The primaries for the New York City mayoral election begin today, June 22, 2021. This vote will select the nominees for the general election to replace Bill DeBlasio as mayor.
The candidates
Democrats have dominated New York City politics in recent years, so the outcome of the Democratic primary is likely to determine who will be the next mayor. Andrew Yang’s popularity after his 2020 presidential run gave the entrepreneur early traction. But polls show that several other candidates — including Kathryn Garcia, Maya Wiley, and retired cop (and current frontrunner) Eric Adams — all have a good chance of winning. For the Republicans, former mayor Rudy Giuliani has thrown his support behind Curtis Sliwa, who founded the infamous crime-fighting Guardian Angels group in the 1970s. Small business owner Fernando Mateo and former Wall Street executive Sara Tirshwell are also in the running.
But as Ryan Adams explained on Bold TV, three crucial factors make this election unprecedented.
1. A lot of positions to fill
More than two-thirds of New York City government positions will be filled by new people this election, and more people are running for office than ever before.
2. Rank choice voting
The city is implementing a rank choice voting system for the first time in its history. This means that voters can rank up to five candidates in order of preference instead of being limited to one candidate.
3. Crime is issue No. 1.
For the first time in almost 50 years, crime is at the center of New York’s political conversation. Shootings are up 77% so far this year, and recent polls have shown that public safety has now become the number one concern, due to the success of vaccination programs.
Regardless of who wins tomorrow or in November, after a year that has bled the city of its financial resources and eroded the public’s trust in its institutions, the next mayor will define the future of New York City.
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