Zohran Mamdani hates billionaires. One just donated $250k to help get him elected

Telegraph

6 hours ago

A billionaire hedge fund heiress has donated $250,000 (£186,000) to a political action group supporting Zohran Mamdani's mayoral campaign, weeks after the New York socialist said billionaires should not exist.
Elizabeth Simons, the daughter of late hedge fund billionaire Jamie Simons, has made the largest single donation to New Yorkers for Lower Costs, a political action committee (PAC).
Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, won over swathes of New Yorkers with a slick social media campaign and promises to freeze rent and open city-run supermarkets.
The Super PAC supporting his campaign has raised more than $1.8m (£1.3m) from nearly 300 donations.
Ms Simons, who according to the public records lives in Palo Alto, California, is chairwoman of the board of directors of the Heising-Simons Foundation, which she co-founded with her husband, Mark Heising.
Her donation to the committee, which is described as the 'official Zohran Mamdani support PAC' on its website, comes after Mr Mamdani disparaged billionaires in the wake of his Democratic primary win.
Asked in June whether billionaires should exist, Mr Mamdani told NBC News: 'I don't think that we should have billionaires because, frankly, it is so much money in a moment of such inequality, and ultimately, what we need more of is equality across our city and across our state and across our country.'
He added: 'I look forward to working with everyone, including billionaires, to make a city that is fair for all of them'.
It comes as Mr Cuomo reportedly told donors at a fundraiser in the Hamptons he expects Donald Trump will wade into the mayoral race in an effort to prevent Mr Mamdani from winning.
After losing the Democratic primary, Mr Cuomo re-entered the race as an independent candidate.
Polls show him trailing Mr Mamdani, but he is the 33-year-old's closest challenger in a crowded field which includes Eric Adams, the incumbent New York mayor, and Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate.
'We can minimise [the Sliwa] vote, because he'll never be a serious candidate,' Mr Cuomo told the fundraiser on Saturday, according to audio obtained by Politico.
'And Trump himself, as well as top Republicans, will say the goal is to stop Mamdani. And you'll be wasting your vote on Sliwa. So I feel good about that.'
'Let's put it this way: I knew the president very well,' Mr Cuomo reportedly said, adding: 'I believe there's a big piece of him that actually wants redemption in New York. He feels that he was rejected by New York.
'We voted for Hillary Clinton. Bill de Blasio took his name off things. So I believe there will be opportunities to actually cooperate with him. I also believe that he's not going to want to fight with me in New York if he can avoid it.'
Mr Trump has asked pollsters which candidate had the best chance of defeating Mr Mamdani, according to reports.
A pro-Cuomo super PAC called Fix the City has raised more than $25m (£18.6m) from a similar number of donors.
The top contribution was $5m (£3.7m) from former mayor Michael Bloomberg, which was donated ahead of Mr Cuomo's failed primary bid.
Bill Ackman, the Trump-supporting billionaire hedge fund manager has given $500,000 (£371,000) in two donations, including $250,000 (£186,000) after the Democratic primary.
Rich Azzopardi, Mr Cuomo's spokesperson, said his remarks at the fundraiser amounted to speculation.
'We're not asking for or expecting help from anyone,' he said. 'Governor Cuomo is the only chance to beat Mamdani and ensure the greatest city in the world stays the greatest city in the world.'