Levi Strauss & Co. heir Dan Goldman poured $1 million of his fortune into his congressional campaign ahead of the Aug. 23 Democratic primary, campaign records reveal.
Goldman, the lead House lawyer during the first impeachment of former President Donald Trump who is worth between $64 million and $253 million according to financial disclosure reports, is running in the newly drawn 10th Congressional District that takes in lower Manhattan and parts of brownstone and southwest Brooklyn.
The $1 million contribution was listed in a 48-hour report posted Saturday with the Federal Elections Commission.
Goldman also has generated more than $200,000 in donations from relatives and other associates connected to the Levi Strauss denim empire and also has also taken a contribution from one of Trump’s pals, Related Co. and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, campaign filings reveal.
Political analysts said Goldman’s decision to pump his own wealth into the campaign is a double-edged sword in what is expected to be a low-turnout primary of mostly liberal Democratic voters, many of whom detest big money in politics.
Some potential major influencers on the left — including the New York Times — have yet to endorse in the race.
Conversely, the money helps Goldman get his message out.
“Goldman wants to be on the air during the final two weeks of the campaign,” said political consultant Chris Coffey.
Other top tier candidates in the race include Councilwoman Carlina Rivera and Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou; suburban Rep. Mondaire Jones, who relocated to the district; former Brooklyn DA and Congressman Liz Holtzman; Brooklyn Assemblywoman Jo Ann Simon; parent activist Maud Maron, and military vet and anti-communist China activist Yan Xiong.
Former two-term Mayor Bill de Blasio, who resides in the Park Slope part of the district, recently pulled out as candidate for the seat, citing a lack of support.
Former three-term billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg leveraged his massive wealth to help win three elections to City Hall.
But former Harlem Congressman Charles Rangel said the candidate with the best voter turnout operation and political base will win.
“The victory is going to be the candidate who pulls out his or her political base,” Rangel told The Post Saturday.
Goldman spokesman Simone Kanter, asked about the $1 million self-funding, said, “Since this race began, we’ve been overwhelmed with the most grassroots donors and the most money raised.”
He then took shots at other candidates.
“Unlike Mondaire Jones, who brought millions down from his Rockland County district and broke his promise not to take money from corporate PACs, and Carlina Rivera who takes money from lobbyists and special interests, Dan has chosen to spend his time with the voters, and that’s who he’ll answer to,” Kanter said.
The 10th Congressional District was redrawn under court order following the Democratic Party’s gerrymandering debacle, eliminating the Upper West Side of Manhattan from the district and adding more parts of Brooklyn.
The current congressman for the 10th District under the old map, Jerrold Nadler, decided to run for re-election in the newly drawn 12th District against incumbent Carolyn Maloney after his UWS turf was folded into that district that includes the East Side of Manhattan.
