Revelation comes as Mamdani faces scrutiny for defending the phrase ‘Globalize the Intifada’
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the anti-Israel group whose leader said he was “happy” about Oct. 7, is quietly funding socialist Zohran Mamdani’s bid for New York City mayor.
The Unity & Justice Fund, which CAIR formed last year to expand its political influence, has contributed $100,000 to New Yorkers for Lower Costs, the largest PAC supporting Mamdani, according to campaign records. The money was split between a $25,000 gift on May 30 and a $75,000 donation on June 16.
In Facebook ads and mailers, New Yorkers for Lower Costs touts Mamdani’s pledges to “freeze the rent” in New York City and “make groceries less expensive,” while casting him as a progressive alternative to campaign frontrunner Andrew Cuomo.
But the backing of the Unity & Justice Fund and other anti-Israel organizations suggests New Yorkers for Lower Cost’s true interest in Mamdani lies in his anti-Israel views. Mamdani has refused to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist and earlier this week defended the phrase “Globalize the Intifada,” a rallying cry for violence against Jews worldwide.
CAIR launched the Unity & Justice Fund in order to “use money to protect the interests of the [Muslim] community,” CAIR executive director Nihad Awad said in an interview last year. Awad gained national attention in late 2023 for stating he was “happy to see” Hamas attack Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Other anti-Israel organizations and activists have donated to New Yorkers for Lower Costs. Anti-Semitic activist Linda Sarsour contributed $2,500 to the Unity & Justice Fund. End the Occupation, affiliated with the anti-Israel group IfNotNow, contributed $1,000 this week. The Truth Project, a New Jersey-based group that accuses Israel of “genocide,” gave $10,000 to New Yorkers for Lower Costs on June 9, records show.
Mamdani, a member of both the Democratic Party and Democratic Socialists of America, trails Cuomo by double digits in most recent polls, but his campaign has gained steam in recent weeks following endorsements from progressive darlings like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.). Amid Mamdani’s rise, a group supporting Cuomo called Fix the City recently spent $5.4 million on television ads that portray Mamdani as radical, highlighting his proposals to use New York’s subway system to house the homeless and his calls to defund police.
The Unity & Justice Fund’s donations to the pro-Mamdani group appears to be CAIR’s largest political contribution to date. In November, the Unity & Justice Fund gave $40,000 to the Justice Democrats PAC, an organization affiliated with the “Squad.” The Unity & Justice Fund, whose treasurer is CAIR official Basim Elkarra, received $10,000 from CAIR Action and $15,000 from an organization called Progressive Era PAC.
New Yorkers for Lower Costs has received large contributions from several wealthy backers. New York City real estate developer Gideon Friedman contributed $50,000 to the organization this week and Tom Preston-Werner, the billionaire founder of GitHub, gave $25,000 in April.
The treasurer for New Yorkers for Lower Costs is Howie Stanger, a former organizer with IfNotNow. Stanger has served as treasurer for a network of super PACs that were scrutinized for sending deceptive text messages to voters in battleground states, the Washington Free Beacon reported.
CAIR and Mamdani’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
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