New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is asking supporters to contribute to his transition effort as he prepares to assume office.
In a video posted Tuesday, Mamdani urged viewers to donate through a website created for the transition.
“I hope very soon not to have to ask you for money. But until then, I’m askin’ for you to go to transition2025.com, give whatever you can …” Mamdani said in the video.
Mamdani noted that transition activities are not eligible for the city’s public matching funds program, which multiplies qualifying campaign donations.
He said that while campaign contributions can receive an eight-to-one match, transition expenses receive no such assistance.
“Now unlike the campaign, transitions do not get public matching funds from the city. So that eight-to-one match: gone. It’s up to us to raise the money. Usually campaigns take that as an opportunity to rely on wealthy donors, but that’s not us,” he said.
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, stated that the transition team aims to raise $4 million before he takes office on January 1.
He said the intention is to have the full team and operational plans ready on day one rather than beginning preparations after inauguration.
According to figures shown in the video, the transition effort had raised more than $1 million as of November 14.
The data also showed 12,707 donors had contributed, with an average donation of $77.65.
Mamdani outlined several reasons for the fundraising push.
“We have to vet the 50,000 resumes we’ve received,” he said, referring to applicants seeking positions in the incoming administration. He also said funds were necessary to maintain staffing.
“We have to keep paying our incredible team.”
He added that the transition requires planning for both the inauguration and the policy agenda the administration intends to pursue once in office.
“And we have to plan not just our inauguration, but our policy implementation,” he said.
WATCH:
🚨 BREAKING: A desperate Zohran Mamdani stuns supporters by stating things can't ACTUALLY be free, begging for MORE money to fund his "transition" after $1M has been raised.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 18, 2025
Every communist is a professional swindler.
New Yorkers got scammed, big time. pic.twitter.com/ryhblOErZ5
Mamdani won New York City’s mayoral race earlier this month.
The New York state assembly member secured victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in the general election.
