Just weeks after his shocking election victory, riding a campaign that promised an agenda of “freebies” for all New York City residents, socialist mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is now begging his supporters for money in a sick twist of irony.
In a surprising video plea posted yesterday, Mamdani asked his supporters to send him more money following his election victory.
Mamdani posted a video to X yesterday stating that he needs to raise at least $4 million so he can “pay his employees” and vet the 50,000 resumes he has received to work under his team.
“But why are we fundraising? Well, we have less than 50 days until we take office and we have a lot to do,” Mamdani said.
“We have to vet the 50,000 resumes we’ve received. We have to keep paying our incredible team. And we have to plan not just our inauguration, but our policy implementation. Now unlike the campaign, transitions do not get public matching funds from the city. So that 8 to 1 match? Gone. It’s up to us to raise the money.”
Take a look —
We need your help! But let me explain why: pic.twitter.com/RO9d4GTgpm
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 18, 2025
Mamdani’s appeal comes after his transition team said they raised more than $1 million in two weeks.
“We’ve raised more than $1 million in just two weeks,” Mamdani said.
“Our average donation is around $77 and more than 12,000 of you have donated so far, Which is much lower than the last administration’s transition. But we’re still asking for your help because we need to raise $4 million in total so January 1 can be the day we start to deliver, not start to prepare. I hope very soon not to have to ask you for money, but until then, I’m asking.”
Reports surfaced that Mamdani began asking for donations just one day after his mayoral victory, telling his supporters that they should start giving him money again.
“Remember how I told you a few months ago to stop sending us money? You can start again,” Mamdani said.
“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. So I hope you’ll make a donation at transition2025.com.”
Mamdani was galvanized by the endorsements of Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that helped propel him to victory for New York City’s top spot.
However, even Democratic critics noted that Mamdani was running a socialist platform where he promised to freeze rent, raise the minimum wage to $30 an hour and implement government-run grocery stores and buses.
Mamdani has also promised to raise taxes on wealthy citizens and corporations and create an agency where social workers respond to non-violent 911 calls instead of police.
A link to where people can make donations on behalf of Mamdani is live.