Dave Portnoy issues scathing verdict on NYC mayoral race: 'Pervert vs communist nepo baby'

Whoever wins next month's New York mayoral election, in the eyes of Dave Portnoy the city itself will lose.

The Barstool Sports founder, a Donald Trump voter who has become increasingly political over the last five years, gave a withering verdict of all three candidates after their fiery debate on Thursday night.

Socialist Democrat favorite Zohran Mamdani, 33, leads by double-figures in polling ahead of independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Repubican nominee Curtis Sliwa, with New Yorkers taking to the polls on November 4.

Mamdani's policies have proven polarizing, despite igniting a groundswell of support across the city. Throughout his campaign, he has been accused of 'hating' the NYPD and earlier this week, apologized for calling them 'racist' in 2020. He has also been scrutinized for what critics consider to be a soft stance on Hamas.

Watching the debate, Portnoy despaired as Mamdani dueled with Cuomo - who has previously denied multiple accusations of sexual assault - while Sliwa struggled to make any noticeable impact.

'The #NYCMayoralDebate is the absolute bottom of the barrel politics,' Portnoy wrote.

'You got a guy who got kicked out of office for being a pervert and who already lost the primary vs a communist nepo baby, who has never had a job in his life, hates America, hates the police and is pro terrorist and a 3rd guy who actually loves NYC but has no shot at winning. 

'I feel bad for every person who cares about NYC.'

With regard to Cuomo, Portnoy was referring to the multiple sexual misconduct allegations leveled against him, which Cuomo has denied. Cuomo previously served as governor of New York from 2011 until 2021, when the allegations led to him resigning.

Portnoy seemingly called Mamdani 'pro terrorist' due to his refusal to condem Hamas and his previous perceived hesitancy to distance himself from left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, who once said 'America deserved 9/11'.

Mamdani said Thursday: 'I find the comments that Hasan made on 9/11 to be objectionable and reprehensible. 

'I also think that part of the reason why Democrats are in the situation that we are in, of being a permanent minority in this country, is we are looking only to speak to journalists and streamers and Americans with whom we agree on every single thing that they say.' 

Sliwa, meanwhile, complained during the debate that he was 'marginalized' during the proceedings as Mamdani and Cuomo repeatedly clashed.

But when he had a chance to get his points across, he aggressively attacked both Mamdani and Cuomo, accusing the latter of 'thinking you're the toughest guy alive.'

He sent Mamdani a warning when he said he would 'knock Trump on his face'.

'If you try to get tough with Trump, New Yorkers will suffer,' he said.

The incumbent mayor, Eric Adams, suspended his reelection campaign late last month after being deeply wounded by a now-dismissed federal corruption case and his relationship with the Trump administration.