Andrew Cuomo gets BIG funding boost from Bill Ackman, Joe Gebbia ahead of NYC Mayoral Debate vs Zohran Mamdani

Former New York Governor Andrew M Cuomo's last attempt to block Zohran Mamdani’s path to becoming mayor of New York City received a major financial boost ahead of Friday's debate, according to a report by The New York Times. The funding came from two billionaires with close ties to US President Donald Trump, the report said. 

Joe Gebbia, Airbnb co-founder and the Trump administration’s chief design officer, donated $1 million each to Fix the City and Defend NYC, two super PACs opposing the Democratic nominee, Zohran Mamdani, the report said.

Investor and Trump supporter Bill Ackman also contributed, sending $1 million to Defend NYC and $250,000 to Fix the City, according to state filings, NYT reported.

These contributions are among the biggest in the mayoral race and indicate that some donors still think Cuomo, who lost the Democratic primary in June, has a chance.

Despite trailing Mamdani by double digits in most polls, Cuomo continues to campaign as an independent.

Cuomo, 67, previously served as New York's governor from 2011 until his 2021 resignation amid sexual misconduct allegations.

Many affluent business leaders are uneasy about the possibility of Mamdani, a democratic socialist advocating for higher taxes on the wealthy, becoming mayor. While some had pledged major financial backing to oppose him, few have followed through with large donations, given Cuomo's weak standing.

The super PACs seem set to invest their funds in voter outreach efforts aimed at those who might still support Cuomo. Fix the City, which spent over $20 million during the primary mostly on TV ads promoting Cuomo and attacking Mamdani, has now shifted its strategy to focus on door-to-door canvassing and digital advertising, according to the report.

For Cuomo, now running as an independent, the debate was a critical opportunity, one of his last to persuade voters that choosing Mamdani, who had already beaten him in the Democratic primary, would be a mistake.

NYC Mayoral debate

During the debate, Mamdani sharply criticised Cuomo over his alleged sexual misconduct and his handling of the COVID-19 crisis, accusing the former governor of "sending seniors to their death in nursing homes."

Sliwa, aiming to distinguish himself from both rivals, declared, “Thank God I’m not a professional politician because they have created the crime crisis in this city,” while gesturing at Mamdani and Cuomo. He later remarked on the tone of the debate, saying, “There are high levels of testosterone in this room.”

Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist, entered the debate in a stronger position, but he still had to endure two hours of aggressive attacks from Cuomo while holding on to the optimistic, likeable tone that has defined his campaign so far.

He has campaigned on ambitious proposals, such as a free bus service, rent freezes, and city-run supermarkets, ideas that Cuomo has dismissed as unrealistic and financially irresponsible.

A poll of New York City likely voters conducted by Quinnipiac University in early October, after Adams ended his bid for a second term, found that Mamdani continued to hold a lead over Cuomo. The poll suggested that Cuomo may have benefited somewhat from Adams’ departure, but the current mayor’s exit did not appear to have a meaningful impact on the state of the race, AP reported.

Trump factor

Trump has threatened to withhold federal funds from Mamdani's administration if he is elected, calling him a “communist.”

But Mamdani said, “I would make it clear to the president that I am willing to not only speak to him, but to work with him, if it means delivering on lowering the cost of living for New York.”

Cuomo warned, "Trump will take over New York City, and it will be Mayor Trump" if Mamdani won -- mirroring the takeover of much of the administration of the capital, Washington, AFP reported.

Trump said Wednesday he had "terminated" the $16 billion Hudson Gateway tunnel linking New York to New Jersey, a years-long megaproject.

In the debate, when asked about his dream news headline, Mamdani said it would be "Mamdani continues to take on Trump."

Quinnipiac University polling suggests most voters will not have their minds changed by the TV debate, with just 18% of Mamdani and Cuomo's supporters "not likely" to alter their pick, compared to 24% of Sliwa's backers.

(With inputs from agencies, NYT)