It’s not just national candidates who have their eyes on the next election.
The latest fundraising period for New York City candidates running, or considering a run, for local office in 2025 ended on Friday at midnight, with disclosure statements to the city’s campaign finance watchdog due on Monday. The filings offer voters a preview of the mayoral race to come, acting as an early test of whether any of Mayor Eric Adams’ potential challengers have the resources to take on the incumbent.
The filings are also a harbinger of the potential challenges facing Adams’ reelection bid, suggesting the potential for a competitive Democratic mayoral primary race in 2025. It would be the first time an incumbent mayor has faced more than a nominal primary challenge since 1989, when Mayor Ed Koch lost the Democratic nomination to Manhattan Borough President David Dinikins.
Former Comptroller Scott Stringer, a once-competitive opponent of Adams for mayor, has raised nearly $425,000 from approximately 2,100 donors since setting up his mayoral campaign committee in January, according to data his campaign released. And Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, the most recent entrant to the 2025 fray, posted a fundraising haul of more than $326,000 from 1,856 donors since he set up a committee just two months ago.
“I think this mayor has not met the moment for the city,” Stringer told Gothamist on Friday, taking a shot at Adams over a series of crises in housing, education, subway crime and mental health. “Mayors are supposed to do big things.”
Another comptroller may prove competitive, especially given recent numbers. Brad Lander has raised $674,000 – including nearly $200,000 in this current fundraising period. Altogether, his campaign reports more than $300,000 in donations eligible for matching money.
But Lander isn’t running yet. Currently, he’s a candidate for reelection to his present post. But the progressive Democrat from Park Slope has been a frequent critic of Adams and is reportedly considering taking on the incumbent in a primary contest.
If Lander does enter the mayoral fray, he and Stringer, both of whom are white, could find themselves competing for an overlapping set of primary voters in Brownstone Brooklyn and the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where turnout in Democratic primaries is traditionally high.
Myrie, who is Afro-Latino, represents the same state senate district Adams represented when he was in the state Legislature. While a portion of this district overlaps with Brownstone Brooklyn, he has also sought to appeal to Black voters across the city, making a speech in March at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, one of the most historic and politically prominent Black Baptist churches in the city.
Myrie has also taken a lead on voting rights, criminal justice and gun control legislation in the state Legislature, while leveling pointed critiques at Adams management of the city.
“Zellnor knows we need a well-run city where we all can afford to live and raise families — and grassroots donors across the five boroughs agree,” spokesperson Monica Klein said. “With over 2,000 donations, Zellnor is building the support and momentum needed to power this campaign and make our city more affordable and livable.”
The fundraising totals don’t necessarily reflect how much money the candidates have at their disposal. Lander has spent a lot of his haul already, with a bit over $150,000 in cash on hand to Stringer’s nearly $300,000. Myrie’s campaign has more than $240,000.
But the fundraising yields will grow with a boost from the city, thanks to New York’s public matching funds program. Donations from supporters in the five boroughs could be eligible for up to $8 in matching funds for every dollar.
The Stringer campaign estimates their current fundraising haul could amount to $2.1 million with matching funds, while the Myrie campaign estimates their haul will be worth $1.3 million with matching funds. Lander’s campaign estimates his campaign has $3 million including potential matching funds.
The matching funds program rewards smaller donations, and for big ones, only the first $250 of any sum are eligible. Stringer, Myrie and Lander all reported average donation sizes of under $250, at $157, $145 and $161, respectively.
The first public matching funds payment from the New York City Campaign Finance Board will go out on Dec. 16, following the next filing deadline in October.
A spokesperson for Adams, who faces ongoing scrutiny over his last mayoral campaign’s fundraising practices, said his campaign outraised all their potential competition in the latest fundraising period. According to data on file with the New York City Campaign Finance Board, Adams had already raised $2.9 million as of January, before matching funds.
“The mayor’s campaign has continued to draw strong support from New Yorkers, raising more than $1 million over the last six months—putting the amount available to spend for his reelection at more than $8 million, which is close to the maximum allowed,” said Vito Pitta, Eric Adams 2025 campaign counsel.
Candidates who receive public matching funds are limited to spending $8.3 million ahead of a primary election.
Pitta said the totals include approximately $215,000 in estimated matching claims from about 1500 contributors.
Stringer, however, said city voters are clamoring for new leadership.
“He lied about the budget deficit. He cut critical programs related to pre-K and parks. And it’s time for a change,” Stringer said, arguing he would bring to bear a deep understanding of city government from his time as Manhattan Borough president and as city comptroller.
Stringer ran against Adams in 2021 but faced a sudden drop in support after he was accused of sexual assault by a former campaign intern, Jean Kim, two decades earlier. Stringer swiftly denied the allegations against him, but his campaign lost significant momentum after Kim leveled the charges. In the years since, Stringer has sued Kim for defamation and received a ruling in state court last year that allowed the case to move ahead.
“The fact that I was falsely accused and now the courts have now said my defamation case could go forward, it’s a tremendous personal victory for me, but it also has allowed us to get beyond that,” Stringer said.
For his current campaign, Stringer said his supporters come from all five boroughs including small fundraising events in Staten Island, Park Slope, Brooklyn, throughout Manhattan and elsewhere.
Myrie’s supporters, meanwhile, include philanthropist Jennifer Soros, Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes, Rabbi Andy Kahn of Congregation Beth Elohim, Communications Workers of America political director Hae-Lin Choi and state Sen. Jame Skoufis and City Councilmember Sandy Nurse, the campaign noted.
Elizabeth Kim contributed reporting.