By: Oumou Sy
In less than five weeks, early voting begins for the mayoral primaries on June 14, with the actual primary date set for June 24. So far, eleven candidates have declared their intentions to run, with the deadline to file a challenge against embattled Mayor Eric Adams set for April 3.
The crowded field of democrats includes City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, State Senator Jessica Ramos, and State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, all representing Queens.
Andrew Cuomo, photo taken by Shuran Huang for The New York Times.
Andrew Cuomo was born in Queens but currently claims residency on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Queens is the second-most densely populated of the 5 boroughs, while having the largest land mass. The borough is known for its multi-cultural community and is home to New York City’s airports. Adams grew up in Hollis, Queens, while Ramos lives in Jackson Heights, and while Mamdani’s upbringing did not start here in New York, he graduated from Bronx High School of Science and is currently serving the 36th district in Astoria.
Adrienne Adams entered the council in 2017 and was elected as Speaker in 2022. Adams currently presides over the first women-majority council and is known as an advocate for creating accessibility to child care. Her critics include current Mayor Adams (to whom she shares no relation), former governor Andrew Cuomo, and President Donald Trump.
Adrienne Adams, photo taken by Dave Sanders for The New York Times.
“New York City is bigger than one person, and our city deserves leadership that prioritizes its people over individual glory or interest,” Speaker Adams said at her recent State of the City address.
Her comments were believed to be aimed at Mayor Adams, who was indicted last year on charges of Bribery among 4 other counts, which have since been requested to be dropped by the Trump administration. She positions herself as a candidate with no legal allegations surrounding her candidacy and sees that to be a benefit for New York City.
Adrienne Adams has received endorsements from Attorney General Letitia James and Public Advocate Jumanee Williams.
Jessica Ramos, photo taken by Cindy Shultz for The New York Times.
Ramos is a representative for the state’s 13th Senate district, which covers Corona, East Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights. Ramos is an advocate for affordable housing, labor unions, and immigration. Her campaign promises include building a housing pipeline to provide mixed-income developments, while gaining support from federal and state resources.
Her critics include Mets owner Steve Cohen, who has proposed an $8 billion Casino project to be built in the parking lot area of Citi Field. Last year in May, Ramos released a statement opposing the plan.
“We want investment and opportunity, we are desperate for green space, and recreation for the whole family,” Ramos said. “We disagree on the premise that we have to accept a casino in our backyard as the trade-off,” she continued.
Early endorsements for Ramos included the Chelsea Reform Democratic Club and the United Auto Workers Region 9A, the latter of which she shares with two other candidates.
Mamdani’s district encompasses Astoria, Ditmars-Steinway, and Astoria Heights. Similar to Ramos, his campaign strategy includes tackling the cost of living for working-class families. He also has plans to cancel the $2.90 bus fare for New Yorkers and shut down Rikers Island if elected.
As a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, many of his ideals are considered radical. He has been vocal in the assessment of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. In an interview with City & State, when asked if he has any concerns that his criticism of Israel can turn away voters, Mamdani responded by saying:
Zohran Mamdani, photo taken by Dave Sanders for The New York Times.
“Too often, when you speak up for Palestinian rights, it’s framed as if you’re speaking in favor of denying anyone rights, when in fact you are simply calling for the expansion of those rights and the application of them. I think that when you look across New York City, there are far more New Yorkers who cannot understand how we have enough money to kill kids across Palestine and Lebanon and Yemen and Syria, while we are told there isn’t enough money to take care of our basic needs across this city.”
Early endorsements for Mamdani include the Democratic Socialists of America, and Socialist lawmakers Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest.
According to the New York Post, Cuomo, a former governor of New York, lives on East 54th Street in Manhattan. Page Six reported seeing Cuomo leaving a voting center last October in the Midtown East neighborhood of Manhattan. While Cuomo is no longer an active Queens official, in the past, he has referenced himself being a “Queens boy.”
Of the plethora of candidates running for Mayor, Cuomo has one of the most significant political profiles, dating back more than forty years. Before serving as governor, he was appointed secretary of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development under Bill Clinton, then New York State Attorney General. Cuomo was behind major infrastructure changes in the city. Including the rebuilding of LaGuardia and JFK airports, supporting the expansion of the Second Avenue subway, and opening the Moynihan train hall on West 33rd Street in Manhattan.
According to the New York Times, when New York became an epicenter for the COVID-19 pandemic, eyes were on the former Governor to find solutions. Answers that would allocate beds and equipment for Hospitals, which were often meeting their capacity at the height of the outbreak. His critics include the former Trump administration and then-Mayor Bill de Blasio for the mishandling of actively enforcing safety protocols.
Cuomo himself has faced massive criticism in regards to the number of deaths that occurred in nursing homes during the pandemic. His administration was accused of not accurately reporting the number of deaths that occurred. This marked a snowball effect of controversy surrounding Cuomo. Sexual-assault allegations and an impeachment investigation led by state officials began to put much pressure on Cuomo. By February of 2021, he resigned.
Despite his controversy, when announcing his run for mayor, many still came out to show support for his candidacy. Cuomo’s endorsements include Bronx representative Ritchie Torres, Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia, and the Staten Island Democratic Party.
Other democratic contenders include City Comptroller Brad Lander, State Senator Zellnor Myrie, and attorney Jim Walden (all from Brooklyn), former Comptroller Scott Stringer and financier Whitney Tilson (both from Manhattan), and political consultant and Pastor Michael Blake of the Bronx.
The lone republican in the race is radio talk show host and founder of The Guardian Angels, Curtis Sliwa.
