Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

Mayor 2021

Mayor 2021

  • Ending Its Fundraising Early, Eric Adams Campaign Refunds $1 Million to Hundreds of Donors

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    Eric Adams after a press conference (photo: Eric Adams)


    In the last two months of the mayoral election, now Mayor-elect Eric Adams refunded more than $1 million to 653 donors, only a few of whom had already contributed the maximum amount to his campaign while others had donated nothing previously.

    Between September 28 and November 25, the period covering two campaign finance disclosure filings, donors attempted to give Adams’ campaign more than $1.3 million. But Adams only retained about $298,000. The recent $1 million in

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  • ‘Don't Lose Your Base’: As He Becomes New York City’s Second Black Mayor, Lessons for Eric Adams from David Dinkins’ Tenure

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    Mayor-elect Eric Adams, right, with former Mayor David Dinkins (photo: @BKBoroHall)


    As Eric Adams exulted in his victory in the New York City mayoral election, he invoked the legacy of giants that preceded him. Speaking to his jubilant supporters at the Marriott Hotel in Downtown Brooklyn on the evening of November 2, he rattled off the names of elected officials and activists who paved his way, the “revolutionaries who won wars without firing one shot.”

    They included Percy Sutton, who was, as Manhattan borough president, the

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  • Mayor-Elect Adams Raises Over $1 Million for Transition and Inauguration

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    Inauguration Day (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayor's Office)


    Mayor-elect Eric Adams has raised more than $1 million for his transition and inauguration as he prepares to take over City Hall in three weeks from outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio.

    Adams, a Democrat who will be sworn into office on January 1, pulled in about $984,000 between November 3 and November 30, and has already disbursed about $183,000, according to the initial filing that was due to the New York City Campaign Finance Board this week.

    That left him with more than $800,000

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  • Mayor-Elect Adams Announces Hundreds of Transition Committee Members

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    Mayor-elect Eric Adams (photo: office of Eric Adams)


    With just under a month to go till he is sworn into office, Mayor-elect Eric Adams unveiled his transition team on Friday, featuring nearly 800 people across various areas of expertise including public health, food policy, arts and culture, budgeting, civic engagement, education, immigration, climate and infrastructure, housing, criminal justice and more.

    The transition team, which continues to grow, is headed by Sheena Wright, CEO and president of United Way of New York City, a nonprofit group

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  • In Certified 2021 Election Results, Adams Wins Mayoralty with 66% of the Vote Amid 20.5% Turnout

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    Voters voting (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)


    With the New York City general election results certified Tuesday, Democratic Mayor-elect Eric Adams’ tally finished at 754,000 votes, leaving him with close to 66% of the vote-share compared to Republican Curtis Sliwa’s 27%, or 312,000 total votes.

    In total, the New York City Board of Elections counted the ballots of about 1,150,000 New Yorkers, bringing the turnout rate to 20.5% of the 5.6 million registered voters across the five boroughs. That included 85,000 absentee voters and 7,000

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  • Eric Adams’ $18 Million-Plus Campaign

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    Eric Adams with New Yorkers (photo: Adams campaign on flickr)


    Mayor-elect Eric Adams’ victory came with a hefty price tag. Over the course of the campaign, he raised just over $19.1 million, more than half of which was in public matching funds, and spent about $18.1 million, according to the latest financial disclosures. He also benefited from nearly $8.2 million in independent expenditures in his favor, with little outside spending to oppose him.

    Adams was all but assured to win after emerging as the Democratic mayoral nominee from a crowded field

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  • WATCH: Analyzing the 2021 NYC Election Results & What's Ahead for Mayor-Elect Adams

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    Mayor-Elect Eric Adams at City Hall (photo: office of Eric Adams)


    For new analysis of the results of the 2021 New York City elections and what's next for Mayor-Elect Eric Adams, host Ben Max of Gotham Gazette was joined for a conversation on MNN by Dr. Christina Greer, political science professor at Fordham University, and Harry Siegel, senior editor at the Daily Beast and Daily News columnist (who are also co-hosts of the ...

