John Catsimatidis Jr. behind anti-Zohran IE not registered with NYC Campaign Finance Board

Sept. 17, 2025 editor’s note: After publication, City & State received statements from John Catsimatidis Sr. and attorney John Pence contesting parts of our reporting. This story has been updated with statements from Catsimatidis Sr. about the extent of his involvement in his son’s PAC, the nature of the Hamptons event he held featuring Curtis Sliwa and how his media company was paid to air spots for his son’s PAC featuring him. This story has been updated with a statement from Pence about his PAC associate’s history with former Long Island Rep. George Santos.

The son of the Gristedes-owning billionaire John Catsimatidis Sr. launched a new political committee this summer blasting Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic mayoral nominee, without registering it with the city’s Campaign Finance Board.

A radio spot financed by Progress & Prosperity PAC called “Stop Socialism, Save Our City” went aloft on Aug. 1, starring billionaire John Catsimatidis Sr., an associate of President Donald Trump and a one-time Gracie Mansion contender. The patriarch directed queries about the campaign to his son, John Catsimatidis Jr., who took credit for forming the political action committee.

"This is a personal project of mine,” the namesake told City & State. "I'm trying to build infrastructure to combat (Democratic Socialists of America) and socialism nationwide.”

In a statement to City & State after publication, John Catsimatidis Sr. wrote, “I am not a founder or owner of the PAC. ... Its compliance with registration requirements is not in any way in my control.”

Business records show the “Progress & Prosperity PAC” incorporated anonymously in Delaware on July 29, four days after the entity filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission under the stewardship of Georgia-based GOP operative Jason Boles and Virginia attorney John Pence, who served as an adviser to Trump’s 2020 campaign. John Pence is the nephew of former Vice President Mike Pence and the son of GOP Rep. Greg Pence of Indiana. Boles is an associate of GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, and briefly worked as treasurer to former Long Island Rep. George Santos. 

Neither Pence nor Boles responded to an emailed request for comment before this story was published. After publication, Pence wrote to City & State: “(Boles’) affiliation with George Santos’ campaign came well after the former congressman’s campaign finance issues. Mr. Boles’ reputation is one of high regard which is why he was brought in by House leadership in the fact (sic) place.”

Catsimatidis Jr. described the younger Pence as a “friend,” who had in turn recommended Boles.

"This is a New York City issue, but it's really a nationwide issue,” he said, maintaining his ambitions are primarily national.

In spite of this, a website for the PAC that went live on July 30 revealed its focus is New York City. Prior to the initial publication of this article,  “Stop Zohran Mamdani NYC Mayor 2025” showed up in the site name in a Google search result summary. And in spite of the partisan apparatchiks running it, the page claims purely ecumenical intentions for its effort, dubbed the “New Yorkers United Coalition.”

“Join a diverse group of common-sense Democrats, Republicans, and Independents of all stripes,” the site urges. “We are a multi-partisan coalition of businesspeople, community groups, political mobilizers, activists, media and digital professionals, campaign professionals, religious communities, and New Yorkers of all stripes.”

The group further boasts of a “5-Part strategic plan to defeat the rise of the DSA in New York within the next 5 years, beginning with the 2025 Mayoral election,” but provides just two: “1) Defeat DSA-backed candidates in NYC and nationwide” and “2) Dismantle the rising electoral power of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in New York over the next 5 years.”

The site also doesn’t give a clue as to whose idea the PAC was, and Catsimatidis Jr. expressed surprise City & State had ascertained his family’s involvement. However, his father was asked about the ad campaign in an Aug. 4 interview on his radio station, 77 WABC.

“We have a lot of people in the real estate industry are very, very much interested,” the mogul said in response to questions from host Sid Rosenberg about the group. “We are going to get the message across to every New Yorker, whether they're in the Bronx, whether they're in Staten Island, whether they're in Brooklyn, they're going to get the message and they're going to realize that that's not the way to go,” Catsimatidis Sr. told Rosenberg.

By that point, Progress & Prosperity PAC already had its first radio ad up featuring the businessman.

"I was in Cuba in the 1990s with Fidel Castro when he was building a Greek Orthodox Church for us in Havana. A great guy – a charming person,” the tycoon says at the top of the spot. “But his people were starving. Socialist and communist ideas just don't work.”

