5 takeaways from the latest mayoral fundraising haul

Once upon a time – three or four months ago – the viability of challengers to Mayor Eric Adams was heavily rooted in their ability to raise enough money to take on the well-funded incumbent mayor. 

Today, Adams’ political future is in jeopardy following a criminal indictment. His challengers are preparing for the possibility of a special election – something still far from guaranteed as Adams insists he isn’t leaving office. But anybody vying for mayor will still need plenty of cash on hand to compete in a crowded, and possibly growing, field. 

That’s not an easy feat for Democrats right now, as many donors have their eyes on November’s presidential election and New York’s competitive House races. “Electing (Kamala) Harris president over (Donald) Trump and making sure Hakeem Jeffries is the next speaker of the House is so critical to this country, it is what is on everyone’s mind,” said former comptroller and mayoral candidate Scott Stringer, including himself in that group. Still, he said, people are coming out to express their concerns and desires for New York City’s future. “Even in the midst of an unprecedented November election where the stakes are so high, people have been willing to hear me out and support me in this mayor’s race.” Stringer isn’t the only one who can say that. Current Comptroller Brad Lander, state Sens. Zellnor Myrie and Jessica Ramos, and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams – who would be in the mix in a special election – are bringing in cash too. Adams, who brought in just over $146,000 in the most recent fundraising period when excluding returned donations – a lower intake than usual – still has a strong head start. Here’s where the candidates vying for mayor stand after the latest fundraising period for 2025 elections, which stretched from July 12 to Oct. 7.

Brad Lander is raking it in

New York City Comptroller Lander is leading the pack of challengers to Adams as of early October, reporting both the biggest haul for the most recent fundraising period – $330,000 – and the largest total haul when including projected matching funds, landing at $4.5 million total raised. “This support means we will have all the resources needed to communicate our plan to deliver the strong, honest, steady leadership New Yorkers deserve,” Lander said in a statement. Lander, who launched his campaign for mayor in late July, had already seen strong fundraising for his prior comptroller reelection bid, giving his mayoral fundraising a head start.

The city Campaign Finance Board warns that for all candidates, matching funds projections are just that – projections – as candidates haven’t yet received matching funds for the 2025 elections. The CFB won’t determine eligibility for matching funds until December. But all the candidates who are fundraising for mayor – including Lander, Stringer, Myrie and Ramos – are planning to participate in the city’s public matching program. Myrie’s and Ramos’ campaigns have not yet met the thresholds for the program.

Stringer, the former comptroller and former mayoral candidate, announced his run for mayor in January. In the latest period, Stringer brought in nearly $181,000 in donations, putting him at a total of $591,116 in donations since January and a projected total of $3.2 million with matching funds.

Myrie, who announced he would challenge Adams in May, brought in around $138,000 in donations over the latest period. He’s raised roughly $464,000 and projects $2,068,853 in matching funds. “With more than 2,500 donors behind him, Zellnor is building the momentum needed to power his campaign and fight for a more affordable and livable city,” a spokesperson for Myrie said in a statement. 

Ramos, the only woman in the race, raised a total of $52,513, although she’s had the least amount of time to fundraise, having just launched her campaign Sept. 13.  While she’s yet to hit the threshold to qualify for matching funds, her campaign expects the latest filing to bring in about $250,000 after meeting the program’s threshold. 

“I am grateful to every donor and supporter, and look forward to building on this strong start,” Ramos said in a statement. “We’re powered by working New Yorkers who want what’s best for this city.”

Adams windfall slows

While Lander brought in the most this period, Adams still has a huge lead, thanks to more than $4 million direct contributions raised since January 2022. Adams brought in just over $146,000 in this most recent period, leaving him more than $3 million in cash on hand before even factoring in potential matching funds. Adams reported just one donation after news broke that he was indicted by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York: $250 on Sept. 26.

Back in July, when the previous fundraising period ended, Adams’ campaign predicted that they would finish fundraising by October, bringing in enough through donations and projected matching funds to meet the primary election spending cap. Campaign attorney Vito Pitta told NBC New York this week that they have now hit that goal. But it’s unclear if Adams will be deemed eligible for matching funds, given the investigation into his 2021 campaign fundraising.

In the most recent period, Adams spent more than he raised – including $67,500 on polling and more than $26,000 for a fundraising firm he’s also used to raise cash for his separate legal defense fund. 

One person notably missing from the Adams campaign payroll over the last three months is Brianna Suggs, the former chief fundraiser who has received scrutiny from federal authorities in their investigation into Adams’ fundraising and who is referenced in the criminal indictment against Adams. In the previous fundraising period from January to July 2024, Suggs’ firm was still paid for consulting fees on several occasions, most recently in April, despite her home being raided several months before and Adams saying that she would no longer be serving in the role of fundraiser. 

Pitta did not immediately respond to questions about the latest fundraising period – including whether Suggs remains on the campaign team – and his office said that he would be out at a meeting all day on Tuesday. 

Notable donors

Janette Sadik-Khan, who served as city Department of Transportation commissioner under Mayor Mike Bloomberg, donated multiple times to Lander’s campaign before and after he launched. Queens Council Member Julie Won also donated $100 to Ramos on Sept. 25 and $100 to Lander the day the mayor was indicted. Lander also received donations from “Rent” playwright Billy Aronson, former congressional candidate and Muslim empowerment activist Rana Abdelhamid’s campaign (Abdelhamid also made a donation to Ramos’ campaign), Teamsters Local Union 202, and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 94 Political Action Committee. And in a repeat celebrity-politician matchup, actress Scarlett Johansson donated $2,100 to Stringer. State Sen. Myrie showed he can attract some well-heeled donors, receiving contributions from tech and political heavyweight Bradley Tusk, as well as from Jonathan Soros and Abigail Disney. Madison Square Garden’s James Dolan also donated $2,100 to Adams in July. Three relatives of Transport Workers Union President John Samuelsen appear to have donated $100 each to Ramos, who is chair of the state Senate Labor Committee, on Sept. 27, the day after the Adams indictment was unsealed. Ramos also got a $25 donation from a “musician” by the name of Joan Jett who listed her hometown as Whiteplains. 

Spending big

Lander has so far spent more than any of the other challengers, spending a total of $688,043 – $191,959 of which he reported using on his most recent filing. Much of that money has gone toward political consulting firm BerlinRosen for campaign consulting.

Mayoral candidates are beholden to a spending cap of $374,000 in the years leading up to  an election year and a $7,932,000 cap for the primary in 2025. Candidates who spend beyond their cap in the out-year will have to subtract how much they went over from what they can spend in an election year. 

The Jumaane Williams factor

Not to be forgotten is New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who could be a major player in a special election if Adams is removed from office or resigns. Williams would become acting mayor if that were to happen, and would be a likely contender in a special election. Williams only raised about $39,000 in his public advocate account in the second quarter, bringing his grand total to roughly $197,000, according to public filings. While that is far more than anyone else running for public advocate, compare it with any of the leading candidates challenging Adams and it’s another story. Of course talk of a nonpartisan special election was just starting to pick up during the reported filing period. With a potential upcoming mayoral fight in mind, it’s possible the public advocate will see more donations reflected in his next campaign finance filing. Of Williams’ total $39,322 haul in this most recent period, more than half of it came in since Sept. 26, when the indictment against Adams was unsealed.