What everyone will be talking about at the 2024 Somos conference in Puerto Rico

There hasn’t been a Somos conference in Puerto Rico this consequential in a while. The conference was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the chaos and uncertainty of a post-presidential Somos hasn’t happened since 2016, when the expected jubilation of Democrats at the Javits Center turned into disappointment when Donald Trump defeated Hillary Rodham Clinton. 

“Because of COVID, we haven’t had a Somos like this in quite a long time,” BerlinRosen Account Director Henry Robins said. “I think it’s going to be really different and I think the energy is going to be through the roof.”

In addition to discussing another Trump term or the historic election of Vice President Kamala Harris to the White House, Somos will be abuzz with New York City mayoral candidates trying to gather support for their runs against Mayor Eric Adams. It’s been a year since Adams canceled his trip to Somos because his phones were seized by the FBI and the home of his chief fundraiser was raided. With the mayor in potential legal trouble and facing at least five credible Democratic primary challengers, he enters this year’s Somos in a more precarious political position than last year. And the domino effects of these runs for mayor will also be visible at Somos. Candidates for city comptroller, borough president and many other posts will be lobbying power brokers for their backing. With New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams being term-limited, the race to fill her leadership post will likely begin with receptions and backroom meetings as well. Since there will be so much at stake at Somos, here’s what anyone who’s anyone will be talking about in Puerto Rico.

Mayoral jockeying

State Sen. John Liu, who will not be at Somos this year, quipped to City & State that it doesn’t say anything in the New York City Charter about attending the annual Puerto Rico conference in order to be mayor. But with Mayor Eric Adams indicted and a whole slew of both announced and rumored candidates eyeing the office, Somos will surely be a hot spot for conversation. “I think we’re going to see a lot of people angling for endorsements, and I’m sure, lining up meetings with unions and other advocacy groups,” Robins said. After all, the conference is the place to be for all the movers and shakers in the New York political world. “My sense is that Somos is where people will begin to really hone (in) on the mayoral race,” said Democratic strategist Teresa Gonzalez.

Although the 2024 election hasn’t finished yet, the contest for mayor is already underway. Announced and expected candidates had their first candidate forum in the Bronx on the first day of early voting. Attendees were Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, city Comptroller Brad Lander, state Sens. Jessica Ramos and Zellnor Myrie, former city Comptroller Scott Stringer and Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani.

A big question may be whether former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, eying a run for mayor, will make an appearance at Somos. “Will Cuomo show up, and if he does, who will welcome him?” questioned Erica Vladimer, a state Democratic Committee member. The ex-governor hasn’t made an appearance at Somos since he resigned from office in 2021 amid allegations of sexual harassment. And he has given no direct indication he plans to change that this year. But he has taken steps to raise his profile in recent months, and he’s even testing the waters with a poll.

Of course, as one Democratic consultant pointed out to City & State, much of the conversation will also center around if or when Adams resigns. “We all know that Eric is going to hang on for dear life for as long as possible, but the second round of indictments from the Eastern District have not dropped yet,” said the consultant, referring to additional charges that the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York’s office has been rumored to be preparing for weeks.

The other question about Adams’ fate also falls to Hochul, as she has the authority to remove the mayor and trigger a special election. Although she has considered the option as part of her arsenal, she has so far given no indication that she will actually move to replace him. And Hochul’s most recent comments about the mayor indicate that she’s satisfied with steps he has taken to clean house of potentially problematic aides and feels confident in his ability to govern. 

Speaker race begins

In 2021, every New York City Council speaker candidate hosted their own party or reception at Somos. While the race to succeed Speaker Adams won’t reach a fever pitch at this year’s Somos, the race for speaker will begin after the Nov. 5 election. Among the top contenders at the moment are New York City Council Members Amanda Farías, Julie Menin, Crystal Hudson and Selvena Brooks-Powers.

“I think it’s going to be really intense,” Robins said. “I remember the 2021 Somos, there was so much backroom dealing and work that went into the speaker’s race that year.”

And Gonzalez agreed that this year’s Somos is where those conversations around who will be the next speaker will start to pick up.

