The anti-Israel group Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), whose executive director declared he was “happy” about the October 7 Hamas terror attacks, has funneled $100,000 into socialist Zohran Mamdani’s New York City mayoral campaign through its political arm, the Unity & Justice Fund. Campaign finance records reveal that the Fund gave $25,000 on May 30 and another $75,000 on June 16 to New Yorkers for Lower Costs, the largest PAC backing Mamdani.
While the PAC promotes Mamdani’s rent freeze and grocery affordability plans, its donor list—filled with anti-Israel entities—tells a deeper story. Mamdani has refused to affirm Israel’s right to exist, supports the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, and has defended “Globalize the Intifada,” a slogan linked to violence against Jews.
CAIR launched the Unity & Justice Fund “to use money to protect the interests of the [Muslim] community,” according to CAIR director Nihad Awad, who praised the Hamas attacks on Israel. Other groups backing Mamdani’s PAC include Linda Sarsour ($2,500), the Truth Project ($10,000), and End the Occupation ($1,000)—all known for their anti-Israel activism.
Despite trailing Andrew Cuomo in polls, Mamdani’s campaign has gained momentum through endorsements from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. But the radical roots of his funding raise serious concerns about the true priorities of his candidacy.
As Mamdani rises, his campaign has become a political vehicle for extremists looking to mainstream anti-Israel rhetoric. CAIR’s $100,000 donation marks its largest known political investment, and it is one tied not to local issues—but to ideology.
