Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

Elections

Elections

  • Who will be at the second mayoral debate?

    nyc votes errol and audience

    Debate #1 (photo: @NYCVotes)


    By most accounts, the first general election mayoral debate was at best minimally helpful in providing voters a substantive exchange of ideas among the three candidates on stage, each competing to lead the city of 8.5 million people and an $85 billion budget for the next four years.

    Outbursts and interruptions by audience members and candidate Bo Dietl made for a raucous and rowdy atmosphere where the policy positions of Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat seeking reelection, and Nicole

    ...
  • Debate Showcases Sharp Differences Among Mayoral Candidates on Transit, Congestion

    de Blasio subway

    De Blasio on the subway (photo: Edwin J. Torres/Mayor's Office)


    The first general election mayoral debate, held Tuesday, was often devoid of substance amid repeated interruptions of a restive audience and candidates who seemed more interested in scoring political points than talking policy. Mayor Bill de Blasio regularly retreated to stump speech talking points as his opponents, Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis and retired NYPD detective Bo Dietl, attacked him over and over again. Malliotakis offered up a few policy proposals while Dietl

    ...
  • Max & Murphy Podcast: Analyzing the First General Election Mayoral Debate

    mxm logo

    Ben Max, left, of Gotham Gazette, and Jarrett Murphy, right, of City Limits


    October 11, 2017 - Max & Murphy: Analyzing the First General Election Mayoral Debate

    debate stage277The morning after the first mayoral debate of the general election -- featuring candidates Bill de Blasio,

    ...
  • Post-Debate, Malliotakis Clarifies Some Stances, Promises Plans to Come

    malliotakis at presser

    Assemblymember Malliotakis (photo: @NMalliotakis)


    During the first general election mayoral debate on Tuesday night, the substance was often overshadowed by the yelling, whether from the crowd or the candidates, especially Bo Dietl. Nevertheless, there were a series of policy-oriented questions posed to the candidates and multiple instances where responses from Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat seeking re-election, and Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican Assembly member, were vague or significantly insufficient.

    On issues like school

    ...
  • De Blasio, Malliotakis & Dietl Engage in Raucous Mayoral Debate

    general election debate

    the first general election mayoral debate (photo: @NYCVotes)


    The first mayoral debate of the general election verged on the brink of chaos for the better part of 90 minutes as Mayor Bill de Blasio faced challengers Nicole Malliotakis and Bo Dietl in front of a raucous, disruptive audience at the Symphony Space on Manhattan’s Upper West Side on Tuesday.

    While attacks flew throughout the night, largely from Malliotakis and Dietl toward de Blasio, on more substantive matters, the debate was largely a two-person contest, between de

    ...
  • 5 Things to Watch at The First General Election Mayoral Debate

    de blasio stage

    (Edwin J. Torres/Mayor's Office)


    Get the popcorn. There’s a general election debate in the race for Mayor of New York City on Tuesday night. It promises to be a spirited affair with competing ideas, styles, and personalities among the three candidates participating.

    Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, and two of his six challengers -- Republican Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis and independent Bo Dietl -- will debate at 7 p.m. Tuesday, the first of two such televised contests between now and Election Day, November 7. The debate will be

    ...
  • You Can Help Boost Voter Turnout on Election Day, But You Have to Register Soon

    voting booth elections

    (Edwin J. Torres/Mayor's Office)


    In order to vote in the city’s November 7 general election -- for Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President City Council, and other offices -- one must register with the Board of Elections by Friday, October 13. For registrations by mail, registration forms must be postmarked by October 13 and received by the BOE by Wednesday, October 18. This is only for New York City residents who are

    ...
  • What’s The [DATA] Point? 4, with Greg David

    whats the data point


    What's The Data Point? Episode 14 - 4, with Greg David of Crain’s New York[You can download What's The [Data] Point? wherever you get your podcasts, including on iTunes]

    For this episode of the podcast, we were joined by Greg David of Crain’s New York to discuss his recent in-depth article on Mayor Bill de Blasio and de Blasio's record as mayor. Just a few weeks ahead of Election Day, when de Blasio will either be given a second term or not, it was the perfect time to discuss de Blasio's record on the city's

    ...
  • James Defends Approach to De Blasio, Outlines Second Term Priorities

    tish presser nycprogressives crop

    Public Advocate James (photo: @NYCProgressives)


    Public Advocate Letitia James, a Democrat running for a second term, is facing a challenge from Republican candidate J.C. Polanco, who believes James has done little to hold accountable a mayor who aligns closely with her own politics. But James, an outspoken former litigator, has her defense ready as the two move toward a televised debate on October 16.

