New York City Council candidate Zohran Mamdani is under scrutiny after reports revealed his campaign accepted illegal foreign donations totalling nearly $13,000 (around Rs 11 lakh). US election law strictly prohibits candidates from accepting contributions from non-US citizens or residents.
Foreign Contributions to Mamdani’s Campaign
NYC Campaign Finance Board records show Mamdani’s campaign received roughly 54,000 donations from supporters. Of these, about 170 came from outside the United States. Among the foreign contributions, Ada Diaz Ahmed, an investor living in Dubai, donated $2,100 (approx. Rs 1.74 lakh) in September.
The campaign has yet to return 88 foreign donations totalling $7,190 (approx. Rs 6 lakh). After being presented with the details, Mamdani’s campaign stated, “We will, of course, return any donations that are not in compliance with CFB law.”
Campaign Funds and Spending
Mamdani’s mayoral campaign has raised significant funds. Private donations account for Rs 33.2 crore, while public matching funds add another Rs 105.4 crore, according to campaign filings. Despite spending heavily on advertisements, events, and staff salaries, the campaign reportedly still has about Rs 50.6 crore in reserve.
This fundraising total is more than double what former Governor Andrew Cuomo raised in the same period, which was around Rs 4.21 crore.
Political Reactions and Concerns
Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa criticized the campaign for foreign donations. He said, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, so I would be very concerned. There is probably a lot more in terms of foreign money.”
He added, “It’s very problematic, not just for Zohran Mamdani, but anybody who has these kinds of PACs, because it’s a license to illegally funnel money.”
Two months ago, Sliwa told Fox Business he wanted the US Department of Justice to investigate, suspecting that Mamdani might be receiving “dark money” from foreign nationals through super PACs.
Public Opinion & Commentary
Some campaign observers have noted that Mamdani’s strategy seems unconventional. Marquardt, a US citizen working as a consultant in Hamburg, Germany, said, “It’s the only campaign I’ve seen that’s not trying to win by convincing a group of people to hate another group of people.”
While Mamdani’s progressive messaging has earned him praise, the foreign donation issue has sparked debate about transparency and legality in election campaigns.
What This Means for Mamdani’s Campaign?
The controversy puts Mamdani’s campaign under a legal and political microscope. Returning the illegal contributions could mitigate immediate legal consequences, but questions about campaign funding practices and foreign influence remain. The NYC electorate and federal authorities are expected to watch the matter closely.
