Zohran Mamdani’s Campaign Faces Scrutiny Over Foreign Donations

In the midst of a heated New York City mayoral race, frontrunner Zohran Mamdani’s campaign has come under scrutiny after records revealed nearly $13,000 in potentially illegal foreign donations. As the leading Democratic candidate with substantial financial backing—$4 million in private donations and $12.7 million in public matching funds—this discovery raises important questions about campaign finance compliance. An examination of NYC Campaign Finance Board records found approximately 170 contributions from donors with addresses outside the United States, a concerning figure given that only US citizens or permanent legal residents are permitted to contribute to political campaigns under federal, state, and city law. While campaigns are expected to promptly return any illegal donations, records show that Mamdani’s team has thus far failed to return 88 of these foreign donations, totaling $7,190.

The implications of these foreign donations extend beyond mere administrative oversight. US election laws are designed to prevent foreign influence in American politics—violations can result in significant fines and even imprisonment for candidates who knowingly accept such contributions. When contacted about these findings, Mamdani’s campaign issued a statement promising to “return any donations that are not in compliance with CFB law,” though they declined to explain why so many foreign contributions remain in the campaign’s war chest. This situation has drawn criticism from Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, who expressed concern that “there is probably a lot more in terms of foreign money” and previously called for a Department of Justice investigation into suspicions that Mamdani is being aided by difficult-to-trace “dark money” illegally funneled through super PACs.

Among the foreign donations identified was a $500 contribution from Bariah Dardari, the mother of Mamdani’s new wife Rama Duwaji, who listed an address at a hospital in Dubai where she works as a pediatrician. While this particular donation was reportedly returned the same day it was received, it highlights the personal connections that may exist between the candidate and some foreign contributors. Most of the foreign donations began arriving in June, coinciding with the Democratic primary in which Mamdani achieved an unexpected victory over incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo. The contributors represent a diverse group including tech professionals, doctors, university professors, students, and retired teachers, with donation amounts ranging from as little as $1 to as much as $2,100.

Examining some of the larger foreign contributors reveals individuals like James Furlaud, an environmental scientist at Australia’s University of Tasmania who donated $2,100. His academic work focuses on climate change effects on forests—potentially aligning with Mamdani’s progressive platform. Ada Diaz Ahmed, described as a Dubai-based investor, also contributed $2,100 in September. Other notable foreign donors include Jun-Dai Bates Kobashigawa, a Montreal-based software developer who donated $250; Ugur Macit, a German software engineer who contributed $250; and Ahmed Enbya, a physician in Calgary who gave $100. While most of these individuals did not respond to requests for comment, their professional backgrounds suggest a pattern of support from educated professionals based overseas.

Not all foreign-based donations are necessarily illegal—US citizens living abroad can legally contribute to American political campaigns. For instance, Nupur Amin Marquardt, a US citizen working as a consultant in Hamburg, Germany, donated $50 to Mamdani’s campaign in August. When contacted, Marquardt explained her motivation despite having no direct connection to New York City: “It’s the only campaign I’ve seen that’s not trying to win by convincing a group of people to hate another group of people.” This sentiment reflects the broader appeal of Mamdani’s democratic socialist platform, which has attracted supporters well beyond New York City’s boundaries. Indeed, city filings revealed last month that most contributions to Mamdani’s campaign have come from outside New York City, with the frontrunner collecting $1.05 million over several weeks—more than double the $507,000 raised by former Governor Cuomo.

As the election approaches with less than a month remaining, Mamdani maintains a substantial financial advantage with nearly $6.1 million on hand. However, the questions surrounding these foreign donations create a cloud of uncertainty over his campaign’s compliance with election laws. The NYC Campaign Finance Board has declined to comment specifically on this matter, noting only that they are in the process of auditing all campaigns in this election cycle. This situation serves as a reminder of the complex regulatory landscape governing campaign finance in American elections and the challenges campaigns face in properly vetting the thousands of contributions they receive. For voters, it raises important questions about transparency and accountability from those seeking public office, particularly as concerns about foreign influence in American elections remain at the forefront of public discourse.