    During a recent ...

  • Max & Murphy Podcast: Public Advocate Letitia James

    mxm logo

    Ben Max, left, of Gotham Gazette, and Jarrett Murphy, right, of City Limits


    October 2, 2017 - Max & Murphy with Public Advocate Letitia James

    tish james277Public Advocate Letitia James, a Democrat seeking reelection this year, joined the podcast to discuss her record of the past four years and what she will focus on in a second term if the voters give her that opportunity. James, the first woman of color to

    ...
  • Candidates for 2017 City Elections

    de blasio voting 2017 elections

    Mayor de Blasio signs in to vote (photo: Ed Reed/Mayor's Office)


    With the party primaries over in the 2017 city election cycle, we head toward the general election, which will take place Tuesday, November 7. Dozens of races will be on the ballot, headlined by Mayor Bill de Blasio’s attempt at re-election.

    The other citywide positions of Public Advocate and Comptroller are also being determined this year, as well as all five Borough Presidents, all 51 City Council seats, and two District Attorney positions (Brooklyn and Manhattan). However,

    ...
  • Malliotakis’ Legislative Record Reflects Conservative Base

    Nicole Malliotakis podium legislator

    Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis (photo: Malliotakis for Mayor via Facebook)


    As state Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis attempts to unseat Mayor Bill de Blasio in November, the Republican from Staten Island faces the ongoing challenge of striking the right tone to appeal to a citywide electorate dominated by Democrats without alienating her more conservative base.

    That base, exemplified by the district Malliotakis has represented in Albany for seven years, has led her to accumulate a legislative record

    ...
  • Good News and Bad News for Malliotakis' Mayoral Campaign

    malliotakis senior handshake via facebook

    Nicole Malliotakis (via Facebook)


    It’s been a bittersweet week for Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis, a sitting Assemblymember from Staten Island, who is seeking to unseat Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio.

    While Malliotakis will have a major infusion of funds to get her message out and build her low name recognition across the five boroughs, she will also have to compete, at least for one important night, with the louder voice of a third mayoral candidate who threatens to debilitate

    ...
  • Max & Murphy Podcast: Comptroller Candidate Michel Faulkner

    mxm logo

    Jarrett Murphy, left, of City Limits, and Ben Max, right, of Gotham Gazette


    September 28, 2017 - Max & Murphy with Comptroller candidate Michel Faulkner

    michel faulknerComptroller candidate Michel Faulkner, running on the Republican and several other ballot lines, joined Max & Murphy to discuss his candidacy. Faulkner, a pastor, called himself "a proud Frederick Douglass Republican," and explained

    ...
  • 23 Things Bo Dietl Promises To Do As Mayor

    dietl big bird crop

    Bo Dietl with a Big Bird he hired to perform outside a mayoral debate (@BoDeitl)


    Mayoral candidate Bo Dietl, a former NYPD detective now a private investigator, was invited Wednesday to participate in the first official, televised mayoral debate of the general election. On October 10, Dietl will take the stage with incumbent Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, and Republican Nicole Malliotakis, for the debate, which will be aired on NY1.

    After a mistake with his paperwork as he tried to change parties to run in

    ...
  • 10 Races & More to Watch in the General Election

    people festival mayor's office

    (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayor's Office)


    With the primaries over, there is still room for evaluating what happened and analyzing what it all means, but it is also time to shift into the general election and what to watch as the city heads toward Tuesday, November 7: Election Day 2017.

    Unless there are races too close to call, that night we will know who the mayor will be for the next four years, as well as who will hold the other citywide offices of comptroller and public advocate, the five borough president positions, all 51

    ...
  • A Smattering of Independent Expenditures in City Election Cycle

    moya ie htc screenshot via cfb

    (IE mailer on behalf of Francisco Moya by the hotel workers union)


    In 2013, independent expenditures by shadowy groups became a dominant talking point around the city’s elections that year. Large spending in races up and down the ballot led to legal changes post-election, but candidates that year benefitted from -- and were hurt by -- large sums of campaign money from groups forbidden from coordinating with their campaigns, but with clear stakes in the outcomes of the elections.

