, viewed over 17 million times, has gained traction in the comment section from users criticizing Mamdani for asking for donations so soon after the election.
“Your campaign was based off giving people ‘free stuff.’ Now you want to sit there and beg for people to donate to you.. The hypocrisy is astounding…” one user wrote.
Another added, “I can’t believe he just asked for donations and money after winning the election.”
“Already begging for money. Textbook Communist,” a third posted.
Others commented on the post with an image of Mamdani with Alex Soros, who is the son of billionaire and Open Society Foundations founder George Soros.
Image credits: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
While some critics have framed Mamdani’s post-election fundraising appeal as unusual, soliciting donations after being elected is a standard and legally permitted practice in New York City.
Funds raised at this stage are typically directed toward transition and inauguration efforts, rather than campaign spending.
In Mamdani’s case, the money is intended to support the incoming administration as it prepares to assume office on January 1, 2026.
This includes hiring key staff, engaging experts for policy research, establishing offices, and building the infrastructure necessary to implement his agenda effectively from day one.
New York City law allows a mayor-elect to set up a separate Transition and Inauguration Entity (TIE), which can accept donations specifically for these purposes.
Mamdani has already chosen and announced his transition team
Image credits: Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images
These contributions help ensure that the incoming administration can hit the ground running without waiting for city budgets or public funding to become fully operational.
For ambitious platforms like Mamdani’s—covering areas such as rent policy, public transportation, and community programs—transition funding can be essential to begin planning and laying the groundwork ahead of inauguration.
Mamdani has already chosen his transition team and announced the appointments at a press conference on Wednesday.
The team will be led by five women and headed up by Maria Torres-Springer, who served as first deputy mayor under outgoing mayor Eric Adams.
Other members include former Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan, head of United Way New York City Grace Bonilla, and Melanie Hartzog, who previously held the role of deputy mayor for Health and Human Services.
Elana Leopold will take on the role of executive director. She is a seasoned political strategist who previously worked for former mayor Bill de Blasio.