Political Landscape 2021: What Contests Will There Be in New York and Who Are the Candidates? | The State
2020 was left behind as one of the election years most intense of recent times, where the battle for the Presidency of the United States turned into a close fight between Trump and Biden, which still has the current White House tenant showing no signs of wanting to pack suitcases.
And although this 2021 has just begun, beyond the expectation that exists before the next possession of Joe Biden as national president, in the city of NY he electoral arena it is already in full action.
This year for the Big Apple it will be an election year large proportions, not only because New Yorkers will go to the polls to elect the successor of Bill de Blasio in the Mayor’s Office, by 2022, with more than a score of applicants for the second most important position in the country, but there are also other contests that will define the direction in which the city will head for the near future.
The biggest contest that will have a great impact at the political level in 2021 has to do with the Municipal Council, which will change its face. Of the 51 members that make up this body, a total of 29, that is, more than half will not be able to seek re-election due to a time limit, so they will be open races that will bring new politicians to the legislative arena, which currently has 48 Democrats and three Republicans.
27 Democrats and 2 Republicans will not remain on Council, and among those who leave, recognized political figures of the city stand out, who have influenced the destinies of recent years, such as the president of the legislative chamber, Corey Johnson, the president of the Transportation Committee, Ydanis Rodríguez and the president of the Immigration Committee, Carlos Menchaca, among others.
The primaries will not be in September, as is usually done, but will take place June 22 and the general elections are scheduled for The 2nd of November.
The fight for Mayor’s Office is joined by positions such as the Ombudsman’s Office, which holds Jumaane Williams, the presidencies of Manhattan, with Gael Brewer at the helm, and Queens, with Donovan Richard newly elected, as well as the Bronx, Staten Island and Brooklyn, for limited terms. Likewise, the Comptroller’s Office, currently held by Scott Stringer, and other positions have dozens of candidates starting engines in their campaigns.
Here is a list of several of the main races that will define the political map of New York City for 2021, with the candidates who hope to succeed after the upcoming elections.
New York City Hall
In this contest, more than twenty candidates of different political positions have emerged, including former officials of the De Blasio Administration, community activists, and current holders of public offices. On the list of contenders are several figures of Hispanic origin, such as council member Carlos Menchaca and community organizer Dianne Morales, who hope to make history with campaigns based on the power of communities, away from large corporations.
Applicants:
- Eric Adams: Current Brooklyn Borough President, Democratic Party
- Andrew Yang: Former presidential candidate for the Democratic Party
- Shaun donovan: Former Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, former Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and former US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- Quanda Francis: President of Sykes Capital Management
- Kathryn Garcia: Former New York City Sanitation Commissioner
- Raymond McGuire: Citigroup executive
- Carlos Menchaca: Chairman of the Immigration Committee of the City Council
- Dianne Morales: executive director of a nonprofit organization and community activist
- Scott stringer: New York City Comptroller
- Loree sutton: Former Commissioner of the New York City Department of Veterans Services
- Maya wiley: New School teacher, former attorney for Bill de Blasio, and former chair of the Civil Complaints Review Board
- Other candidates are: Democrats Quanda Francis, Zach Iscol, Ray McGuire, Paperboy Prince, Joycelyn Taylor, Aaron Foldenauer, Kevin Coenen, and Eddie Cullen. Also, Republicans Bill Pepitone, Curtis Sliwa, Cleopatra Fitzgerald and Abbey Laurel-Smith.
Ombudsman
The office of the Ombudsman, held by former councilman Jumaane Williams, will be subject to electoral scrutiny and the current head of that portfolio is seeking his re-election. The special importance of this position is that in the line of succession of the Mayor of the City, if the municipal representative is absent, it is the Ombudsman who assumes power.
Applicants:
- Jumaane williams: current owner of that office
- Theo Chino: Democratic candidate, who serves as a computer engineer and activist
- Anthony Herbert: Democratic candidate, who is serving as a community consultant
New York City Comptroller
This year, due to expiration of office limits, Comptroller Scott Stringer must leave his post and give way to new management of the body, which acts as fiscal director and auditor of the use of state and municipal government funds. Whoever wins the race will be in office for 4 years and can run for re-election.
Applicants:
- Brian Benjamin: Democratic state senator for Harlem and the Upper West Side, who worked especially on issues like police reform
- Brad lander: Councilor for Brooklyn, considered one of the most progressive voices on the legislative body
- David weprin: Assemblyman for the 24th District of Queens in the NY State Legislature, since 2010
- Kevin Parker: State Senator of the NY Legislature for Brooklyn’s 21st District
Manhattan District Attorney
For the position of prosecutor Cyrus Roberts Vance Jr. there are a dozen applicants, including several women. An assemblyman and two former officials of the Prosecutor’s Office appear among the contenders. This office is considered one of the most important prosecutors in the city in charge of analyzing police reports and deciding prosecutions.
Applicants:
- Diana Florence: Democrat-affiliated, the prosecutor worked in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for 25 years where she managed the Construction Fraud Task Force. In dialogue with El Diario, the candidate assured that she is running for office to defend people who never thought they would have a chance to win their cases and fight “against the interests of the powerful and corruption.” The case of Carlos Moncayo, a 22-year-old undocumented Ecuadorian carpenter who “was buried alive in an unprotected 14-foot ditch in the middle of a multi-million dollar construction site in lower Manhattan” is one of his best-known cases.
“Moncayo’s family deserved justice, and Florence prosecuted the company and the foreman for Carlos’s death. In her 25-year career, Florence was the first to prosecute a domestic violence case without the victim to testify in court, obtained the largest conviction for wage theft in the country, returning $ 6 million to 500 immigrant workers and fought against the landlords who deceive and harass people to get them out of their apartments ”, assured his campaign. - Lucy Lang: Aspiring Democrat, she joined the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office under then-Chief Robert Morgenthau, and has served as a senior prosecutor for homicide and domestic violence under prosecutor Cy Vance and a policy and project advisor.
