New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s rise to power has sparked intense scrutiny over who helped propel him to victory — and who now stands to shape his administration. Mamdani’s inner circle includes powerful activists, political organizations, and unions with strong ideological agendas, raising questions about the influence they may wield once he takes office in January.
“When you take money for people in politics, if you let them down, they’re going to come get you,” said political strategist Hank Sheinkopf. “If he doesn’t deliver, they are going to remember.”
Among Mamdani’s closest allies is Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour, who has described herself as both mentor and friend. Sarsour told attendees at a recent CAIR conference that she will hold Mamdani “accountable” and won’t let him “do whatever the hell he wants when he gets to City Hall.” A longtime critic of Israel, Sarsour once said, “One cannot be a feminist and a Zionist at the same time.”
CAIR-related political groups donated more than $140,000 to Mamdani’s PAC. Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton has called for an investigation into the Muslim civil rights group, saying it has “deep ties to terrorist organizations.”
Mamdani’s alignment with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) also underscores his far-left roots. The DSA has advocated for “the decriminalization of all drugs, sex work and petty crimes,” positions that have drawn sharp criticism from law enforcement and moderate Democrats alike.
The United Federation of Teachers, representing over 200,000 education workers, also played a role in Mamdani’s campaign and has already won a promise of $12 million to hire 1,000 new teachers annually.
As Mamdani prepares to lead the nation’s largest city, this network of activists, donors, and ideological groups may determine not just his priorities but the political tone of New York City’s future.
