Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy stirred political speculation by saying he’d “love to run against” Zohran Mamdani if he ever entered the race for New York City mayor. After social media reacted, he posted an X video—complete with a crying baby—for good me
When Dave Portnoy raised the idea of a run for New York City mayor, the reaction wasn’t quiet. It spread fast—so fast that by the time the speculation went viral, Portnoy felt compelled to respond with a post that mixed politics and punchlines.
The Barstool Sports founder, a longtime critic of Zohran Mamdani, appeared on Fox News Channel’s “Jesse Watters Primetime,” where Watters asked him directly whether he would run against Mamdani.
Portnoy didn’t shut it down. “I would love to run against … if I was going to run, it would be here. Can I win here?. I have no idea,” Portnoy said. He added that his potential case for office would be rooted in what he’s already done in the city: “I’ve done a lot of good in NYC … whether it was the Barstool Fund. pizza places. so it wasn’t for show.”.
He then leaned into a sharp contrast—between his own work and the people he calls “clown politicians.” “There’s a lot of people who like me in New York City. ” Portnoy said. “I’ve had a real job. I’ve done real things. unlike these clown politicians who have never had a job and have never been in the real world for a day.”.
The speculation moved beyond the studio. After social media went “haywire” about Portnoy potentially running, he turned to X with what looked like a deliberately playful response.
In the post, Portnoy shared an image holding a crying baby and wrote: “Who says I can’t be mayor? I’m out here shaking hands and kissing babies. Look how happy this kid is!”
For Portnoy. the idea of taking on Mamdani isn’t new—it’s just escalated from the background noise of online criticism into public talk about ballots and elections. He has previously said he disliked Mamdani. including last year when he claimed he had considered removing Barstool’s New York office if Mamdani won the election.
Portnoy tied that reaction to frustration with how Mamdani would affect the city. “We have all those people who that (messes) up their life just because I hate the guy. ” he said at the time. “It’s a catch-22. I may close the New York office … because I can’t stand the thought of Mamdani running … New York City.”.
Taken together. Portnoy’s comments sketch a simple narrative: he’s put his personal dislike of Mamdani on the record. then responded to attention by leaning even harder into the same theme—this time with a mayoral “what if” that invited even more attention. When the internet latched on, he answered in the one language he knows best: spectacle.
At this point, Portnoy is not laying out a campaign platform. What’s clear is that his remarks—first on national television, then on X—have placed a provocative question into the public conversation: if he ever decided to run, it would be in New York City, and he framed his target as Mamdani.
Dave Portnoy Barstool Sports NYC mayoral run Zohran Mamdani Jesse Watters Primetime Fox News Barstool Fund New York City politics
Honestly Dave Portnoy is the only guy who could make NYC politics worse and somehow funnier.
Did he just post a baby crying like that means he’s a serious candidate? Like what even is the plan lol. Also I don’t even know who Zohran Mamdani is tbh.
Wait so Portnoy “has no idea” if he can win but he’s already trashing the mayor people? That feels like the whole NYC thing where everyone talks first. And the Barstool Fund is not exactly a policy platform, it’s charity. Still, the pizza places line had me like… okay?
This is all vibes. If Dave runs he’ll win solely because people love him, right? But then he says he has no idea if he can win… so is he testing the waters or just farming outrage. Also the crying baby photo, I’m guessing that’s supposed to be about NYC being in pain?? Idk I only saw the headline and clips.