A New York City nonprofit, La Jornada, has been caught on camera allegedly advising a supposed noncitizen on how to illegally vote in the mayoral election for Zohran Mamdani. Footage released by O’Keefe Media Group (OMG) shows an undercover journalist posing as an unregistered immigrant asking the nonprofit’s director, Pedro Rodriguez, how to vote and whom to support. Rodriguez reportedly explained how the individual could navigate the system despite not being a citizen and hinted at the candidate to choose, telling him to vote for “the guy that starts with ‘M.’” Voting as a noncitizen is illegal in New York, though verification systems are not particularly robust. When confronted later, Rodriguez denied instructing the journalist to vote for Mamdani, despite the recorded exchange.
Zohran Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist and member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), won the mayoral race, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Mamdani has long been affiliated with the DSA, which publicly lists him among nine “New York State Socialists in Office.” During the campaign, the NYC DSA chapter reportedly helped Mamdani downplay the group’s more radical platform, portraying his candidacy as moderate while maintaining ties to the organization’s broader socialist agenda. The group’s internal documents suggest it plans to influence city policy, including advancing anti-Israel positions, now that Mamdani will lead New York City.
La Jornada describes itself as assisting migrants with paperwork and legal needs, but the OMG footage raises questions about potential violations of federal and state election laws, as 501(c)(3) nonprofits are prohibited from political activity. The controversy highlights broader concerns about election security, nonprofit involvement in politics, and the influence of activist organizations like the DSA on local elections. Mamdani’s election and the surrounding scrutiny underscore the tension between progressive grassroots movements and established legal and electoral frameworks in New York City.