  • Latino Vote Podcast: Redistricting, Representation, and Latino New Yorkers

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    A Hispanic heritage celebration at City Hall (photo: John McCarten/City Council)


    On this episode of the Latino Vote podcast from Gotham Gazette and hosted by Eli Valentin, the topic is legislative redistricting and Latino representation, and the guests are Lucia Gomez, Political Director at the NYC Central Labor Council; Dr. Carlos Vargas-Ramos, Director of Public Policy and Media Relations at the Centro for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College; and Frederick Velez Burgos, National Director of Civic Engagement at the Hispanic

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  • 2021 Election Shows Split Between Republican and Conservative Parties in New York City

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    Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa, left, & Conservative Party nominee Bill Pepitone


    Leaders of New York’s Conservative Party, one of just two so-called third parties in the state with a ballot line, have been jubilant about the 2021 general election results. The party helped win victories in several local races and to defeat three ballot questions that would have made changes to legislative redistricting and voting rights. But the party went its own way in nominating candidates for citywide positions and key races on Staten Island,

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  • An Initial Look at Voter Turnout in the 2021 New York City General Election

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    Voters voting (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)


    Voter turnout in the 2021 New York City general election was slightly lower than the already-depressed 2017 and 2013 elections.

    Every four years, all of city government is on the ballot, including Mayor, other citywide offices, borough president positions, and the entire 51-seat City Council. This election was the first time since 2013 that most of those positions, including Mayor, were open due to term limits.

    This year, just under 20% of the 5.6 million registered New York City voters cast

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  • Max Politics Podcast: Breaking Down NYC Election Results & What's Next for the Mayor-Elect, with Bob Hardt of NY1

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    Mayor-elect Eric Adams (photo: @ericadamsfornyc)


    November 3, 2021 - Max Politics Podcast: Breaking Down 2021 NYC Election Results & What Comes Next

    Bob Hardt, New York Political Director for Spectrum News, including NY1, joined the show to analyze Eric Adams' victory in the mayoral race and what comes next for the mayor-elect, other results of the 2021 New York City elections, and additional political themes.

    Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think, on Twitter ...

  • Max Politics Podcast: City Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez on Backing Eric Adams & The Path Ahead

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    Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez with Mayor-elect Eric Adams (photo: @ydanis)


    November 3, 2021 - Max Politics Podcast: City Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez on Backing Eric Adams & The Path Ahead

    City Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez joined the show to discuss his support for Eric Adams' mayoral campaign, what he did to help Adams win the mayoralty, and what comes next.

    Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think, on Twitter ...

  • Democrat Eric Adams Elected Next Mayor of New York City

    Eric Adams Elected Next Mayor of New York City

    Eric Adams voting for himself for Mayor (photo: @ericadamsfornyc)


    Eric Adams, a moderate Democrat and former NYPD captain, was declared victorious on Tuesday in the 2021 mayoral election, making him set to become only the second Black mayor of New York City after David Dinkins won in 1989. Adams, the two-term Brooklyn borough president and former state senator, was projected by the Associated Press to win not long after polls closed at 9 p.m., with early returns showing him well ahead of Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa,

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  • Mayor-Elect Eric Adams’ Biggest Campaign Promises

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    Eric Adams at a press conference with Mayor de Blasio (photo: Erica Sherman/Brooklyn BP's Office)


    Eric Adams, the Democratic nominee for mayor, is running on a combination of classic political charisma, a blue-collar background, and a host of promises to transform New York City.

    His nuanced approach to public safety and resume as a former cop and police reformer distinguished him in the Democratic primary, where he was among the more moderate candidates in a large field. In part because of his background and in part because the primary unfolded

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  • Eric Adams Vows to Overhaul How City Government Works; Experts Point to Several Essentials to Following Through

    Gotham Gazette Eric Adams Says He Will Overhaul How City Government Works; Here's What Experts Think of His Promises

    Eric Adams (photo: Erica Sherman/Brooklyn BP's Office)


    Eric Adams believes government inefficiency is at the root of many ills that plague New Yorkers. The ineffective delivery of public services and waste of taxpayer dollars, he says, create the very inequality and suffering that city government is meant to ameliorate.

    For years leading up to and throughout his run for mayor this year, Adams -- the two-term Brooklyn borough president and

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  • Latino Vote '21: A Closer Look at the 2021 Democratic Primary

    Gotham Gazette New York City Latinos and the 2021 Democratic Primary: A Closer Look

    Voting (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)


    Four years ago I participated in a forum on the theme of Latino politics and voting participation in New York hosted by the Rev. Ray Rivera of the Latino Pastoral Action Center in the Bronx. The forum was based largely on two columns I had recently written here at Gotham Gazette — “Latinos and the 2017 New York City Elections”and ...

  • Adams Doesn't Engage as Sliwa Repeatedly Attacks in Second and Final Mayoral Debate

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    Eric Adams, left, and Curtis Sliwa, at a mayoral debate


    Candidates Eric Adams and Curtis Sliwa confronted each other on Tuesday at the second and final debate of the general election for New York City mayor.

