Introduction to the Mayor’s Race Shake-Up
In case you hadn’t heard: Mayor Eric Adams will not run as a Democrat this year, opting to skip the June primary altogether and run as an independent candidate in November. He dropped that news this morning — less than 24 hours after his federal corruption charges dropped.
Understanding the Party Switch
OK, he’s going to run as an independent. But what does that even mean? Adams being an independent means he won’t be on the Democratic ballot for the June 24 primary. Instead, he will petition — i.e. gather signatures from voters — to get a place as an independent on the November ballot. Keep in mind: he is seeking to be a small i independent, as opposed to candidates — like former Mayor Michael Bloomberg — who in the past have run on the line of the now-defunct Independence Party.
Ranked Choice Voting with an Independent Candidate
How does ranked choice voting work with an independent candidate? It doesn’t! Ranked choice voting is only used in primary and special elections. If Mayor Adams appears as an independent in November for the general election, voters will cast their ballots in the traditional way: Choosing their one favorite candidate. And whoever gets the most votes gets to be mayor next year.
The Working Families Party’s Move
There’s another big wrinkle on the horizon. There are four parties in New York State that are legally allowed to run a candidate on a ballot line: the Democrats, the Republicans, the Conservative Party and the Working Families Party. And, New York’s “fusion” system allows candidates to appear on multiple ballot lines. Right now, the WFP is making a move that gives it the option to invite a candidate to use its ballot line in November if none of the four candidates they’re endorsing in the Democratic primary succeed in toppling frontrunner Andrew Cuomo.
Potential for a Five-Way Race
What does that mean? They have the power to seriously switch things up after the June primary. They could even choose to give their ballot line to a candidate who loses the primary — giving them another bite at the apple in the general election. If they take that option, we could see a potential five-way race in November with:
- A WFP candidate to be determined.
- The Democratic nominee.
- The Republican nominee.
- Mayor Adams running as an independent.
- Attorney Jim Walden, also running as an independent. Forget about 50%-plus-one. Whoever gets the most votes, wins.
Impact on the Mayor’s Chances
Does running independently increase the mayor’s chances? That’s anyone’s guess. By making this move Adams is likely hoping to go after more politically moderate New Yorkers, and capture lots of the unaffiliated voters in the city. As we’ve written about before, one in five active voters in NYC are not registered with a party. But there’s a lot of wildcard factors this year, and no crystal ball.
What We’re Reading
The two leading Democratic candidates vying to become city comptroller agree on one thing: The major challenge for the office will be protecting the city against funding cuts from President Donald Trump and the Republicans who control Washington. But they’re split on how to do that. Mayor Adams claims he is fighting to obtain millions of dollars in public matching funds that the city Campaign Finance Board has denied his scandal-scarred reelection campaign. Interview Magazine brought in 18 New Yorkers to, what else, interview mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
What’s Ahead
Days until the June primary: 83
- April 3: In-person mayoral forum hosted by multiple Upper West Side tenant associations, with seven candidates attending.
- April 7: Public safety-focused mayoral forum co-hosted by Vital City and the CUNY Journalism School with THE CITY’s Reuven Blau.
- April 16: Immigrant-focused mayoral forum hosted by THE CITY, Documented, the New York Immigration Coalition and others.
- April 17: Bipartisan mayoral candidate forum hosted by public service retirees.
Your Election Questions, Answered
Reader Sumana H. asked: I was talking with several neighbors about the upcoming election … They were unsure who’s running. We’re hoping you will once more publish a [mayoral candidate] matching quiz like the one you did in 2021. Are you planning on doing that again? Answer: Yes, we are working now to create a new version of Meet Your Mayor, our popular mayoral candidate matching quiz published last mayoral election season.
Reader Adam B. asked: Is there a way to get a list of all upcoming mayoral forums? Answer: Our newsroom is tracking the ones that we hear about, and we publish the soon-to-happen ones in the newsletter’s events section every week.
Conclusion
The recent decision by Mayor Eric Adams to run as an independent in the November election has significant implications for the mayoral race. With the potential for a five-way race and the involvement of the Working Families Party, the election is becoming increasingly complex. As the campaign season heats up, it’s essential to stay informed about the latest developments and candidate platforms.
FAQs
Q: What does it mean for Mayor Adams to run as an independent?
A: Mayor Adams will not be on the Democratic ballot for the June primary and will instead gather signatures to appear as an independent on the November ballot.
Q: How does ranked choice voting work with an independent candidate?
A: Ranked choice voting is not used in general elections, so voters will choose their favorite candidate, and the one with the most votes wins.
Q: What is the role of the Working Families Party in the election?
A: The WFP is making a move to potentially give its ballot line to a candidate who loses the primary, allowing them to run in the general election.
Q: How can I stay informed about the election and candidate forums?
A: Check the newsletter’s events section for upcoming forums and events, and consider reaching out to the newsroom for more information.
