2 pols lead in mayor $ Stringer tops, Adams rising
The 2021 election for mayor is two years away — but the race for campaign cash is already heating up.
Controller Scott Stringer has outraised his likely opponents, but Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams raised more money in the past six months.
Council Speaker Corey Johnson, who vowed to shun donations from real estate lobbyists and developers and pledged to cap individual contributions at $250, has taken in $379,517 since Jan. 11, according to financial disclosures released on Monday.
At least $8,140 of the money Johnson raised came from agents, brokers and investors in the real estate industry. Of that, $825 has been refunded, Johnson’s campaign said on Monday.
Johnson has an estimated $431,549 cash on hand.
Stringer (top right) has cleared a little less than the speaker, reporting $336,700 in donations in the past six months.
In all, Stringer has raised just over $1.4 million since January 2018 for his likely 2021 campaign and has $2.59 million cash on hand.
The fund-raising figures for Stringer and Johnson don’t include any taxpayer-backed campaign matching funds they may receive.
Stringer campaign finance director Emily Bernstein said he has raised $4.75 million including public matching funds.
“Time and again, Scott Stringer has stood up for bold progressive solutions to our toughest challenges, and this latest filing shows the growing energy behind our people-powered campaign,” Bernstein said in a statement. “At grassroots events across the city, we’ve talked with New Yorkers about real ideas to make our city more affordable for working families, build a better future for our children and deliver true progressive change.”
Johnson’s campaign said he’s raised $2.9 million including public matching funds.
“Thousands of small-dollar donations in less than six months show just how excited people are about Corey,” Johnson campaign treasurer Mathew Bergman said. “We look forward to talking to people all over the city. We’re just getting started.”
Adams (top left) has raised $2.2 million since January and has $2.3 million cash on hand.
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has declared his candidacy for mayor with the Campaign Finance Board, but his fund-raising numbers weren’t immediately available on Monday afternoon.
Fund-raising has already ignited a bitter war between contenders. Last month Stringer’s campaign accused Johnson of making changes to campaign finance legislation that would help his mayoral bid. Stringer argued the amended legislation would force him to return thousands of donations he raised last year, while Johnson stressed the changes were recommended by the Campaign Finance Board and were intended to mirror a similar bill governing the recent special election for public advocate.