Incoming New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani is asking supporters to fund his transition, saying the office does not get the city’s public matching funds and aiming to raise $4 million so the administration can begin delivering on January 1st; his team has touted over $1 million raised from more than 12,700 donors and laid out reasons like vetting tens of thousands of resumes and paying staff. The pitch and the video message have drawn attention for the scale of the ask, the fundraising method, and what the transition will prioritize during the handoff.
In a direct message to backers, Mamdani said, “I hope very soon not to have to ask you for money. But until then, I’m askin’ for you to go to transition2025.com, give whatever you can …” The line is plain and informal, and it makes clear this is an appeal to people who supported him through the campaign to keep that support going into the first weeks of governance.
He made a point about the mechanics behind the request, explaining that the transition phase does not receive the same public matching funds that campaigns enjoy. “Now unlike the campaign, transitions do not get public matching funds from the city. So that eight-to-one match: gone. It’s up to us to raise the money. Usually campaigns take that as an opportunity to rely on wealthy donors, but that’s not us,” the incoming mayor said, drawing a contrast between past norms and his stated approach. That distinction is central to his appeal and to how he frames the urgency of the fundraiser.
https://x.com/ZohranKMamdani/status/1990798866594345147
Mamdani has set a concrete target: “we need to raise $4 million dollars in total, so January 1st can be the day we start to deliver, not start to prepare.” He and his team provided figures in the video showing more than $1 million raised as of Nov. 14, with an average contribution of $77.65 across 12,707 donors. Those numbers are intended to highlight grassroots backing and to suggest a broad base of small-dollar donors rather than dependence on a small number of deep-pocketed supporters.
The transition team also offered reasons for the money beyond the headline goal, citing operational needs and the logistics of swapping a city government to a new administration. “We have to vet the 50,000 resumes we’ve received,” he said, pointing to a flood of interest from people wanting to join the new administration and signaling a big hiring effort ahead. That sort of vetting process takes staff time and resources, and the campaign argues the funds are needed to manage it properly.
Maintaining staff through a transition was also emphasized as a cost driver. “We have to keep paying our incredible team,” Mamdani said, indicating payroll and capacity are immediate expenses even before policy rollouts begin. The request frames these payments as investments in continuity and readiness rather than political perks, but the need to fund payroll from private donations raises questions about long-term budgeting and accountability.
Planning the ceremony and the concrete steps to implement policy were named as additional uses of the money. “And we have to plan not just our inauguration, but our policy implementation,” he said, tying the fundraiser to both symbolic and substantive launch activities. On the surface that sounds reasonable: transitions do take logistical and planning resources, and early implementation work can shape a new mayor’s ability to move quickly on promises.
From a Republican viewpoint, that quick-start pitch should come with demands for transparency and discipline. Raising millions privately to stand up a city administration is a serious matter; conservative voters and taxpayers will want clear accounting for who gives, how decisions are insulated from donor influence, and how this temporary pot of money fits into the city’s long-term fiscal picture. The basic facts Mamdani shared — the $4 million goal, the $1 million-plus already raised, and the operational reasons — make the ask explicit, but they also invite scrutiny about priorities and safeguards as the new mayor prepares to govern.
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, captured the Big Apple’s mayoral office earlier this month after a campaign that put him ahead of opponents including a former governor and a Republican candidate. His fundraising pitch now tries to turn campaign energy into transition cash, and the conversation that follows will be about balance: can a city transition be financed this way without raising questions about influence, and will donors be satisfied that their money goes toward careful, accountable setup rather than political theater?
Darnell Thompkins is a conservative opinion writer from Atlanta, GA, known for his insightful commentary on politics, culture, and community issues. With a passion for championing traditional values and personal responsibility, Darnell brings a thoughtful Southern perspective to the national conversation. His writing aims to inspire meaningful dialogue and advocate for policies that strengthen families and empower individuals.