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The heir to the wealth of a billionaire hedge fund manager has donated to socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a candidate who said he doesn't believe billionaires should exist.
According to the New York Post, the New York Post reported that the cycle received its biggest contribution, with Mamdani-new York's lower-cost PAC recently receiving $250,000 from philanthropist Elizabeth Simons.
Simons, the daughter of late billionaire hedge fund manager Jamie Simons, founded the successful hedge fund Renaissance technology, who built $31.4 billion worth of personal wealth throughout his life and donated billions to charities.
“Frankly, we shouldn't have billionaires because in this time of inequality, it's so much, and ultimately, we need more equality across the city, the state and the country as a whole,” Mamdani told NBC News in June.
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New York City Socialist Mayor Candidate Zohran Mamdani (Deirdre Heaveny/Fox News Numbers)
News of support from Mamdani billionaire has sparked criticism from social media, including Mamdani's rival, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
“Congratulations, @zohrankmamdani completed the hypocritical trinity: Eat the rich → Cash their pac check.”
Fox News Digital has been in contact with the Mamdani campaign and New Yorkers at a lower cost PAC, which operates independently from the event, asking whether the funds will be refunded or condemned, but has received no response from either party.
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Elizabeth Simons, chairman of the Heising-Simons Foundation Board, spoke at the 2016 Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California on May 4, 2016. (Getty Image)
Railings targeting billionaires have been common during Mamdani’s campaign as he tries to position himself as a candidate who provides affordability and living costs to the working class in New York City.
Mamdani released on X in March. Mamdani released on X in March. “Our grassroots dynamics will get us across the finish line in June. ”
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New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani announced his “Five boroughs against Trump” tour Friday in New York City in Queens. (Deirdre Heaveny/Fox News Numbers)
Mamdani also criticized Cuomo for taking money from billionaires and posted on X in June: “We live in the most expensive city in the United States. Cuomo's billionaire donors want to do this in this way. But we have an agenda that makes life affordable.”
Andrew Mark Miller is a Fox News reporter. Find him on Twitter @AndyMarkMiller and email the prompt to andrewmark.miller@fox.com.