Gotham Gazette

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John Catsimatidis

John Catsimatidis

  • With Under Six Months to the Primary, 2021 Republican Mayoral Field Slowly Takes Shape

    City Hall park flags plaza

    City Hall (photo: Benjamin Kanter/Mayor's Office)


    With just under six months to go until the June 2021 primary election, several Republicans have said they are exploring a run for mayor but just one has officially created a campaign committee. It remains uncertain if there will be a contested primary as the party and all the potential contenders are waiting to see whether billionaire mogul John Catsimatidis will jump into the race.

    Mayor Bill de Blasio, a two-term Democrat, cannot run for reelection because of term limits and a crowded, growing

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  • Republicans Eye 2021 Mayoral Race with Optimism, But Wary of a Primary

    City Hall

    City Hall (photo: Benjamin Kanter, Mayor's Office)


    With the 2021 party primary elections less than a year away, more than a dozen candidates have either declared or are openly exploring a campaign to become the next Mayor of New York City. But while that long list includes some prominent current elected officials, a few former public servants and several lesser known contenders, it contains few Republicans.

    By all indications, there will be a fiercely fought Democratic mayoral primary as a crowded slate vies to replace outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio, a

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  • Republican Mayoral Hopefuls Pitch Candidacies at Manhattan Forum

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    Wednesday's forum (photo via Manhattan GOP)


    Candidates running, or hoping to run, for the Republican mayoral nomination made the case for their candidacies at a GOP forum in Manhattan on Wednesday night, pitching their qualifications and levelling criticism at Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio. Indicative of de Blasio’s incumbent status and the nature of the opposition field, the event featured more criticism of the mayor than forward-looking policy talk.

    The Metropolitan Republican Club, on the Upper East Side, hosted four candidates -- real estate

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  • In GOP Mayoral Primary, Lopsided Fundraising Numbers & One Big Question

    Massey city hall

    Paul Massey (photo: Samar Khurshid/Gotham Gazette)


    With just six months until the primaries in this year’s city elections, declared candidates for the Republican mayoral nomination have begun to step up fundraising and campaigning. Meanwhile, two potential GOP mayoral candidates are still exploring a run, and the entrance of one or both could shake up a race that is off to a seemingly lopsided start.

    Midnight on Wednesday was the deadline for the latest round of campaign finance disclosures, covering a two-month

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  • To Defeat De Blasio, Republicans Attempt Early Rally Behind One Candidate

    massey mayor

    GOP mayoral candidate Paul Massey, right (photo: @MasseyforMayor)


    In hopes of denying Mayor Bill de Blasio a second term, some New York City Republican leaders intend to rally around a single candidate to avoid a contentious primary and present a stronger challenge in the general election.

    Starting this week, Republican Party leaders and members will begin the process of vetting candidates who have declared their intention to run for mayor or are exploring a mayoral bid. Party organizations will host public meetings where each candidate will

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  • Manhattan GOP Sees Hope on Upper East Side

    Harary AD73

    Rebecca Harary with supporters (photo via @TeamHarary)


    When it comes to the New York State Legislature, most electoral attention is paid to the Senate, which Republicans control by a thin majority and only because an elected Democrat caucuses with them and they have a power-sharing agreement with a five-member faction of breakaway “independent” Democrats. This November’s elections will determine control of the chamber.

    In the State Assembly, however, the balance of power is not close. Republicans have been at a massive

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  • With De Blasio Appearing Vulnerable, Heightened Examination of Paths to Defeat Him

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    Mayor Bill de Blasio (photo: Ed Reed, Mayor's Office)


    Mayor Bill de Blasio often says he doesn’t put much stock in public opinion polls; he believes they’re about as accurate as weather predictions. When asked, he didn’t express much concern after a Quinnipiac University poll released August 1 showed that 51 percent of New York City voters don’t think he deserves to be re-elected in

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  • In End of Session 'Scorecard,' Plenty for Next Year's Albany Agenda

    Cuomo Heastie Flanagan

    Heastie, Cuomo, Flanagan (L-R) (photo: Governor's Office via flickr)


    In the Democrat-controlled Assembly, it was 122-13; in the Republican-controlled Senate, 47-12. With those votes and a Governor Andrew Cuomo signature, a final policy package brought an underwhelming end to a tumultuous 2015 legislative session in New York's capital. 

    Look at ...