Advocate hopefuls on ballot today

The race was the first opportunity for candidates to try out new campaign finance rules in the city — many of the hopefuls agreed to accept smaller donations in exchange for a larger 8-to-1 ratio of matching taxpayer funds paid out on eligible donations.

Overall, the Campaign Finance Board handed out nearly $7.2 million in matching funds for the race.

Williams raised $267,008, parlaying that into an additional $1.1 million in matching funds. Williams is considered among the front-runners. He has support from the Working Families Party and boosted his name recognition with a high-profile but unsuccessful run for lieutenant governor last year.

Blake, a Democratic National Committee vice chairman and former staffer to President Barack Obama, raised $359,748 in private funds and took $838,016 in matching funds.

Mark-Viverito did not opt in to the new campaign finance system — because it would not have allowed her to transfer over funds from a 2021 campaign account for an undeclared citywide office that exceeded the new, lower limits.

She raised $395,776, including $174,073 from that 2021 account, and received $408,359 in matching funds.

Ulrich has lagged behind in fund-raising, but plenty of politicos have speculated that he could benefit from the other Democratic candidates splitting the vote. He raised $133,512 and received $635,200 in matching funds.

And this likely won’t be the last time candidates are raising money to run for public advocate this year.

Whoever wins Tuesday will need to defend their incumbency in a June primary, and then run again in a general election November.

Only then will they be able to serve out the entirety of the term, which ends in 2021.

But the winner may not be interested in running for reelection in 2021 — because the perch as public advocate would make him or her an instant contender for the mayoral race the same year.

The public advocate’s office has often been used as a bully pulpit to call attention to problems in the city, but the officeholder can introduce legislation and would temporarily become mayor if de Blasio does not finish out his term. The mayor has said he is considering a run for President in 2020.

Polling places are open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m., and voters can find their polling sites at the Board of Elections website.