Zohran Mamdani campaigned on addressing the housing crisis and wealth inequality, calling for higher taxes on the rich and saying billionaires should not exist. His viral campaign defeated Andrew Cuomo in a Democratic primary. Billionaires and billionaire-owned companies including Airbnb and DoorDash are spending heavily to oppose Mamdani. LittleSis identified more than $19 million funneled by multiple billionaires and their companies into PACs such as Fix the City, Inc. and Affordable New York. Airbnb reported a $5 million donation to Affordable New York, which spent against Mamdani and progressive allies. Short-term rental firms face backlash for contributing to the housing crisis.
As the housing crisis and wealth inequality emerge as top issues for voters in New York City, mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani has called for higher taxes on the rich to pay for services and famously suggested that billionaires should not exist. Mamdani's viral campaign handily defeated Andrew Cuomo, New York's former governor, in a Democratic primary earlier this year. As expected, billionaires and billionaire-owned companies such as Airbnb and DoorDash are now spending big to defeat Mamdani and influence the race.
For example, the short-term rental company Airbnb reported a $5 million donation to Affordable New York, a group that has spent heavily on city races and reported spending $1.3 million opposing Mamdani and his progressive ally, city comptroller Brad Lander. According to SEC filings, Airbnb's three billionaire co-founders - Brian Chesky, Nathan Blecharczyk, and Joe Gebbia - collectively control 79 percent of the voting power at the company.
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