- Tahanie Aboushi: is a lawyer who has fought for the protection of civil rights, daughter of immigrants from Palestine.
- Alvin bragg: Democrat-affiliated, the former deputy state attorney general and federal prosecutor, is running a progressive platform without accepting money from corporations for his campaign
- Liz crotty: Democrat, former prosecutor in the Manhattan Division of Investigations under District Attorney Robert Morgenthau and current attorney
- Janos Marton: Democrat, American Civil Liberties Union civil rights attorney and corruption investigator
- Eliza orlins: She is a public attorney and former member of Legal Aid, who has been on reality shows like “Survivor” and “The Amazing Race.”
- Dan Quart: Assemblyman of the State Legislature for the East Side of Manhattan
Tali Farhadian: Democrat-affiliated, he was a prosecutor in the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, where he worked in justice for wrongful convictions. She was also the secretary to Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Manhattan Borough Presidency
Before the departure of Gael Brewer due to a time limit in that office, the chair of that county will be empty and so far six candidates are in the competition, including councilors Mark Levine and Ben Kallos. In Manhattan there are more than 1.5 million registered voters, largely Democrats.
Applicants:
- Lindsey boylan– Former Assistant Secretary for Economic Development and Special Advisor to the Governor and Former Candidate for New York’s 10th Congressional District in 2020
- Elizabeth caputo: Former Chairman of the Manhattan Community Board # 7
- Brad Hoylman: State Senator in the NY Legislature
- Ben kallos: Councilmember for New York District 5
- Mark Levine: President of the Municipal Council Health Committee
- Kimberly watkins: Activist and progressive leader
Brooklyn Presidency
Eric Adams, county president and mayoral candidate, cannot seek his re-election for a limited term and among the list of Democratic candidates who aspire to that position there are more than a dozen names, including a couple of Latinos
Applicants:
- Antonio Reynoso: Councilor of Dominican origin
- Robert Cornegy: Municipal Councilor
- Khari Edwards: communal activist
- Robert Elstein: artist
- Mathieu Eugene: councilor of Haitian origin
- Shanduke McPhatter: activist
- Jo Anne Simon: member of the State Assembly
- Lamor Whitehead-Miller: Shepherd
- Other applicants are: Pearlene Fields, Anthony Jones and Robert Ramos Jr.
Queens Presidency
Current county chairman Donovan Richards, who took office in December after winning a special election to replace Sharon Lee, the interim president who replaced current county attorney Melinda Katz, will seek full term reelection. .
Applicants:
- Donovan Richards: current county chairman and former councilman
- Stan morse: community organizer
- Jimmy Van Bramer: City Council member for Queens
Presidency of The Bronx
The current president Rubén Díaz Jr., due to his limited mandate, cannot run for a fourth consecutive term, so his position will be free and 5 candidates, some councilors, are seeking to rise to the chair.
Applicants:
- Fernando Cabrera: Latino councilman for that county
- Nathalia Fernández: New York State Assemblyman for District 80
- Vanessa Gibson: New York City Councilor
- Activists Víctor H. Gutiérrez and Samuel Ravelo, they are also in contention
Staten Island Presidency
Republican James Oddo has a limited term, so he will not be able to seek re-election for a third term either.
Applicants:
- Steven Matteo: member of the Municipal Council and Leticia M. Remauro seek the nomination for the position
city Council
The Municipal Council, the body in charge of making the laws of the City of New York, will also be the scene of major disputes in 2021, since 29 seats of the 51 that make up that body will remain empty, meaning that the next Municipal Council will have a new face . A total of 27 Democrats and 2 Republicans will no longer be in that chamber.
Within the contests for the legislative body, that of the 10th District of Manhattan draws special attention, where the seat is empty because the incumbent, Ydanis Rodriguez, who is rumored to be added to the list of candidates for the Presidency of Manhattan, will not be able to seek his re-election due to term limits.
Applicants:
- Carmen De La Rosa: Assemblyman of Dominican origin
- Angela Fernandez: community organizer
- Johanna garcia: activist and community leader
- Other candidates are Josue Pérez, Manny De Los Santos and Nayma Silver-Matos
Councilors who will not seek reelection in 2021
- District 1: Councilmember Margaret Chin
- District 3: Councilman Corey Johnson
- District 5: Councilor Ben Kallos
- District 6: Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal
- District 7: Councilman Mark Levine
- District 10: Councilor Ydanis Rodríguez
- District 14: Councilor Fernando Cabrera
- District 16: Councilmember Vanessa Gibson
- District 19: Councilor Paul Vallone
- District 20: Councilman Peter Koo
- District 22: Councilor Costa Constantinides
- District 25: Councilman Danny Dromm
- District 26: Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer
- District 27: Councilmember Daneek Miller
- District 29: Councilmember Karen Koslowitz
- District 32: Councilman Eric Ulrich
- District 33: Councilman Stephen Levin
- District 34: Councilor Antonio Reynoso
- District 35: Councilmember Laurie Cumbo
- District 36: Councilman Robert Cornegy
- District 38: Councilor Carlos Menchaca
- District 39: Councilman Brad Lander
- District 40: Councilman Mathieu Eugene
- District 42: Councilmember Inez Barron
- District 46: Councilman Alan Maisel
- District 47: Councilman Mark Treyger
- District 48: Councilor Chaim Deutsch
- District 49: Councilwoman Debi Rose
- District 50: Councilmember Steven Matteo
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