Airbnb just dropped a jaw-dropping $1 million on digital ads targeting three New York City mayoral candidates—Zohran Mamdani, Scott Stringer, and Brad Lander. Why those three? Simple: they’ve been some of Airbnb’s loudest critics, pushing for strict limits on short-term rentals in the city.
Airbnb’s ads are making a bold claim: If these candidates get their way, it’ll be even harder—and more expensive—for regular New Yorkers to make ends meet. The company is trying to paint itself as the champion of “everyday homeowners” just looking to earn some extra cash by renting out a spare room. But critics see it differently: they say Airbnb’s real aim is to boost its own profits, no matter the impact on housing affordability.
Here’s where things get even more interesting: By going after Mamdani, Stringer, and Lander, Airbnb is actually helping Andrew Cuomo, the former governor who’s now the frontrunner in the mayoral race. The irony? Cuomo is supported by both hotel workers’ unions (who hate Airbnb) and, thanks to these ads, indirectly by Airbnb itself. New York politics, right?
All this drama centers on NYC’s notoriously tough rules on short-term rentals. Right now, most Airbnbs are technically illegal unless the host is actually living in the home during the stay. Airbnb has spent years pushing to loosen these restrictions, especially for people renting out a room or small place. But every time the idea comes up, it’s met with fierce opposition from hotel workers’ unions and housing advocates, who argue short-term rentals make it even harder for locals to find an affordable apartment.
Recent efforts to soften the laws in the city council fizzled out after massive backlash from hotel unions. So, Airbnb is trying a new tactic: flexing its financial muscle in the mayor’s race.
The candidates in Airbnb’s crosshairs aren’t holding back. Mamdani’s team accused Airbnb of trying to buy the election and help Cuomo win, putting profits over people. Lander and Stringer echoed those concerns, promising to keep fighting for affordable housing rather than giving in to big corporate interests.
With the Democratic primary set for June 24, Airbnb isn’t ruling out spending another million if that’s what it takes to get its message out. In the city that never sleeps, the fight over short-term rentals—and who gets to shape NYC’s future—is just heating up.
