Airbnb launched a $1 million ad campaign on Monday to attack three Democratic New York City mayoral campaigns for not supporting short-term rentals in the city.
The ad will likely benefit former Gov. Andrew Cuomo the most in his mayoral pursuit, as he’s already earned the endorsement of others in the hospitality industry, like the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, which also plans to boost him with $1 million in spending.
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“Their plans and policies will make New York even more expensive,” a voice narrating the Affordable New York super PAC ad says of top mayoral candidates state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, city comptroller Brad Lander, and former city comptroller Scott Stringer. The ad also highlights a corporate tax hike from Mamdani aimed at funding his free bus and childcare plans.
“And they oppose common-sense solutions that would make the city more affordable,” it continues. “So much is hard. But this choice is easy. New Yorkers can’t afford a mayor who makes New York even more expensive.”
The super PAC told Politico that it could spend as much as another $1 million before the June 24 Democratic primary.
Cuomo is the frontrunner in the New York City mayoral race, and Mamdani is widely considered the number two contender, though he has gained some momentum. Most mayoral candidates in the race have made affordability their chief issue, with Mamdani at the center of it with his free bus and childcare initiatives.
The ad earned a quick rebuke from Mamdani-backer Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
????️ANDREW CUOMO WILL RAISE YOUR RENT. DO NOT PUT HIM ON YOUR BALLOT.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 10, 2025
????️ MAMDANI, LANDER, AND STRINGER ARE ALL GOOD EGGS. THEY PUT REGULAR PEOPLE FIRST.
????️ RANK THEM, NOT CUOMO https://t.co/lPeeyqi3Vp
The ad doesn’t explicitly name Cuomo, but by avoiding an attack on him, it signaled a preference for the former governor. The ad also doesn’t name New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who is running for mayor and supported a bill last November aimed at enabling the company in one- and two-family homes.
A 2023 law essentially banned the company from the city, with restrictions limiting which Airbnb listings remained eligible.
Mamdani, Lander, and Stringer have opposed the company or legislation that would benefit it.
“Affordable New York was launched to support everyday New Yorkers who rely on short-term rentals to make ends meet,” the super PAC’s spokesman, Michael Blaustein, said in a statement to Politico. “These candidates continue to promote a false narrative blaming hosts for the housing crisis, despite evidence to the contrary. That rhetoric protects special interests, not New Yorkers.”
Two out of the three candidates attacked Cuomo after the ad launch in statements to Politico.
“While Andrew Cuomo is funded by huge corporations who are trying to bribe their way into City Hall, Brad Lander is a man of the people and can’t be bought,” said Lander campaign spokeswoman Dora Pekec.
Mamdani spokesman Andrew Epstein repeated that Cuomo will “raise your rent.”
“First, it was the landlord lobby donating $2.5 million to the disgraced ex-governor,” he said, referencing the New York Apartment Association’s ad campaign. “Now, it’s Airbnb spending another million to stop our momentum. Andrew Cuomo is the candidate who will raise your rent, take even more apartments off the market, and serve his donors.”
Stringer dodged attacking Cuomo, targeting Airbnb directly.
WHO IS ZOHRAN MAMDANI, THE SOCIALIST CANDIDATE CHALLENGING ERIC ADAMS TO BE NYC MAYOR?
“This is not the first time Airbnb has spent money to defeat me in my fight for affordable housing,” he said.
“I hope they are using my good side in their picture of me. It’s clear with these ads that Airbnb has left the building,” he added.