On Tuesday, June 25th registered democrats only, no republicans and no independents can participate, will select candidates who will appear on the November general election ballot, the election is called ranked choice voting (RCV), in November the usual, most votes wins, a majority is not necessary. I know life in Gotham can be confusing.
The Charter Revision Commission is recommending to major changes in the running of NYC elections, the proposed changes may be on the November ballot,
… Citizens Union issued Charter Reforms for Better New York City Government, a report urging both New York City Charter Revision Commissions to take decisive action to strengthen democracy and enhance government accountability. Citizen Union’s own research shows that consolidating elections into even-numbered years boosts turnout by aligning local races with high-profile federal and state contests. Similarly, top-two open primaries create more competitive, less polarized elections and expand participation to all voters regardless of party affiliation.
Stay tuned.
For now, RCV, in theory, will result in more collaboration among candidates, fewer personal attacks, maybe.
NYC elections are held the year after the presidential election year, traditionally a low turnout year. On this year’s ballot: eleven mayoral candidates, the Comptroller, additionally the Public Advocate, Boro President and fifty-one members of the City Council, some districts are not contested and in some the incumbents are not yet term limited. Got all that? Ok, how does RCV work?
You can rank up to five candidates in preferential order.
The candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their ballot moved to the next highest choice on their ballot, the “rounds” continue until a candidate has a majority.
In 2021 Sanitation Commissioner García, with a NY Times endorsement, was in first place. Adams second and Wylie third, when Wylie was eliminated, her votes elected Adams.
The primary chooses from among the democratic candidates selecting the candidate who will contest the election in November, The November General Election includes the democratic and republican candidates plus independent party candidates. Eric Adams chose not to enter the primary and run as an independent, Andrew Cuomo, win or lose the primary will also be on an independent ballot line. We could face an Adams versus Cuomo race in November, would Trump have his finger on the scale?
To further muddle a few state legislators are running for city offices, if they win in the June primary, they retain their state office, if they go on to win in November, they resign their state office on 12/31/25 and commence their city position on 1/1/26 and a special election takes place to fill the state legislature vacancy within 90 days. Sort of double dipping.
The results of the UFT leadership election will probably be announced in a few days.
The UFT will be considering endorsements, on the local level committees made up of chapter leaders and activists have been interviewing candidates, and can recommend endorsements, plural, under an RCV system the union can make multiple endorsements in an election and rank, or not, the endorsees.
The UFT Survey popped up on my phone, a questionnaire asking members to rank policies and rank candidates by policy as well as their favorite and least favorite candidates and provides a summary of each candidate’s education policies. Make sure you reply, the UFT will be influenced by the Survey. The June Delegate Assembly will determine the endorsements.
Michael Lange, a frequent commentator in mayoral issues thinks the only way to stop Cuomo is for AOC to make an endorsement, probably Landor or Manadeni, or other both (2) Home | Substack
The Working Families Party endorsed four candidates without a ranking,
The Working Families Party voted … to endorse a slate of four left-leaning Democrats —Adrienne Adams, Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani and Zellnor Myrie — in the ranked-choice primary for New York City mayor.The recent Emerson College poll shows Cuomo’s lead narrowing,
State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani (D) has surged into a clear second place in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, though he still trails former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), a new poll found.
The Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey showed Cuomo leading in the first round of the ranked-choice vote system that New York City employs, receiving 35 percent of the vote. Mamdani was about 12 points behind with 23 percent.
That’s in line with other polls since before Cuomo even entered that have shown the former governor with clear, double-digit leads over the rest of the field. But it’s considerably closer than the last Emerson poll of the race from late March in which Cuomo was at 38 percent and Mamdani was the closest behind him with 10 percent.
It’s also closer than a Siena College poll from April in which Cuomo led by 24 points in the first round and a Marist University poll from earlier this month in which Cuomo was up 22 points in the first round.
In the Emerson poll released Wednesday, City Comptroller Brad Lander came in third in the first round with 10.5 percent, followed by former Comptroller Scott Stringer with 9 percent and New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams with 8 percent.
The Anybody But Cuomo forces are attempting to convince Mamdeni, Lander, Stringer, Adams and Myrie to cross endorse, their total votes could reach 50% before Cuomo, unlikely, however RCV is young and predicting is challenging.
The winner, if not Cuomo, will have to face Cuomo and Adams, who are on an independent line in November in the General Election. Confusing? Yes
My totally unscientific “discussions”: Landor, Stringer and Cuomo names come up the most frequently among our members.
And receiving no ink, the second most impactful elected, the Speaker of the City Council is “elected” by the newly elected Council members the first week in January, the back room wheeling and dealing is in progress and I’m sure the UFT is quietly involved.
Mark Twain was noted for his political jibes, one of my favorites,
“A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.”
Ed in the Apple: Blogging on the Intersection of Education and Politics Title 