Dave Portnoy Admits He 'Might Run' Against NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani: 'I Feel Like I Could Make a Change' 

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy announced he is considering a political run for Mayor of New York City. During a Monday, June 29, appearance on Fox News' Jesse Watters Primetime, Portnoy voiced his immense frustration with the city's current leadership under Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, explicitly stating, "I would love to run against him.”

Portnoy stated that the threat of being ruled by "dummies" and seeing the direction of New York City has him reconsidering his long-held stance of staying out of politics. He added, "Sometimes I do feel like it's my duty. I can't turn away. I feel like I could make a change."

Defending his credentials, Portnoy, who was accused of sexual misconduct in two exposés published by Insider in late 2021 and early 2022, contrasted himself with career politicians, noting his efforts in saving small businesses during the pandemic: "I've had a real job, I've done real things, unlike these clown politicians who have never had a job and never been in the real world for a day."

Despite his interest, Portnoy acknowledged that the local political demographics might favor Mamdani, questioning whether young voters in New York would ever look past their differences to vote for him.

Social media critics quickly quashed the erstwhile pizza critic’s political aspirations.

“He has as much chance winning in NYC as you do. You bozos are getting more ridiculous by the day,” said one.

“Running for office is no longer a serious endeavor. It's something wealthy dumb----- do when they get bored, or formerly wealthy dumb----- do to grift off other dumb------” said another.

“He would get crushed,” another individual echoed, noting Mamdani’s high approval ratings.

Another was more encouraging, saying, “Please do. Would love to see Mamdani shut you down.”

Before Mamdani won the mayoral election in November 2025, Portnoy actively threatened to move Barstool Sports' headquarters out of Manhattan to New Jersey, calling Mamdani "scary" and "anti-business.”

Portnoy's renewed outrage was sparked by the major victories of three Mamdani-backed Democratic Socialist candidates in the June New York House primaries, which he claimed were turning New York into an "anti-American city."

Mamdani currently holds a strong 58 percent favorability rating among New York City voters, according to a Siena Research Institute poll released on June 25.

This marks a notable increase over his 56 percent favorability rating in April, indicating that public opinion has trended upward throughout the first half of his first year in office.