This article is adapted from our Feb. 27 edition of RANKED CHOICES, THE CITY’s weekly election newsletter. Click here to sign up.
Dear New Yorkers,
On Wednesday night, members of the largest union representing city workers gathered inside a community college auditorium to hear from the mayoral candidates seeking its endorsement.
Mayor Eric Adams had planned to go — his first appearance at a mayoral forum in this year’s election. But he bailed at the last minute.
That did not go over well. The members of District Council 37, which endorsed him back in 2021, let him know how they felt by booing and laughing at the mayor — and telling our labor reporter Claudia Irizarry exactly what they thought of the incumbent.
Why are we telling you what happened at one local forum, among many? Because endorsements in any race, but especially the mayor’s race, can make or break a candidate. And endorsements from big unions like DC37 are major.
This week, my colleague Rachel Kahn broke down just how significant different endorsements are in local races.
It’s a good time to brush up on the subject, because the endorsement game is beginning in earnest. Over the last week, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has scooped up endorsements from Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-The Bronx), a group of Italian Democrats, and, most significantly, the New York City District Council of Carpenters, another powerful union.
And that’s all before officially jumping into the race, which he’s expected to do this weekend.
Unions in particular can move the needle for a candidate by mobilizing volunteers, money, and, of course, filled-in ovals on ballots.
Political consultant Yvette Buckner told us her neighbor is a 32BJ member and asks her every election: “Alright, who are we endorsing? I’m going with whoever my union goes with.”
— Katie Honan and THE CITY’s election team
What We’re Reading …
Big news: City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams is one step closer to joining the mayor’s race. She filed paperwork with the city campaign finance board to start fundraising, though she says she hasn’t quite made up her mind.Anthony Weiner is making an attempt to get back on the City Council, where he started his political career representing Park Slope, in a Lower Manhattan district. A big power player in Brooklyn politics promoted a fundraiser for him, and Weiner himself is reportedly door-knocking for signatures.Want to go even deeper on how union politics affect elected politics? This is a good story from City & State on how internal turmoil within city unions may impact this year’s campaigns.
What’s Ahead …
Days until the June primary: 117
March 6: Mayoral forum on the environment, hosted by the New York League of Conservation Voters and many partners, NYU Skirball at 566 LaGuardia Pl., Manhattan, at 6 p.m.
March 17: The next deadline for city campaign finance disclosures. (This is when we can see who donated recently to candidates, and by how much.)
March 25: Special election to replace Councilmember Kalman Yeger in City Council District 44. Are you in that Brooklyn district? Find out here.
Your Election Questions, Answered
❓Readers Donna R. and Kami S. both asked: Are voters allowed to sign election petitions for more than one candidate?
Answer: Yes and no. We asked local election attorney Sarah Steiner this question, and here’s what she said: If you give your signature to two different candidates running for the same office — for example, mayor — your signature will count only for the one you signed first. However, Steiner explained, “you can sign as many petitions as you want for candidates running for different offices.” So if you sign a mayoral petition, you can then sign a petition for a City Council candidate in your district, and a borough president candidate and a borough president candidate — if you’d like!
As a reminder, petitioning season started on Tuesday and lasts through April 3 so be on the lookout for clipboard-wielding people asking for your John Hancock. (The local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America is already boasting its volunteers have gathered 10,000 signatures for Asm. Zohran Mamdani. Huge if true!) Here’s our guide to the timeline for the signature-gathering process for getting on the ballot.
Have a question for our election team? Reply back to this email or send your questions to ask@thecity.nyc.
THE CAMPAIGN KICKER: A second member of the ‘Exonerated Five,’ Raymond Santana, is making a bid to join the City Council.
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The post An Early Look at Endorsements, and Another Adams Eyes a Run appeared first on THE CITY – NYC News.
