Lander nets 504 Democratic Club’s backing

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander scooped up an endorsement from disability rights group the 504 Democratic Club this week, emerging victorious in the first New York City mayoral endorsement process completed by a Democratic political club that new entrants former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams participated in.

“(Lander’s) commitment to the disability community is second to none,” 504 Democratic Club President Mike Schweinsburg told City & State. Pointing to the comptroller’s work auditing Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses’ service for riders with disabilities, his regular disability justice roundtables and more, Schweinsburg said Lander has used “all the right levers to help the disability community.”

The citywide club’s work centers on advocating on behalf of and improving conditions for New Yorkers with disabilities. It’s worked on a number of projects in recent years, including pushing for improved accessibility in subway stations and taxis and pushing to keep Mount Siani Beth Israel open. The club backed Maya Wiley in the 2021 mayoral Democratic primary. 

The 504 Democratic Club came to a conclusion to endorse Lander in the upcoming June 24 primary following the candidate forum the group held March 17, which included Lander, Speaker Adams, Cuomo, former Comptroller Scott Stringer, state Sens. Jessica Ramos and Zellnor Myrie, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and former Assembly Member Michael Blake. “It was a lively discussion … but in the end, by a 3-to-1 margin, they all decided that Brad was going to be our guy,” Schweinsburg said of the vote club members took following the forum. “Brad was the kind of mayoral candidate we’ve been looking for.”

While the 504 Democratic Club is just one group and there will be many endorsements from other political clubs, labor unions, advocacy groups and others to come, this was the first completed screening process that included Cuomo and Speaker Adams. As far as endorsements go, labor unions and local elected officials tend to have the greatest sway in New York City elections. At this point, Cuomo and Speaker Adams have both secured more from the latter than their fellow Democratic candidates despite their recent entrances into the race. Most unions have yet to publicly make a decision on who they will endorse. 

Political clubs – both geographical and issue-based like the 504 Democratic Club – still play an important role in the city’s election ecosystem. While most everyday New York voters are unlikely to pay attention to what candidates clubs back, their members are often politically involved, devoted Democrats who can help build on-the-ground support for endorsees through things like passing out flyers, gathering signatures and even helping with fundraising. Securing the endorsement from a wide variety of Democratic clubs can also help candidates show they are working to build a broad coalition. Lander has garnered strong support in this area, securing endorsements from 11 political clubs so far.