But New York City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli didn’t expect it to be at the same level yet as in 2021. “Certainly the speaker race dances will start, the courtships. I don’t think we’ll see, as of yet, anyone doing speaker parties,” he said.

One other wrinkle that will be different compared to the 2021 race is the potential lack of involvement from Mayor Adams. He unsuccessfully backed New York City Council Member Francisco Moya three years ago, but given his relative lack of political standing in this council – and his own reelection to worry about – he may not invest the same resources into supporting an allied speaker candidate. Plus, this time next year, it’s also possible that the mayor has resigned, been removed from his post, or lost an election that would also make his supported speaker candidate unlikely to succeed.

City Council races heat up

With 10 New York City Council members being term-limited at the end of next year, and challengers emerging to take on other incumbents, there could be a lot of turnover in the council after next year. There are already several candidates to replace term-limited Council Member Carlina Rivera on the Lower East Side. Term-limited Council Member Diana Ayala is trying to steer Elsie Encarnacion, her chief of staff, to election as a first-time candidate, and Speaker Adams is also guiding a top staffer to take over her seat.

Council Member Christopher Marte in lower Manhattan could face a YIMBY challenger and Democrat Maya Kornberg is raising money to take on Council Member Shahana Hanif.

Gonzalez said “all eyes” will be on council races at Somos, and New York City Council Member Julie Won agreed.

“Once the presidential is over, you’re going to see folks who are running for council open seats who will probably come through to Somos to network,” she said.

That might be to the chagrin of people who will be asked for their support, however.

“You probably won’t be able to go five minutes without running into a candidate working a room and making their case,” The Parkside Group’s Evan Stavisky said.

Hochul’s standing

It may be too soon for serious discussion about the 2026 race for governor, given that everyone will still be digesting the outcome of the presidential election and congressional races. But given the blame game after the 2022 cycle when Democrats lost the House in part because of a poor performance in New York with Hochul at the top of the ticket, that doesn’t mean that whispers won’t start. Democratic consultant Corey Ortega said that if Democrats don’t win back the House this year, Hochul’s leadership will be questioned. “(New York) is hers, good, bad or indifferent,” he said.

However, if Democrats do well and Hochul is generally praised for her leadership in flipping several House races, that could bolster her standing when it comes to support for her congestion pricing plan replacement as well as her agenda for next year’s legislative session and next year’s budget.

Will the vibes be off?

The mood of Somos generally reflects the outcome of the presidential election. “It’s either going to be a funeral or a party,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said. There is, of course, the possibility that the result of the race may not be determined by the start of the conference. In 2020, the election wasn’t called until days later. So when it comes to the presidential race, the general mood may simply be “anxious” if results aren’t in yet.

Control of the House may be known on election night, and if Democrats win back the chamber, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of Brooklyn is in line to be the next speaker. Ortega said Jeffries’ expected ascension would result in “a much-needed celebration for Dems at Somos.”

State Attorney General Letitia James predicted that she and fellow Democrats will be happy at Somos, albeit with anxiety mixed in. She’s planning to attend the conference – but only if Democrats have a good night. “I don’t think so,” James replied when asked if she would still go to Puerto Rico if Election Day turned out poorly. “I have to get ready. I’ve got to do post-election litigation.”

New York Working Families Party co-Director Jasmine Gripper said, “I’ll be honest with you. I bought a refundable ticket for Somos. … We’re not going to have the results of the election and I think it’s going to be weird for New York politicos to be hanging out and partying in Puerto Rico when the nation is facing uncertainty.”

Borelli, alluding to a Trump victory, said, “I expect I’ll be feeling pretty good.”

Democratic consultant Doug Forand predicted that there could be “a lot of crying into a glass of rum.” Won joked (we hope) that “we may all be getting collective IUDs because birth control is produced in Puerto Rico” if Republicans come out on top.

One thing that will be assured though: The drinks will be flowing the entire time.

– with reporting by Annie McDonough, Sahalie Donaldson, Austin C. Jefferson, Holly Pretsky and Sophie Krichevsky