Dave Portnoy flirts with running for mayor in New York to upend Zohran Mamdani

Anyone can run for political office these days. From people who’ve never had a real job, to millionaires like Dave Portnoy. The floodgates are open, and the general population is more willing than ever to zag in a different direction if things aren’t working.

New York is a prime example. If you told a New Yorker 10 years ago that in 2026 they’d elect a democratic socialist Muslim as their next mayor, they’d probably call you a slur. Zohran Mamdani has been polarizing ever since he burst onto the scene. From his unwillingness to bend the knee to Israel, to his somewhat radical policies, the guy has captured the soul of New York in a way no one else has, at least in my lifetime.

Of course, this means you either love or hate him. I don’t live in New York. I’ve always hated the city, and I probably always will. Nevertheless, as an outsider, some of the stuff he’s done seems pretty good. Universal childcare seems pretty cool, along with rent freezing.

But as expected, the right thinks he is the devil, including Dave Portnoy, who has been a loud advocate against Zohran ever since he took office. Now, the Barstool commander in chief is flirting with running in the next mayoral race in the Big Apple.

Dave Portnoy might throw his hat in the ring

🚨🇺🇸BREAKING: Dave Portnoy may be eyeing a run against Mamdani:

"Sometimes I do feel like it's my duty… I feel like I could make a change…

Can I win here(NYC), I have no idea"pic.twitter.com/ZayosVt1IC

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 30, 2026

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Personally, not a huge Dave Portnoy guy. I respect him for everything he’s accomplished at Barstool. It’s remarkable how he built that thing from the ground up. I just think he’s a dickhead. Honestly, I imagine he’d take that as a compliment.

The thing with all of these big business owners who flirt with getting into politics is that they believe the government is run like a corporate business. It’s just not, and it’s not designed to be. We have a business guy in the White House right now, and under his watch socialists are being elected left and right. If nothing else, it tells me that the general public does not trust the status quo of American politics. The old Red Scare propaganda against communism doesn’t hit as hard when no one can own a home and everything costs more for no tangible reason, aside from being in another Middle Eastern war.

Dave Portnoy may be a great business guy. That doesn’t mean it would translate to politics, especially in liberal New York.

The main reason Dave Portnoy wants to run is just because he hates Mamdani. Although he paints it as “his duty,” he wouldn’t even be saying anything if Cuomo got back into office — and Cuomo is objectively a terrible person who ran NY into the ground during COVID. It’s just because of Mamdani.

And if we’re being honest about why he doesn’t like him, it stems from this narrative that Mamdani is antisemitic because he refuses to visit Israel. Portnoy does the classic Republican thing when it comes to identity politics. He’ll question and have an “open dialogue” when it comes to things like trans people or Black Lives Matter. But the moment someone questions Israel, he shuts them down, says you can’t make jokes about Jews, and calls you an antisemite.

It’s exhausting to listen to.

If Dave Portnoy actually wants to help the people of New York have a better future, by all means, throw your hat in the ring and let the best man win. But if this is really just a personal vendetta against Mamdani, stay at Barstool. One of the wisest things any human can do is have enough self-awareness to know their lane. Portnoy’s is at Barstool.