Barstool’s Dave Portnoy Says He’s Considering Running for Politics in New York City

GettyImages-2283934434-dave-portnoy — Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has earned the title “Spencer Pratt of NYC” after he claimed he’s considering a venture into politics.

“I’ve always thought that I would never get involved in politics. I think you can do more in the private sector,” Portnoy, 49, said during a Monday, June 29, interview with Jesse Watters on Fox News, adding that he’s been thinking about Plato’s famous quote, “The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”

“Right now, I feel like that’s what’s happening,” he continued. “Not everyone’s getting out to vote. … It’s a scary time. We need leaders to step up. … Sometimes I feel like it’s my duty [to get involved.] I can’t turn away.”

Portnoy, who previously revealed he voted for President Donald Trump (R) in the 2024 election but has also stated that his political views align with both Republicans and Democrats, said he would “love” to run against current New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D), who won the mayoral election in January against Andrew Cuomo, a former Democrat who ran as an Independent.

Related: What Spencer Pratt Has Said About Running for Los Angeles Mayor

Spencer Pratt has his eye on one thing: becoming the next Los Angeles mayor. In a June 2 primary, incumbent Karen Bass advanced to the November 3 general election against either Pratt or City Councilwoman Nithya Raman. Her opponent had yet to be announced at the time of publication. Pratt announced his unlikely candidacy one […]

“I’ve had a real job, I’ve done real things, unlike these clown politicians who have never had a job and never been in the real world for a day,” Portnoy added.

Portnoy’s comments have received mixed feedback from social media users, with some hesitant to quickly endorse another entertainer-turned-politician.

“Apparently managing New York City isn’t a real job, but writing blog posts about pizza is. Good to know where we’ve set the bar,” one user wrote via X.

“Dave Portnoy, they’re going to doubt you. They’re going to tell you you can’t win against the most popular New York mayor in 100 years. They’re going to tell you reviewing pizza is not a ‘real job.’ You can’t listen to them. Portnoy 2029 is going to change politics forever,” another person added.

Related: Dennis Quaid Shows His Support for Spencer Pratt in L.A. Mayoral Race

Spencer Pratt is saying goodbye to reality TV and hello to politics. Exactly one year after a wildfire burned down his family’s home in Pacific Palisades, California, Pratt announced that he was running for mayor of Los Angeles. “The system in Los Angeles isn’t struggling; it’s fundamentally broken,” Pratt said at the “They Let Us […]

A third fan shared, “He’d be a better choice than what they have.”

Many fans online have compared the businessman to reality star Pratt, 42, who ran for mayor of Los Angeles earlier this year before his loss in the primary election to Nithya Raman on June 2. (Raman, 44, will face off against current L.A. mayor Karen Bass in the general election in November.)

“Spencer Pratt 2: Dave Portnoy,” one critic wrote, while another person added, “Dave Portnoy — the Spencer Pratt of NYC.”

Pratt, who starred on MTV’s The Hills, announced his plans to enter the mayoral race in January, citing a desire to rebuild L.A.’s “system” after wildfires the year prior. (Pratt and his wife, Heidi Montag, lost their home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood to the Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people and burned more than 6,800 homes and businesses.)

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“The system in Los Angeles isn’t struggling; it’s fundamentally broken,” he said at the “They Let Us Burn” public demonstration. “It is a machine designed to protect the people at the top and the friends they exchange favors with while the rest of us drown in toxic smoke and ash. Business as usual is a death sentence for Los Angeles, and I’m done waiting for someone to take real action.”

Following his loss in the primary election, Pratt declared “war” on his allegedly “corrupt” rival politicians.

“Now that the campaign portion of my mission of ‘Save Los Angeles’ is coming to a close and I’m moving on to the next more interesting phase,” he said in a June 12 social media video. “I’m going to be lighting you up every single day and now I don’t have to worry about offending CNN viewers. I don’t have a campaign loss hamstringing me now.”

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