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Wealthy lefty supporters of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani — including the longtime girlfriend of late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman — appear in the mayoral candidate’s first TV ad.
Mimi O’Donnell, the mother of Hoffman’s three children, is seen excitedly jumping up and down with a Mamdani sign toward the end of the 30-second spot.
“I love a progressive candidate. He’s got the energy. I love free child care, free buses. I like all the stuff he’s said,” said O’Donnell, who resides in a multimillion-dollar pad in the tony West Village, to The Post.
“I don’t like [Eric] Adams, I don’t like [Andrew] Cuomo,” she said, referring to the mayor and former governor also running for City Hall.
O’Donnell has worked as a TV and podcast costume designer, director and executive producer for such series as “A Gifted Man,” “Sandra” and “Saturday Night Live.” She also worked as the head of scripted fiction at Spotify.
O’Donnell said wealthy people such as herself should support a Democratic Socialist agenda that helps the needy.
“We have it to give. There are enough people in the city that have it to give,” she said.
“There’s so much wealth in the city. It’s insane that there is so much wealth out there, and there’s such a disparity,” O’Donnell added.
“We need to think differently. [Mamdandi] is a breath of fresh air.”
O’Donnell — whose Oscar-winning longtime love Hoffman died of a heroin overdose in Manhattan in 2014 — said she offered to volunteer on Mamdani’s campaign and was invited to appear in the Queens state assemblyman’s campaign ad.
Political consultant Hank Sheinkopf, who represents law-enforcement unions, said working-class folks can’t afford Mamdani.
“The rich can afford everything. We can’t,” Sheinkopf said when hearing about Mamdani’s ad.
“Mamdani wants to get rid of cops. The wealthy can afford private security. The rest of us can’t. We’re going to end up getting mugged.”
Another artist appearing in the ad is Vivienne Leheny, an actress and audiobook narrator who has recorded 200 audiobooks.
Leheny said she enjoyed being part of the filming on what was a “chilly” day.
“Mamdani stands a league above the other candidates. He’s setting the agenda, and the others are playing catch up,” said Leheny, who described herself as well-off middle class.
Mamdani’s comrades with the Democratic Socialists of America also make appearances in the spot.
Diana Moreno, co-chair of the DSA Queens branch who has been arrested multiple
times at anti-Israel protests, is shown holding an infant about halfway into the ad.
Mamdani’s campaign thanked his supporters for the cameos.
“We’re so grateful for the New Yorkers who volunteered their time to appear in our first television ad and help introduce Zohran’s message of a more affordable city to a wider audience,” a Mamdani campaign spokesman said.
English (US)