Who could run for comptroller in 2025?

Brad Lander, a frequent critic of Mayor Eric Adams, is set to take on Adams at the polls. The New York City Comptroller announced he’s exploring a run against Adams in the Democratic primary for mayor in 2025. 

Lander, who already holds a citywide elected position, would be giving that role up to run for mayor. But if Lander closes that door for himself, he’ll open it up to a handful of other elected officials eager to vie for such an influential seat – though past comptrollers’ track record running for mayor is dubious.

These are the elected officials across the city looking or rumored to be looking at running for comptroller, as well other candidates who have opened campaign committees.

Current elected officials

Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar

One likely candidate is already a familiar face in New York City, and not just in her southern Queens district. Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar, a lawyer and a close ally of Mayor Eric Adams, opened a campaign committee in early July to run for comptroller, confirming rumors that she had her sights set on higher office. 

In 2020, Rajkumar became the first South Asian woman elected to the Assembly. In discussing her exploration of a run for comptroller, Rajkumar has pitched herself as someone who can fix government inefficiency. Unlike several of the other candidates on this list, Rajkumar could also theoretically run for comptroller in 2025 without sacrificing reelection to her current seat. Rajkumar has not officially declared her candidacy – she told City & State this week she is still “seriously considering” – but she noted that her consideration includes exploring the race in all circumstances, including if Lander does not ultimately jump in the mayor’s race but runs for reelection.

Rajkumar has been making herself known across the city for more than a year, appearing alongside Adams at press conferences and town halls far outside of her district. She’s also defended the mayor from criticism, including allegations of sexual assault from 1993 in a lawsuit filed against him last year. How much Rajkumar’s alliance with Adams will help her in a potential comptroller run remains to be seen. One of her most prominent legislative successes – recently the subject of a question on “Jeopardy!”  – is a law making Diwali a school holiday in New York City. She also sponsored legislation in Albany to crack down on illegal smoke shops this year.

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine

The former City Council Member and current Manhattan borough president is one of the current elected officials who is rumored to be looking at comptroller should Lander set his sights on City Hall. Levine, who is typically vocal on a range of policy topics, from public health to the state of the Democratic Party, has put a particular focus during his time as borough president on creating new housing. A report produced by his office last year identified specific locations across the borough that could be used to accommodate tens of thousands of new housing units.

Though he hasn’t opened a campaign account to run for citywide office, Levine had a healthy fundraising haul in the last six months that could be transferred to a campaign committee for comptroller. Between January and July Levine brought in roughly $139,000, giving him a sizable campaign chest to work with in a competitive comptroller primary.

Just as Lander’s running for mayor opens up the race for comptroller, Levine jumping into the comptroller race would open up his current Manhattan borough president seat in 2025 too. City Council Member Keith Powers, the term-limited member representing the East Side of Manhattan, is considered likely to run for borough president should Levine leave it open. State Sen. Brad Hoyman-Sigal and Assembly Members Grace Lee and Linda Rosenthal also haven’t ruled out runs, Politico New York reported in July.

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso

Reynoso, also a former City Council member and now Brooklyn borough president, is also rumored to be looking at running for comptroller, should Lander’s entrance into the mayor’s race create a vacuum. Reynoso, who like Levine has served as borough president for two-and-a-half years, has made maternal health a signature issue, devoting his 2023 capital budget to pregnancy services at three public hospitals in Brooklyn.

Reynoso has also not opened a campaign account for comptroller, but raised just over $50,000 in his borough president account between January and July. Current elected officials who have been reported to be looking at running for Brooklyn borough president if Reynoso runs for comptroller include Council Member Justin Brannan, who is term-limited, Council Member Chi Ossé, who is not term-limited, and Assembly Member Robert Carroll. 

Other candidates

Ismael Malave

Though the comptroller’s race is already garnering attention from current elected officials, some lesser-known candidates have also jumped in the race. Ismael Malave, an analyst at the city Department of Administrative Services, according to his LinkedIn, has worked in several government roles, including at the state comptroller and public advocate’s offices. Malave has raised roughly $33,000 as of mid-July.

Terrell Miller

Terrell Miller, a former candidate for City Council in Southeast Queens in 2021, has also opened a campaign account for comptroller next year. He has raised $60 as of mid-July, according to the last fundraising report, but further details on donors were not available on the city’s campaign finance website.