Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and City Comptroller Brad Lander, the top contenders in the 2025 NYC mayoral race, claim they have hit the city’s $8.3 million spending cap with a little over four weeks left until the Democratic primary. Cuomo’s campaign boasts of nearly $4 million in private donations since its launch on March 1, putting him ahead in polls and garnering support from key Democratic groups. On the other hand, Lander, who has been fluctuating between third and fourth place in polls, also announced reaching the spending limit but did not disclose specific numbers regarding his recent fundraising efforts.
Cuomo’s fundraising success is attributed to the $1.5 million in public matching funds received earlier this month, along with an expected $2.8 million to be awarded at the end of May. However, there is uncertainty surrounding the full disbursement of public funds due to past mishaps with the city’s matching funds system, including errors in paperwork submissions leading to fund denials and allegations of illegal coordination with a super PAC. In contrast, Lander emphasized the grassroots support behind his campaign, highlighting the achievement of maxing out the city’s public finance system to ensure ample resources for his message of a better-run city.
Candidates such as Queens Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and State Sen. Zellnor Myrie have also made significant strides in fundraising, with Mamdani being the first to hit the spending limit earlier this year. Myrie’s campaign, which has raised over $900,000 in private donations since its inception, expects to unlock additional matching funds to bolster its total haul to $4.4 million. The race is heating up as candidates deploy their financial resources towards TV ads and outreach efforts to strengthen their positions in the competitive mayoral race. Not really sure why this matters, but it seems like the candidates are pulling out all the stops to secure victory in the upcoming primary.
