Listen To Story Above
Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander’s acceptance of significant donations from billionaire George Soros has raised eyebrows, particularly given his recent attempts to distance himself from progressive positions.
Campaign finance records reveal that Soros contributed $2,100 to Lander’s campaign in June, making Lander the sole mayoral candidate to receive direct funding from the billionaire donor. Political strategist Hank Sheinkopf commented on the connection, stating “Lander is perfect for the Soros gang. He was a public supporter of boycott, divestment sanctions of Israel, and has been a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.”
Recent months have seen Lander moderating his stance on progressive policies, including introducing initiatives to expand police presence and address gun violence. However, Sheinkopf suggests this shift might be temporary, arguing that Lander must “go back to being who he really is in order to get the money to become mayor.”
Lefty mayoral hopeful Brad Lander pockets George Soros cash despite attempt to shift moderate https://t.co/gTBtn7umPJ pic.twitter.com/ZKIwJ8jhbV
— New York Post Metro (@nypmetro) March 22, 2025
The Soros family’s financial support extends beyond the current campaign. During Lander’s 2021 comptroller run, George Soros contributed $5,000 (later returning $2,000), while his sons Alexander and Jonathan, along with daughter-in-law Jennifer, provided additional contributions of $5,100, $250, and $500 respectively.
Lander’s campaign has faced scrutiny over his handling of antisemitism concerns and allegations of politically motivated divestment from Israeli bonds, which his campaign has denied. His acceptance of donations from controversial figures, including anti-Israel Columbia University professor Katherine Franke, remains unchallenged according to financial records.
🚨BRAD LANDER🚨
-Pushed to defund the NYPD while insisting on having NYPD security detail.
-A @nyccomptroller with no financial background.
-Approved $500M in contracts to “non-profits” tied to wife.
-Advocate for driver safety despite having over 120 traffic violations himself. pic.twitter.com/Mk7KGy1miI— Al (@AlBeachGuy) December 29, 2024
Recent polling suggests Lander could secure 31% of Democratic primary votes, positioning him between frontrunner Andrew Cuomo and Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. Queens Councilman Robert Holden criticized Lander’s campaign financing, stating, “Brad Lander will take money from special interests like George Soros while pretending to be a grassroots candidate — he’s a phony who’s always been bought and paid for.”
Currently, Lander leads the mayoral race in fundraising with approximately $6.7 million. Both Lander and Soros’s representatives declined to respond to media inquiries about their financial relationship.
