Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has sparked a wave of reactions after openly considering a political run against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The media personality made the remarks during a recent appearance on Fox News’ Jesse Watters Primetime, where he expressed deep frustration with the city’s current leadership.
Portnoy, who has been a vocal critic of the mayor for months, said he is rethinking his long-standing refusal to enter politics. He called the situation in New York a “scary time” and suggested it might be his “duty” to step up and challenge Mamdani, who was elected in November 2025. The internet quickly drew comparisons between Portnoy’s potential campaign and Spencer Pratt’s unsuccessful 2017 run for mayor of Los Angeles.
Portnoy Says He Would ‘Love to Run’ Against Mamdani
During the Fox News interview, Portnoy made his stance clear when asked if he would consider running against the democratic socialist mayor. He responded by saying he would “love to run against him” and that if he were to enter politics, New York City would be the place.
“I’ve always thought I would never get involved in politics. This, and what is going on, has actually made me pause that thought,” Portnoy said. He added that he spends a significant portion of his day “losing my mind with what’s happening, especially in New York,” and that the situation “really, really, really worries me.”
Portnoy acknowledged that a campaign would not be easy. When Watters pressed him about his chances, he admitted he has no idea if he could actually win. “I don’t know the demographics, whether I’d get enough votes,” he said. However, he pointed to his existing popularity in the city, citing his work with the Barstool Fund and his famous pizza reviews as evidence that he has a connection with New Yorkers.
“I’ve done a lot of good in New York City when I wasn’t thinking about politics,” Portnoy explained. “It wasn’t for show. I’ve had a real job. I’ve done real things unlike these clown politicians who have never had a job and never been in the real world for a day.”
Internet Reaction: ‘The Spencer Pratt of NYC’
The news of Portnoy’s political ambitions quickly went viral, with social media users drawing a direct comparison to reality TV star Spencer Pratt. Pratt famously ran for mayor of Los Angeles in 2017, a campaign that was largely viewed as a publicity stunt.
A Threads user with the handle @missbicks shared a screenshot from Portnoy’s Fox News interview, captioning it: “Dave Portnoy — the Spencer Pratt of NYC.” The comparison spread rapidly across X, with many users echoing the sentiment.
One user directly addressed Portnoy, writing: “@stoolpresidente didn’t you learn anything from Spencer Pratt’s embarrassing campaign for mayor of Los Angeles? Just because you’re a spoiled ‘pick me’ douche bag doesn’t mean you should be the f**king mayor of New York City.”
Others mocked the idea that Portnoy’s pizza reviews qualify him for public office. “Apparently managing New York City isn’t a real job, but writing blog posts about pizza is. Good to know where we’ve set the bar,” one user commented sarcastically. Another joked: “Yes, offering social media unsolicited reviews of pizza definitely makes you qualified.”
Despite the heavy criticism, Portnoy did receive some support from his followers. One fan encouraged him to ignore the doubters. “Dave Portnoy, they’re going to doubt you. They’re going to tell you you can’t win against the most popular New York mayor in 100 years. They’re going to tell you reviewing pizza is not a ‘real job.’ You can’t listen to them,” the supporter wrote.
Skepticism About Portnoy’s Chances
Many political observers and social media users expressed skepticism that Portnoy could mount a serious challenge against Mayor Mamdani. One user on X predicted a “historic landslide” for the incumbent. “Mamdani would win in a historic landslide if Dave Portnoy of all people ran against him,” the user wrote. Another commenter added: “R or D aside, I’m pretty sure Mamdani would win an election vs David by Jong-Un margins.”
Portnoy himself seemed to acknowledge the demographic challenges he would face. He pointed to the voters who supported Mamdani-backed candidates in recent primaries, describing them as “young, white, Ivy League-ish elite-ish” people who “will never vote for me.” He stated they “will never believe in common sense,” reflecting his belief that his appeal does not extend to the progressive base that currently supports the mayor.
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History of Tension Between Portnoy and Mamdani
Portnoy’s recent comments are the latest in a long-running feud with the New York City mayor. His opposition to Mamdani predates the mayor’s election. In November 2025, as Mamdani’s victory became apparent, Portnoy threatened to move Barstool Sports’ Manhattan office to New Jersey.
“I can’t stand the thought of him running New York City,” Portnoy said during a livestream at the time. “Thirty-something-year-old Communist running New York City who’s never had a job in his life, hates America — doesn’t seem like the best.”
Portnoy reiterated that threat, stating he told his finance team to start looking for property in Hoboken or Jersey City. He described the potential move as taking a “principled stand.”
The tension escalated further during the New York Knicks’ NBA championship celebrations. When Mamdani delivered a speech at the City Hall ceremony that received widespread praise, Portnoy took to social media to call him out. He accused the mayor of “hogging the spotlight” and being “inauthentic.” Portnoy called Mamdani a “professional actor” and questioned his credentials as a Knicks fan, noting that he could only name one player during a debate.
Most recently, Portnoy criticized Mamdani for targeting billionaire Ken Griffin in a video promoting a tax on luxury second homes. Portnoy suggested that the mayor was “rubbing people’s faces in it” and accused him of trying to act like a “Mr. Cool Guy Communist.”
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