    In 2013, independent groups tied to big real

    ...
  • The Mayoral Money Race as the General Election Heats Up

    bo dietl voting crop

    Bo Dietl (photo: @BoDietl)


    Six weeks from now, on November 7, New Yorkers will head to the polls to decide whether to renew the contract of Mayor Bill de Blasio, or if they want new leadership from one of the incumbent Democrat’s opponents in the general election.

    The latest mayoral race poll, from NBC 4 New York/Marist, was released on September 19 and

    ...
  • James Agrees to General Election Debate in Public Advocate Race

    letitia james via teamsters

    Public Advocate Letitia James (photo: @TeamstersJC16)


    Public Advocate Letitia James, a Democrat seeking reelection to one of three citywide positions, has agreed to debate her Republican opponent regardless of whether the challenger, J.C. Polanco, meets the fundraising requirements to qualify for an official debate sanctioned and sponsored by the New York City Campaign Finance Board.

    James, who easily won in the

    ...
  • Voters Pick Women Over Men in Primary for All Six Brooklyn Judicial Seats

    vote here vote aqui 5

    (Wiki Commons)


    During the judicial primary elections September 12, Brooklyn Democratic voters seemed to base their selections for Civil Court judge primarily on gender; immune, apparently, to an ongoing squabble over the process for selecting the nominees, who are virtually guaranteed election in November given the borough’s Democratic tilt.

    With 12 candidates vying for six civil court

    ...
  • Max & Murphy Podcast: Public Advocate Candidate JC Polanco

    mxm logo

    Ben Max, left, of Gotham Gazette, and Jarrett Murphy, right, of City Limits


    September 18, 2017 - Max & Murphy with Public Advocate Candidate JC Polanco

    jcpolanco 277JC Polanco, a Republican running for Public Advocate, joined Max & Murphy to discuss his candidacy, explaining a variety of policy proposals and his overall mission to reform the position itself to give it more power, funding, and teeth.

    ...
  • The 2017 New York City Elections

    de Blasio voting

    Mayor de Blasio voting (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayor's Office)


    The 2017 New York City elections are for the three citywide posts of Mayor, Public Advocate and Comptroller; the five Borough President positions; all 51 City Council seats; the Brooklyn and Manhattan District Attorney posts; and other down ballot offices like some civil court judges and some district leader positions.

    The party primaries were September 12. The general election is November 7.

    At Gotham Gazette, we are providing a vast amount of information about the

    ...
  • 'Tears of Joy,' Hope for a District in Alicka Samuel's Win

    alicka samuel facebook crop

    Alicka Ampry-Samuel (via Facebook)


    It was late Tuesday afternoon, primary day, in Brooklyn, and amidst the rattle of the subway and wafting aroma of a not-far-off Popeyes fried chicken restaurant, Alicka Ampry-Samuel danced on the sidewalk with Corey Johnson, a current City Council member from Manhattan, to “Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now.” Although the outcome of Samuel’s race -- she was a leading candidate in the crowded Democratic

    ...
  • Ede Fox Unsuccessful in Second Attempt at Election to City Council

    ede1

    Ede Fox, in white, with campaign help (photo via Facebook)


    At 7 a.m. on primary day, September 12, Ede Fox had already been campaigning for an hour, since polls opened, at P.S. 20 in Fort Greene. The neighborhood is part of the 35th City Council District, where Fox was trying to unseat incumbent Democrat Laurie Cumbo, who had bested Fox four years ago when the seat was open.

    That year, Fox finished third in a five-way primary, 1,825 votes behind Cumbo. This year, she decided to take Cumbo on again, motivated by community concerns around affordability and gentrification, and

    ...
  • On the Lower East Side, Carlina Rivera Dominates Primary Day

    carlina river handshake by felipe

    Carlina Rivera (photo: Felipe De La Hoz)


    As the sun rose over the brick facades of the East Village, Carlina Rivera stood on the corner of 1st avenue and 10th street with a handful of flyers. It was 6:30 a.m. and the first-time candidate for elected office was petting dogs, telling children to stay in school, and asking voters to make her the next City Council member representing District 2. 

    “I just got a text from my mom. She's voting for me,” Rivera said between greetings.

    About 15 minutes after Rivera

    ...