Dave Portnoy Explodes Over NYC’s New Mayor Zohran Mamdani ‘I Hate This Communist Guy!’
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy is once again making headlines — this time for threatening to pull his company out of New York City following the election of Zohran Mamdani, the city’s newly elected mayor whom Portnoy has labeled a “Communist.”
During a fiery YouTube livestream last week, Portnoy unloaded his frustration over the results of the mayoral election, saying Mamdani’s leadership will “destroy New York’s business climate” and drive entrepreneurs away.
“I hate the guy,” Portnoy said bluntly. “I can’t stand the thought of him running New York City. A thirty-something-year-old Communist who’s never had a job in his life, hates America — doesn’t seem like the best.”
Considering a Move to Jersey
Portnoy, 48, said he’s seriously weighing a relocation of Barstool’s Manhattan office, possibly across the Hudson River to Hoboken or Jersey City, if Mamdani’s policies make operating in New York more difficult.
“Honestly, I’ve given that a lot of thought,” Portnoy said. “He’s definitely going to win. I told our finance guys to start looking around for property — no joke. Take a principled stand.”
But Portnoy admitted the move wouldn’t be easy, saying he’s torn between his political opposition to Mamdani and his loyalty to Barstool’s New York employees.
“If it were just me, I’d move the company out of New York because I hate this guy so much,” he said. “But I won’t, because there’s a lot of people in New York, and I don’t want to change their lifestyle for it.”
After the Election — “Thank God I Don’t Live There Anymore”
When news outlets projected Mamdani’s victory on Tuesday night, Portnoy reacted on X (formerly Twitter) with a short message that quickly went viral:
“Thank God I don’t live there anymore.”
The Barstool founder’s anger toward Mamdani didn’t appear overnight. Back in July, Portnoy told Fox Business that the incoming mayor “hates capitalism” and once implied that he would “blame the victims of 9/11 rather than the terrorists.”
“It’s a very scary time,” Portnoy said at the time. “I can’t believe this guy might be the mayor of New York City. He’s closer to a Communist.”
Barstool’s Manhattan Legacy
Founded in 2003 in Massachusetts, Barstool Sports became a media powerhouse known for its mix of sports, humor, and controversy. Even after expanding to Chicago and other U.S. cities, the company maintained a significant presence in Manhattan, employing dozens of staffers and hosting high-profile media events.
The company was valued at roughly $600 million as of 2023.
Mamdani’s Progressive Agenda Divides Business Leaders
Zohran Mamdani, 34, a Democratic Socialist and New York State Assemblyman, was born in Uganda and raised in Queens. His campaign focused on progressive reforms such as city-run grocery stores, rent freezes, and expanded public housing — ideas that many business leaders call dangerous for investment and job growth.
While some executives offered cautious congratulations, others were alarmed by what they see as a radical shift in City Hall.
Pershing Square CEO Bill Ackman, who clashed with Mamdani on social media throughout the campaign, congratulated him online, writing:
“Now you have a big responsibility. If I can help NYC, just let me know.”
The post was criticized by several corporate leaders, including Palantir CEO Alex Karp, who told CNBC, “We’re about to have a complete disaster. I was born in New York.”
Meanwhile, Kathryn Wylde, outgoing CEO of the Partnership for New York City, urged cooperation, saying her group looked forward to helping Mamdani “achieve his affordability goals while keeping New York competitive as a destination for talent and jobs.”
Portnoy’s Next Move
For now, Portnoy says he’s keeping his options open but insists that Mamdani’s leadership marks a dangerous era for New York’s economy.
“A part of me thinks, how much will actually change?” Portnoy said. “But I really have given it thought. This isn’t just talk.”
As tensions rise between New York’s new political leadership and the business community, one thing is certain — Dave Portnoy won’t stay quiet about it.
