Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy stated Thursday that numerous billionaires have offered to finance a potential campaign against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Portnoy made the revelation on the Business of Betting podcast, describing the financial offers as "unsolicited" and coming 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 host Jeff Edelstein. He indicated that "billionaire after billionaire" is prepared to fund his candidacy should he decide to run.
Portnoy first publicly expressed interest in challenging Mamdani last month on Fox News' "Jesse Watters Primetime," citing his dissatisfaction with recent developments in the city. He noted that he "would love to" run, as current events in New York have left him feeling "losing my mind."
Despite the significant financial backing being pledged, Portnoy expressed uncertainty about committing to a run. "Depends on the day you get me. Today I have a cold and don't feel great, so today I am not running for mayor," he told Edelstein. He also reflected on the demanding nature of political life, questioning who would choose to enter such an arena.
Portnoy suggested that any decision to enter politics would stem from a sense of obligation. When asked if he was "a little crazy" to consider a political career, Portnoy responded, "I am a little bit crazy, but this is a different type of crazy."