Introduction to the Election Season
Earlier in the election season, the role endorsements play in local races and whether they can really make or break a candidate was a topic of discussion. Now, those themes are playing out. Over the last few weeks, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has scooped up many labor union endorsements, most recently a division of the Laborer’s International Union with tens of thousands of members. But this week, one of the city’s largest and most influential unions threw its support behind three candidates for mayor — and Cuomo was not among them.
Labor Union Endorsements
On Tuesday, DC 37 — which represents city government employees — endorsed City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani and State Sen. Zellnor Myrie for mayor, in that order. The 1-2-3 ranking is an anomaly as most other organizations have supported multiple candidates without a specific ranked order. It gives a huge boost to Speaker Adams, who hasn’t yet qualified for matching funds and has polled in the single digits so far. She nabbed another boost Wednesday with the public backing of Attorney General Tish James.
Why Endorsements Matter
Why does this matter? It’s an image and branding shift for Speaker Adams, but also a major infusion of people and material support. As we wrote about in our endorsement guide, union endorsements (ideally) bring huge numbers of people for door-knocking, contributions and of course votes. And DC 37 is massive, with 150,000 active members and 89,000 retirees on its rolls.
Impact on the Election
Whether all this public support will translate into a shift in poll numbers is still unclear. The most recent poll from the Honan Strategy Group found 14% of voters were still undecided.
What We’re Reading
The House Oversight Committee referred Cuomo to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution for the second time.
Who will be the top choice for progressives in the mayor’s race? Mamdani and Comptroller Brad Lander are duking it out as the Working Families Party mulls their number-one pick.
What’s Ahead
Days until the June primary: 61
April 25: A mayoral forum to discuss accessibility for people with disabilities from 5 to 7 p.m. at 1199SEIU, 498 7th Ave., 2nd Fl., 5 to 7 p.m. RSVP here.
April 29: Special election to replace Councilmember Joseph Borelli in City Council District 51. Are you in that Staten Island district? Find out here.
May 1: The date on which election officials will certify the primary ballot — and we’ll know precisely who made it onto the ballot.
May 1: A mayoral housing forum from the NYU Furman Center and New York Housing Conference, 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Kimmel Center, 60 Washington Square South. Errol Louis is moderating and you can RSVP for in-person attendance here.
Your Election Questions, Answered
Reader Roland K. asked: Why does each mayoral candidate run on the issue of fixing the MTA even though they’re not in charge of it?
Answer: Great question! The MTA is in charge of all mass transit in New York City, including buses, subways and commuter rails. And the MTA is controlled mostly by the governor, not the mayor; its budget and the majority of its board are controlled by Albany.
But critically, the mayor of the city has direct control over the city’s streets through the Department of Transportation, and therefore has a lot of power over the city’s bus network. As the advocacy group Riders Alliance put it: “The mayor and the DOT are the ones that design, construct, and maintain the infrastructure needed to support transit like dedicated bus lanes and car-free transit corridors.”
So, if you hear a candidate promising to overhaul the MTA itself, or build a new subway line — remember that’s a far-fetched idea that they couldn’t make happen alone.
But if you hear a candidate promising to make changes to our buses, it may be more realistic. Or if they propose funding an aspect of subway life, like the number of police present in stations, which falls under the NYPD budget.
Conclusion
The support of labor unions can significantly influence the outcome of local elections. With DC 37’s endorsement of City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, and State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, the dynamics of the mayoral race have shifted. As the election season progresses, it will be interesting to see how these endorsements impact the candidates’ chances.
FAQs
Q: What is the significance of DC 37’s endorsement in the mayoral election?
A: DC 37’s endorsement is significant because it brings a major infusion of people and material support to the endorsed candidates, particularly City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams.
Q: Can the mayor of New York City control the MTA?
A: No, the MTA is controlled mostly by the governor, not the mayor. However, the mayor has direct control over the city’s streets through the Department of Transportation and therefore has power over the city’s bus network.
Q: What is the role of the Department of Transportation in the city’s transit system?
A: The Department of Transportation designs, constructs, and maintains the infrastructure needed to support transit like dedicated bus lanes and car-free transit corridors.
Q: How can I stay updated on the election and its developments?
A: You can stay updated by following local news, attending mayoral forums, and visiting the website of THE CITY for the latest election news and analysis.
