Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy said Thursday that “billionaire after billionaire” has reached out with offers to financially back a potential mayoral campaign against New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Speaking with Jeff Edelstein on the latest episode of the Business of Betting podcast, Portnoy said the offers have come without him asking — and from “serious people.”
“If I wanted to run for mayor of New York, I could have the biggest war chest probably in the history of political war chests,” Portnoy told Edelstein, while acknowledging that he has not ruled out a bid.
“I have billionaire after billionaire willing to fund a campaign if I was going to do it.”
Portnoy, widely known by his Barstool nickname “El Presidente,” first floated his political ambitions late last month during an appearance on “Jesse Watters Primetime.” He told Watters he would “love to” challenge Mamdani, saying the direction of New York City had him “losing my mind.”
Still, despite what he described as major financial support waiting in the wings, Portnoy made clear to Edelstein that he remains undecided about whether to actually jump into the race.
“Depends on the day you get me. Today I have a cold and don’t feel great, so today I am not running for mayor,” Portnoy said.
The “One Bite Pizza” reviewer said he remains concerned about the state of New York City, but the New England native also questioned “who the heck” would willingly step into the rough-and-tumble world of politics.
“It would be a decision because I felt like I had an obligation to do it,” Portnoy said.
But Portnoy’s still teased that he’s weighing the decision.
“As you’ve said, you have to be a little crazy to do it,” Edelstein asked Portnoy. “Are you a little crazy to do it?”
“I am a little bit crazy,” Portnoy said, “but this is a different type of crazy.”
