Dave Portnoy Considering Political Run

Barstool Sports owner Dave Portnoy is contemplating a run for office, driven by his disappointment with New York City’s current leadership. He expressed a desire to challenge Mayor Zoran Mamdani, saying, “I would love to run against him. If I were to run, it would be here.”

During an appearance on “Jesse Watters Prime Time,” Portnoy admitted that he once thought he would steer clear of politics. However, he now feels compelled to act, citing concerns about being governed by what he calls “dummies.” “Especially in New York, I spend a lot of my day thinking about what’s going on,” he shared.

Portnoy took aim at the Democratic Party, criticizing the growing influence of left-wing socialists within its ranks, who have seen significant electoral success recently. He remarked, “What the Democrats have done is put the fox in the henhouse, and now he’s just going on a rampage and kicking out all the foxes,” a comment seemingly directed at Mamdani.

Last Tuesday, three far-left candidates, supported by Mamdani, claimed victories over established Democratic challengers in the primaries.

Portnoy’s thoughts on entering politics fluctuate daily. Some days, he feels overwhelmed by the “mess” that politics can be. Yet, at times, he senses a duty to step up, saying, “Sometimes I feel like I can make a difference. Maybe I’ll run for office.”

Regarding his qualifications, he emphasized his “real job” and real-world experiences, remarking, “This is not like a clown politician who has never held a job.”

But as for his potential success in New York, Portnoy is uncertain. “Can we win here? I don’t know. I don’t know if I can get enough votes, I don’t know the demographics,” he stated. Still, he added, “There’s a lot of people in New York who like me, I know that.”