Mamdani Surpasses Cuomo, Adams in NYC Fundraising

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Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, has surged ahead of his rivals in campaign fundraising, reporting just over $1 million in contributions in his latest filing, according to figures submitted Friday.

The amount puts Mamdani well ahead of incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, both of whom are running as independents in the general election. Cuomo, who relaunched his mayoral campaign in July after losing the Democratic primary, reported raising approximately $507,000 in the most recent period. He also transferred just over $68,000 from his state campaign account to support his city run. Cuomo’s campaign listed $1.2 million cash on hand and is applying for an additional $525,000 in public matching funds.

Adams, who is seeking a second term outside the Democratic line, reported a campaign balance of about $3.9 million. However, his campaign has repeatedly been denied public matching funds due to ongoing investigations into his fundraising practices. The mayor has filed a lawsuit against the city’s Campaign Finance Board, arguing that the denials are unfair.

Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa raised roughly $407,000 in the same period, placing him behind the three major candidates in financial support.

Mamdani’s July 12 to August 18 filing period marks a continued rise since his primary victory, when he reported $852,000 in donations. His campaign said it now holds $4.4 million in available funds and expects to qualify for over $2 million in matching dollars. According to disclosures, more than 8,000 donors contributed in this latest cycle, with about half of the donations coming from outside New York City.

Super PACs are also playing a role in the race. A group backing Mamdani received $250,000 from philanthropist Elizabeth Simons, daughter of hedge-fund co-founder James Simons. Meanwhile, Cuomo’s allied super PAC, Fix the City, reported an additional $100,000 contribution in August from Walmart heiress Alice Walton, bringing her total support for the group to $200,000. Fix the City spent more than $22 million during the Democratic primary.

The financial filings underscore the competitive nature of the mayoral race, with Mamdani’s campaign showing the strongest grassroots momentum while Cuomo and Adams rely on established networks and outside support. With millions of dollars in combined fundraising, the contest is shaping up to be one of the most expensive and closely watched elections in New York City in recent years.