It’s the kind of cash and clout that the city’s matching funds program was created to offset. But bankrolled by real estate, Wall Street, unions and more, special-interest groups are sinking big money into the race for mayor.

A PAC supporting Shaun Donovan — funded with $6.8 million from his father — has spent $6.5 million, mostly on TV and digital ads. 

What You Need To Know

  • Funded by unions, real estate, Wall Street and more, political action committees seek to influence the election

  • A PAC boosting Shaun Donovan is funded with $6.8 million from his father

  • Another PAC supporting Ray McGuire has nearly $6M in contributions
  • Election reform advocates say special-interest cash makes public campaign finance all the more crucial

One boosting Ray McGuire has nearly $6 million in contributions and has spent more than half that.

Two PACs hoping to get Eric Adams elected have collected $4.2 million.

Two pro-Andrew Yang PACs have gotten $1.9 million.

Scott Stringer and Maya Wiley also have such groups in their corner, the pro-Wiley one set to be funded by George Soros.

PACs can raise and spend unlimited funds.

They cannot coordinate with the campaigns.

That legal distinction makes it possible for candidates to denounce independent expenditures, even as they benefit from them.

“I cannot communicate with an IE. I can’t communicate with any other groups at all. I have to stay and run my race,” said Eric Adams while stressing that the PACs that back him include labor unions.

“I have been a longtime opponent of Citizens United. It is a disaster for democracy. I cannot comment on the decisions other people make in independent expenditures,” said Maya Wiley, pivoting to what she saw as the successes in her own campaign fundraising.

“I think there is undue corporate influence in elections,” Andrew Yang said. “And as you said, we have absolutely nothing to do with the decisions people are making outside of our campaign. But it’s one reason why I’m such a huge fan of the donor-matching program.”

The city’s public campaign finance system is widely applauded for amplifying the voices of everyday voters and minimizing the influence of outside interests.

All candidates but McGuire are receiving matching funds, doled out following a meticulous screening process that lends more weight to local and low-dollar donations.

Election reform advocates say it’s an especially crucial counterbalance in this race and urge the public to have faith.

“The big super PAC money is making the city’s small-donor public financing program even more important for the millions of New Yorkers who can’t cut huge checks to super PACs to make their voices heard,” said Chisun Lee, deputy director of the Brennan Center's Election Reform Program.