The NFL is currently in its offseason, meaning outspoken analysts like Barstool’s Dave Portnoy have been making fewer headlines for football-related topics. However, Portnoy has remained in the spotlight for other reasons, most recently drawing attention for his bold claim that he is considering a mayoral run against Zohran Mamdani.

NFL Offseason Sees Dave Portnoy Shift Focus to Possible Political Run Against Zohran Mamdani

Even before Mamdani won the New York City mayoral election, Portnoy had been one of his most outspoken critics. It even led him to say in November that he would relocate Barstool Sports’ New York City headquarters to New Jersey if Mamdani assumed office.

Last Tuesday, Mamdani-backed three progressive congressional candidates won their Democratic primaries, defeating establishment-backed opponents. The results again fueled Portnoy’s frustration and even triggered him to reconsider his long-held stance on staying out of politics.

In an appearance on “Jesse Watters Primetime” on Monday, Portnoy admitted he had always believed he could make a greater impact in the private sector than in elected office. However, the current political climate has caused him to rethink that position.

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“Now, not everyone’s getting out to vote,” Portnoy said. “It’s a scary time. We need leaders to step up… Sometimes I do feel like it’s my duty. I can’t turn away. I feel like I could make a change. Maybe I do run in politics.

“So I don’t know. It depends on the day you catch me. But let me say this, I spend a lot of my day losing my mind on what’s happening right now, especially in New York.”

Portnoy launched Barstool Sports in 2003, and the company rose to national prominence during the 2015 “Deflategate” controversy involving Tom Brady. He became well known for his long-running feud with the National Football League and its commissioner, Roger Goodell, over the scandal.

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Portnoy’s passion for the New England Patriots has also remained a frequent talking point, while Barstool’s hit podcast “Pardon My Take” has become one of the biggest sports shows, regularly featuring top NFL players and coaches.

Portnoy is popular, but he also acknowledged that a potential mayoral campaign would be far from guaranteed success.

“Can I win here? I have no idea,” Portnoy said of running against Mamdani. “I don’t know the demographics, whether they get enough votes. There’s a lot of people who like me in New York City. I know that I’ve done a lot of good in New York City when I wasn’t thinking about politics, whether it’s the Barstool Fund, pizza places.”

“But the people voting for these people who just won are like these young, white, Ivy League-ish, elitish women. It’s like, who are they? Like, they will never vote for me,” he continued. “They will never believe in common sense.”

Whether Portnoy ultimately decides to enter politics remains uncertain, but the possibility has already generated significant discussion.