“Save New York from the destructive rise of anti-business policies,” the businessman adds, urging listeners to visit the PAC’s website, NewYorkersUnited.com.

In a statement shared with City & State after publication, Catsimatidis Sr. said, “My sole involvement with the PAC at this time was in the form of lending my voice to the spot, which was paid for and aired as part of commercial inventory on 77WABC.” A summary of the interview on Catsimatidis’ Red Apple Podcast Network Youtube channel says, “The conversation also dives into local politics, with Cats warning about the dangers of socialism in NYC and launching a new movement called ‘New Yorkers United – Stop Socialism, Save Our City.’”

On Aug. 6, Catsimatidis Sr. tweeted an ad for the group recorded by Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella.

“Let’s face facts: there is no such thing as a free lunch. But New York City socialists want us to believe that free lunch is on the table – along with free bus rides, free trains, free child care, free groceries, and the list goes on,” the Republican elected official says. “Someone will have to pay for all these free things, and that someone is you. We must stop the socialist train that is heading toward City Hall."

Fossella did not respond to requests for comment. Catsimatidis Jr. would not answer how much the ad spots, which ran on 77 WABC, had cost. The spots each explicitly identify themselves as “a paid issue advertisement.” After publication, Catsimatidis Sr. said in a statement that the ads were “purchased by the PAC at standard political rates.” A political committee involved in a municipal race or ballot matter must register with the Campaign Finance Board if their spending exceeds $1000, a spokesperson for the election overseer told City & State.

But records show Progress & Prosperity PAC has not filed paperwork either in New York City or New York state. The Campaign Finance Board would not say whether the group was in violation of its rules, but highlighted a section in local election law compelling compliance from any group engaged in “express advocacy,” defined as “words that in context and with limited reference to external events, such as the proximity to the election, can have no reasonable meaning other than to advocate the election, passage, or defeat of one or more clearly identified ballot proposals or candidates.”

While none of the ads specifically call out the insurgent socialist Assembly member, a fundraising page for Progress & Prosperity PAC prior to publication directly referred to “Socialist Zohran Mamdani (and his terrible ideas)” and still includes the pledge “By submitting this form, I agree to the following: YES! You can count on my vote against Mamdani in November.”

But despite this, and the explicit references to New York in both radio spots and in the name of its “coalition,” Catsimatidis Jr. maintained they were not “New York-specific” and thus exempt from registering with the local authorities. Confronted with the explicit urban references, the heir alluded to the candidacy of socialist Minneapolis mayoral candidate Omar Fateh, and said the PAC is focused on the country writ large.

"The infrastructure is being set up for a nationwide campaign,” he asserted. “The big effort's going to be done over the next two years.”

Catsimatidis Jr. declined to share how much money the committee has raised to date, whether his father had donated, and the names of the Democrats he said were also involved in Progress & Prosperity. He also alluded vaguely to a “partner” in the project whose name he would not provide.

Catsimatidis Sr. has not endorsed anyone for mayor in this election, though he has been open about opposing socialism. In more recent weeks, Catsimatidis Sr. has spoken of his contact with Trump and his support of the president’s efforts to narrow the field. But New York City Mayor Eric Adams and GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa have so far resisted pressure to exit the contest. Sliwa previously hosted a radio show on WABC, but the show was suspended while Sliwa campaigns for mayor. 

On Aug. 9 Catsimatidis Sr. hosted a Hamptons event featuring Sliwa, part of what he called an “Anybody But Zohran” push. After publication, Catsimatidis Sr. said in a statement that the “Business Power Breakfast” was not intended to be a fundraiser, though some guests donated to Sliwa’s campaign. “The fact is, I have never raised money for Curtis, and at no time have I endorsed him, or anyone else, for mayor in November’s election. I have been very careful and deliberate to that end,” Catsimatidis Sr. wrote.

Sliwa denied having any conversations with any party regarding the PAC’s formation, and Catsimatidis Jr. maintained the committee’s work was separate from his father’s. He noted the paterfamilias had hosted similar power breakfast events for Adams and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

"My dad has been friendly with all these people for a very long time and it has nothing to do with this,” he said.