Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has reached the fundraising cap for the Democratic primary, making his campaign the first to do so this election cycle and the fastest in city history. His team announced the milestone on Monday, March 24th, three months before the June primary, allowing them to shift focus to voter outreach.
Mamdani, a Queens state assemblymember and democratic socialist, has raised over $8 million with projected public matching funds from about 18,000 donors. His campaign reported an average donation of around $84—significantly lower than several opponents.
Under the city’s Campaign Finance Program, donations from New York City residents can be matched 8-to-1 for the first $250, with a primary spending limit of $8 million. Mamdani’s campaign estimates it has reached the cap, though the Campaign Finance Board (CFB) will confirm final public funds payments on April 15th.
Timothy Hunter, secretary of the CFB, clarified that campaigns determine their own projections for matching funds payments. “Any projections of matching funds payments shared by campaigns are based solely on the campaign’s estimates,” he explained.
With fundraising complete, Mamdani’s campaign now focuses on expanding its volunteer efforts. His team has over 7,000 volunteers and aims to knock on 1 million doors before the election. “We have the money to be on TV, in your mailbox, on your phone,” Mamdani stated. “But there’s one more place we need to be—your block.”
His announcement comes as former Governor Andrew Cuomo leads overall fundraising, bringing in $1.5 million last period but reporting just over $330,000 in match-eligible contributions. At least $120,000 of Cuomo’s funds came from registered Republicans, according to filings.
Candidates must confirm participation in the public finance program by April 28th. The next major disclosure deadline is May 23rd, with eligible campaigns receiving public funds on May 30th.
