With only a few weeks remaining before early voting in the June mayoral primary, the Democratic candidates are stepping up their game as recent campaign finance disclosures highlight a consolidation of resources around five leading contenders.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo continues to showcase a formidable fundraising lead, aided by influential intermediaries such as attorney Arthur Aidala, a long-time supporter of Mayor Eric Adams who has now lent his backing to Cuomo.
Polls consistently show Cuomo as the front-runner, attracting considerable support that seems to bolster his campaign efforts.
On the other hand, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has experienced a remarkable uptick in campaign contributions, enabling her to position herself for potential public matching funds eligibility.
After a slow start, Adams’ campaign reported a significant surge, accumulating over $390,000, especially buoyed by donations from local residents, which her team claims totals around $300,000 that qualify for matching funds.
The Campaign Finance Board (CFB) outlines that contenders must hit either a 5% threshold in key polls or raise and spend at least $2.37 million to qualify for the second and final debate before early voting commences on June 1.
The candidates securing their places for this debate alongside Cuomo and Adrienne Adams include City Comptroller Brad Lander, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, and Senator Zellnor Myrie.
In an interesting twist, former Comptroller Scott Stringer might also be eligible for the debate based on the significant amount of small donations he has received, qualifying for the board’s public matching funds program.
Additionally, ex-Assemblymember Michael Blake is on the cusp of qualification with just over the required $250,000 in small local donor contributions.
Meanwhile, state Senator Jessica Ramos does not appear to meet any of the criteria for participation in the upcoming debate.
THE CITY is set to co-host this final debate on June 12, alongside partners including Spectrum News NY1, WNYC/Gothamist, and others.
Interestingly, current Mayor Eric Adams is opting out of the primary, choosing instead to run as an independent in the November general election.
After facing setbacks in his funding efforts, Adams has now rejuvenated his fundraising strategy, notably after the dismissal of the criminal corruption case against him by the Trump Department of Justice.
Previously, in the fundraising period extending from mid-January to mid-March, he raised only $19,000, but in the weeks following the federal judge’s dismissal of his case, he managed to bring in $155,000.
Despite ongoing scrutiny, Adams continued to make regular payments to Brianna Suggs, his campaign fundraiser whose residence was subject to an FBI raid and who was significantly mentioned in Adams’ indictment concerning bribery and campaign finance fraud allegations.
As of mid-May, Suggs has received more than $460,000 from Adams’ campaign, highlighting the ongoing complexities surrounding funding and legal issues.
Looking at Cuomo’s campaign, he has successfully attracted a substantial financial backing, bringing in nearly $2.4 million since mid-March, surpassing his earlier fundraising efforts of $1.5 million.
Cuomo’s fundraising victories can also be attributed to well-connected fundraisers who have adeptly bundled contributions for his campaign.
Notable contributions include $10,650 raised by Aidala, and $82,800 brought in by Jeffrey Sachs, a long-time health advisor to Cuomo.
Public relations executive Dan Klores, another Cuomo ally, managed to generate $31,700 for the campaign.
However, some funds generated by lobbyists, like Nick Spano, a former Republican state senator, although significant at $117,450, are not eligible for public matching due to his lobbying status.
As the primary approaches, candidates are scrambling to secure the necessary funds and support needed to make a meaningful impact in the contentious race for New York City’s mayor.
The upcoming debates and fundraising efforts will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape as voters prepare to head to the polls.
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