Amid indicators the NYC mayoral race is tightening forward of a pivotal debate, Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander seized Thursday on an uncommon endorsement he netted from a panel convened by the New York Occasions’ editorial board, arguing the nod is a “game-changing” improvement for his marketing campaign.
Lander, who has typically ranked because the No. 3 or 4 candidate in most polls of the June 24 Democratic mayoral main, stated he believes the unconventional endorsement “shakes up” the sphere in such a means that it’s now “a three-way race” between him and front-runners Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani.
Whereas polls typically present Lander effectively behind Cuomo and Mamdani, there are indications of a tightening contest between the 2 prime contenders as early main voting is about to begin Saturday.
A brand new ballot, first reported by Politico late Wednesday, confirmed Mamdani clutching 35% assist, placing him within the lead for the primary time, surpassing Cuomo, who scored 31% in that survey. Lander obtained 9% in that ballot, which was carried out over the previous week and was commissioned by metropolis comptroller candidate Justin Brannan’s marketing campaign.
A ballot carried out by a agency near Cuomo’s marketing campaign over the same time span discovered the ex-gov popping out forward within the seventh spherical of ranked-choice voting, beating Mamdani by 12%. Lander obtained 6% in that ballot.
Lander, although, is hoping the assist from The Occasions’ opinion panel can inject a recent dose of momentum into his marketing campaign.
“Those who favored him cited his experience in city government and his ability to work with others — but, truth be told, he also benefited from lacking the heavy baggage of Mr. Cuomo and the democratic socialist image of Mr. Mamdani,” The Occasions editorial board wrote of the panel’s determination to rank Lander as its prime choose for mayor.
The Occasions’ editorial board, which has traditionally been vastly influential in New York Metropolis mayoral races, introduced final yr it could cease endorsing in native elections.
However in a quasi-endorsement of kinds, the board on Thursday morning revealed a group of essays about this yr’s Democratic mayoral candidates, primarily based on the opinions of a panel of 15 civically-involved New Yorkers recruited to investigate the race.
The panelists ranked which candidate they favored the perfect, each general and in respect to numerous points. Lander emerged because the group’s best choice, incomes seven of 15 votes. Cuomo and Mamdani received two votes every, as did ex-hedge fund supervisor Whitney Tilson. Scott Stringer and Adrienne Adams every received assist from one panelist.
The panel’s members included political consultants like Fordham College professor Christina Greer and ex-Metropolis Corridor adviser Esther Fuchs, in addition to enterprise leaders like restaurateur Danny Meyer and even a conservative voice in Manhattan Institute President Reihan Salam.
Brad Lander speaks outdoors 1 Heart St. in Manhattan on Thursday, June 12, 2025. (Chris Sommerfeldt)
When requested whether or not he’s involved voters could also be confused by the bizarre format of the endorsement, Lander stated he’s proud to be the panel’s “clear favorite” and affirmed he plans to tout the announcement in marketing campaign adverts in the course of the closing stretch of the race.
“We are absolutely adding the New York Times opinion panel’s support to the ads we’ve cut, and we will be on air very shortly,” stated Lander, who has already spent greater than some other candidate within the race on campaigning efforts.
The Occasions piece got here hours forward of Thursday night time’s second and closing mayoral debate and simply two days earlier than early main voting begins this weekend. On the first debate final week, candidates leveled blows principally at Cuomo, who has persistently polled because the frontrunner within the race since saying his run in March.
Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 amid accusations that he sexually harassed almost a dozen ladies and mismanaged the COVID-19 pandemic, received a blended response from The Occasions’ panel of consultants.
“Our panelists split sharply on Andrew Cuomo, the front-runner in the race, with some endorsing him as the toughest and most tested candidate and others denouncing him as a bully who disqualified himself with disgraceful actions as governor,” The Occasions wrote within the piece.
Chatting with the ability of The Occasions’ conventional editorial board endorsement, Kathryn Garcia surged to a really shut second place behind Mayor Adams after she secured its assist in the course of the 2021 race.
Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic strategist who has been crucial of Lander, steered this yr’s uncommon nod is a means for the paper to “get around” its personal non-endorsement coverage, but additionally speculated the comptroller gained’t see a serious increase from it.
“This gives him a bump, a bump among people that [Lander] normally would have the bump among anyway,” Sheinkopf stated.