    The debate was co-hosted by the Campaign Finance Board, WABC-TV, The League of Women Voters of NYC, Univision 41 Nueva York, Hispanic Federation, and NAACP NYS Conference. Early voting is ongoing through October 31 and Election Day is November 2. There are about a half-dozen other candidates on the mayoral ballot as well as races for all other city

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  • What is Curtis Sliwa's Mayoral Campaign Platform?

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    Curtis Sliwa on the campaign trail (photo: @CurtisSliwa)


    With relatively little money in the bank and only a tenuous tie to his newfound party, Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee for mayor, is running on name recognition and four-decade history of catching headlines. But in public appearances and on his website he has put forth an outline of his vision for New York City with policies that span the political spectrum.

    Sliwa has been a peripheral figure amongst the characters of New York City since the 1980s when his neighborhood watch

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  • Major Differences Apparent as Adams and Sliwa Spar in First General Election Mayoral Debate

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    Eric Adams & Curtis Sliwa


    With early voting set to begin on Saturday, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, the Democratic mayoral nominee, squared off on Wednesday against his Republican rival, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, in the first of two official debates of the general election.

    The debate was hosted by the New York City Campaign Finance Board in partnership with WNBC-TV, Telemundo, Politico, Citizens Budget Commission, and the New York Urban League. Early voting will be October 23-31 and Election Day is Tuesday, November 2. Absentee

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  • Max Politics Podcast: Chris Coffey on the Yang Campaign, Eric Adams & More

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    A Yang mayoral campaign event (photo by guest Chris Coffey, @chriscoffeytalk, Yang co-campaign manager)


    October 19, 2021 - Max Politics Podcast: Chris Coffey on the Yang Mayoral Campaign, Eric Adams & More

    Chris Coffey, the co-CEO of Tusk Strategies and co-campaign manager of Andrew Yang's 2021 mayoral campaign, joined the show to reflect on the Democratic primary, discuss Eric Adams' likely mayoralty, lessons from his time working for Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and more.

    Listen to the conversation and let us know

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  • Max Politics Podcast: Curtis Sliwa on His Run for Mayor

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    Curtis Sliwa on the campaign trail (photo: @CurtisSliwa)


    October 12, 2021 - Max Politics Podcast: Curtis Sliwa on His Run for Mayor

    Mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, the Republicna nominee who will also be on an independent ballot line, joined the show to discuss his candidacy, his platform, his past, and more.

    Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think, on Twitter @TweetBenMax. You can listen to the show through the embedded audio below or download the episode

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  • WATCH: Mayoral Candidates Pepitone, Flores, Stora & Prussman Debate

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     (l-r) Top: Bill Pepitone, Stacey Prussman; Bottom: Raja Flores, Ben Max, Skiboky Stora


    Four candidates for mayor of New York City who will be on the general election ballot appeared for a debate hosted by Manhattan Neighborhood Network and moderated by Gotham Gazette's Ben Max: Conservative Party nominee Bill Pepitone; Libertarian Party nominee Stacey Prussman; Raja Flores, who will be on the Humanity United ballot line; and Skiboky Stora, who will be on the Out Lawbreaker ballot line. Watch:

  • The Money Race for NYC Mayor: Adams Continues to Eclipse Sliwa as General Election Approaches

     

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


    Note (September 3, 2021): This article has been updated to reflect public matching funds payments to Eric Adams and Curtis Sliwa of roughly $2 million and $2.6 million respectively. Those payments were announced by the city's Campaign Finance Board on September 2.

    Eric Adams has continued a robust fundraising operation since receiving the Democratic nomination for mayor, bolstering his chances of sailing smoothly to victory in the November general election against his long-shot

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  • What's the Gap Between Progressive Politics and Communities of Color in New York City?

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    Eric Adams in Brooklyn (photo: office of Eric Adams)


    When Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams won the Democratic mayoral primary, to some it signalled a rebuke of the growing progressive movement in the city and called into question whether more left-wing candidates can win in communities of color. After recent years of electing an increasing number of progressives in local, state, and federal elections, New York City had chosen a moderate NYPD veteran and one-time Republican as its likely next mayor.

    Older Black and Latino voters flocked to

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  • The Money - and Debate - Race in the General Election for NYC Mayor

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    The road to City Hall (photo: Benjamin Kanter/Mayoral Photo Office)


    With just three months to go, the November general election is looking increasingly one-sided as Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, the Democratic nominee, has an overwhelming fundraising advantage over Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa and several independent candidates in a city where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly seven to one.

    Adams, who officially launched his general election campaign last week, has raised more than $5.1 million in private

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