Multiple times over the past several weeks, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has teased a potential mayoral run against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and it sounds like he would have the funding to make it happen.
While he has openly admitted that he probably would not have the support of the everyday New Yorker, he recently bragged about having the backing of “billionaire after billionaire” who are looking to fund his campaign against Mamdani.
Portnoy Teases Mayor Run
Last month, Portnoy teased a possible political career during an interview with Jesse Watters on Fox News.
“I’ve always thought I would never get involved in politics,” Portnoy said on the show. “This, and what is going on, has actually made me pause that thought.”
Portnoy called it a “scary time,” without elaborating, saying “we need leaders to step up.”
“Sometimes I do feel like it’s my duty. I can’t turn away,” Portnoy said. “I feel like I could make a change. Maybe I do run in politics.”
“Let me say this. I spend a lot of my day losing my mind at what’s happening right now, especially in New York,” Portnoy said. “This really, really, really worries me.”
However, he went on to express skepticism that he would appeal to the New York City voters.
“But the people voting for these people who just won are like these young, white Ivy League-ish elite-ish…” Portnoy said. “Like, who are they? They’ll never vote for me. They’ll never believe in common sense.”
Portnoy doubled down on the possibility during an interview with Erika Ayers Badan this week. This time, he set his sights right on Mamdani, though he quickly admitted that he doesn’t think he’d actually beat him.
“I want to go right for Mamdani,” Portnoy said during the interview. “But I don’t think I could win.”
“I honestly would,” Portnoy added. “Get him the [expletive] out.”
Portnoy went on to discuss the possibility of winning in New York City.
“I don’t like New York, but I’ve spent a lot of time in New York,” Portnoy said. “I don’t know how I’d do.
“I have a lot of support in this area, I don’t know if I could win this city with a Democrat,” he added.
‘Billionaire after billionaire’
While Portnoy seemingly understands that he would not get the votes of the people of New York City, he claims that he does have the backing of the billionaires.
During a recent interview with Jeff Edelstein on the latest Business of Betting podcast, Portnoy said that he has received “unsolicited” financial promises from “serious people.”
“If I wanted to run for mayor of New York, I could have the biggest war chest probably in the history of political war chests,” Portnoy told Edelstein. “I have billionaire after billionaire willing to fund a campaign if I was going to do it.”
Portnoy has continually indicated that he is very serious about the possibility of running for mayor. We’ll have to see whether or not it happens.
About Dave Kelsey
Contributing author to The Comeback.