New Yorkers, mark your calendars!
As the primary elections approach, excitement builds around a variety of positions, including city council seats, district attorneys, and the highly anticipated mayoral race.
Among these important elections are the contests for the five borough president positions, affectionately dubbed ‘Beeps.’
Although their powers may not seem extensive at first glance, borough presidents play a crucial role in shaping local governance.
They influence land-use decisions significantly, which can determine the fate of various development projects.
Additionally, borough presidents appoint members to community boards, granting them a level of local influence that is often underestimated.
The role has the potential to serve as a launchpad for higher office; for instance, current Mayor Eric Adams previously held the position of Brooklyn borough president.
In a recent article, Rachel Kahn delves into the responsibilities of borough presidents and outlines the candidates vying for these positions in the upcoming election.
In other election news, we have refreshed our ‘Meet Your Mayor’ quiz, incorporating more in-depth answers from candidates.
Whether you participated last week or not, now is a great opportunity to explore your options again.
We also want to inform you about a slight change in our publication schedule: moving forward, the Ranked Choices newsletter will be delivered on Tuesdays as we countdown to the primary election.
As we prepare for the upcoming elections, several notable developments are taking place in the political landscape.
Despite previously cutting public worker pensions during his tenure as governor, Andrew Cuomo has joined fellow mayoral candidates in advocating for pension increases.
In a different sphere, the head of a local super PAC attempted to eliminate every opponent from a Bronx council race, although their efforts were unsuccessful.
Moreover, a battle is unfolding in a lower Manhattan council race between YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) and NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) supporters, as a pro-housing candidate challenges an incumbent known for opposing new developments.
As we look ahead, several key dates are approaching swiftly.
Currently, there are just 33 days until the June primary elections.
On May 23, a campaign finance disclosure deadline will provide fresh insights into candidate fundraising and contributions.
A week later, on May 29, the first Democratic comptroller candidate debate will take place at 7 p.m., broadcasted on PIX 11.
The first Republican mayoral candidate debate follows shortly after, scheduled for May 30 at 7 p.m. on NY1.
It is crucial for voters to note that June 9 marks the change-of-address deadline for voter registration ahead of the primary elections.
Early voting begins June 14, offering voters the chance to make their voices heard.
In response to reader inquiries, we have an interesting update regarding Kathryn Garcia.
Garcia, who narrowly lost the mayoral primary in 2021 by just 7,197 votes to Eric Adams, has remained out of electoral politics.
Although she denied any intent to run for mayor again last year, she has been far from invisible.
In September 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul appointed her as the director of state operations, a vital role that involves overseeing various state operations.
On May 29, Garcia will be the special guest at a live election preview event hosted by Ben Max of Max Politics alongside the FAQ NYC co-hosts.
While she has no plans to endorse a candidate in the current mayoral race, she is expected to discuss numerous other relevant topics.
We encourage our readers to reach out with any election-related questions to [email protected].
Additionally, in campaign progress news, Speaker Adrienne Adams has successfully qualified for matching funds in her campaign.
Her milestone achievement follows an appeal from Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, who has urged supporters to contribute, enhancing their chances to compete against political powers like Cuomo, who currently leads in campaign assists.
image source from：https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/05/23/borough-president-candidates-election-voting-newsletter/
