Mamdani backer who sits on NYC Campaign Finance Board is a longtime socialist operative with links to terror groups

A hardcore Democratic Socialists of America operative whose partner is a member of a designated terrorist organization is a New York City employee — and his Campaign Finance Board position gives him access to sensitive information about anyone running for office and the ability to selectively enforce or influence compliance.Most New Yorkers don’t give the city’s Campaign Finance Board much thought.Perhaps they should.

DSA member Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old assemblyman, surged ahead of former Gov.Andrew Cuomo in a stunning Emerson College poll released Monday, a day before the Democratic primary — after the board denied the erstwhile frontrunner $1.3 million in matching funds.Mamdani has received millions in matching funds from the board, more than any other candidate.The city Campaign Finance Board was created as a neutral watchdog ensuring candidates follow rules, disclose donors and qualify fairly for public matching funds.

Yet David Duhalde, senior candidate services liaison for the board, is a lead DSA member going all in on electing Mamdani, as his social media show.Duhalde’s role lets him access sensitive details about any candidate for mayor, including compliance records and strategic data.He can, in theory, selectively influence how strictly rules are enforced.And he’s worked with his chosen candidate before: Mamdani tweeted in 2022 to someone looking for event space, “Duhalde’s sending you a dm.”Duhalde is a longtime DSA organizer and in April stepped down as DSA Fund chair after five years.

“It was a heavy decision, but I would like to dedicate more time to my own public sector union activism,” he said.He described the DSA Fund’s goal as building a cross-state network of radical elected officials acting in unison to achieve DSA national goals.“DSA Fund aims to create a lasting network of socialist policymakers who can share strategies, collaborate across jurisdictions, and push forward transformative legislation.

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