2021 New York City mayoral election

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An election for the mayor of New York City was held on November 2, 2021. Incumbent mayor Bill de Blasio was term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election.[2] Democratic Brooklyn Borough president and former police officer Eric Adams won the election in a landslide, defeating Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.[3][4] Adams became the city's second Black mayor.[5]

Registered4,911,262[1]
Turnout1,149,172
23.39% (Decrease2.13 pp)
Quick facts Registered, Turnout ...
2021 New York City mayoral election

 2017
November 2, 2021
2025 
Registered4,911,262[1]
Turnout1,149,172
23.39% (Decrease2.13 pp)
 
Nominee Eric Adams Curtis Sliwa
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 753,801 312,385
Percentage 66.99% 27.76%

Adams:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Sliwa:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%      50%      No data

Mayor before election

Bill de Blasio
Democratic

Elected Mayor

Eric Adams
Democratic

Close

Primary elections took place on June 22, 2021. Rather than the plurality voting of previous primaries, the elections were the first to use ranked-choice voting.[6][7] Sliwa, founder of Guardian Angels, handily won the Republican primary over New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers founder Fernando Mateo.[8] Polling showed businessman Andrew Yang as the frontrunner as of May 2021, but his lead later shrank as Adams emerged and eventually won in the final round of the Democratic primary over former New York City Department of Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia.[9][10][11]

In the general election, Adams maintained a sizable lead over Sliwa and was heavily favored to win.[12] On election day, Adams won easily, receiving 66.99% of the vote to Sliwa's 27.76%.[13][14] He was sworn in on January 1, 2022.[15]

Background

In the 2017 mayoral election, lncumbent Bill de Blasio was re-elected mayor of New York City for a second term, defeating Republican nominee Nicole Malliotakis.[16] New York City used proportional representation (single transferable voting) from 1937 to 1947. Such a system produced benefits to voters and elected a more diverse city council than had been produced under first-past-the-post voting before and after.[17]

In 2019, New York City voters passed Ballot Question #1 to amend the City Charter to "give voters the choice of ranking up to five candidates in primary and special elections for mayor, public advocate, comptroller, borough president, and city council beginning in January 2021".[18] The first election in the city to use ranked-choice voting (Instant-runoff voting) was in the 24th council district in Queens, which took place on February 2, 2021.[19] This was the first time ranked-choice voting was used in the New York City mayoral election.

In 2019, journalists and political commentators predicted several potential 2021 mayoral candidates, including Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz Jr., NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, and NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.[20][21]

By May 2021, thirteen candidates had qualified for the Democratic Party primary, and two for the Republican Party primary. There are also minor party and independent campaigns for the general election in November.[22]

Democratic primary

Polling in late January and early February 2021 showed businessman Andrew Yang as the Democratic primary frontrunner, with Adams in second place and Stringer in third place.[23][24]

In April, Scott Stringer was accused of sexual abuse by Jean Kim.[25][26][27] Stringer denied the allegations, claiming that the relationship had been consensual.[28] In June, a second woman accused him of sexual misconduct.[29]

On May 5, 2021, Politico reported that a recent poll found that Eric Adams was leading the Democratic primary contest; this marked the first time since January that any Democratic candidate other than Yang had led in a public poll.[30] On June 7, Spectrum News reported that Adams had maintained a lead in the Democratic primary.[31]

On July 6, the Associated Press reported that Adams had won the Democratic primary.[11] The Guardian stated that Adams, a "former police captain", had prevailed "after appealing to the political center and promising to strike the right balance between fighting crime and ending racial injustice in policing".[32] An earlier report from The New York Times asserted that Adams had run as a "working-class underdog" and had "hammered away at the message that he was the only candidate who could tackle both crime and police reform".[33]

Candidates

Nominee

More information Candidate, Experience ...
Candidate Experience Announced Ref

Eric Adams
Borough President, former NY State Senator from the 20th district (20072013), former NYPD captain
November 17, 2020
Archived 2021-12-01 at the Wayback Machine)
[34][35][36][37]
Close

Eliminated in primary

Write-in candidates who did not qualify for ballot access

Withdrawn

Declined

Results by round

More information Candidate, Round 1 ...
2021 New York City mayoral Democratic primary election[98]
Candidate Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
Eric Adams 289,403 30.7% 289,603 30.8% 290,055 30.8% 291,806 31.2% 295,798 31.7% 317,092 34.6% 354,657 40.5% 404,513 50.4%
Kathryn Garcia 184,463 19.6% 184,571 19.6% 184,669 19.6% 186,731 19.9% 191,876 20.5% 223,634 24.4% 266,932 30.5% 397,316 49.6%
Maya Wiley 201,127 21.4% 201,193 21.4% 201,518 21.4% 206,013 22.0% 209,108 22.4% 239,174 26.1% 254,728 29.1% Eliminated
Andrew Yang 115,130 12.2% 115,301 12.2% 115,502 12.3% 118,808 12.6% 121,597 13.0% 135,686 14.8% Eliminated
Scott Stringer 51,778 5.5% 51,850 5.5% 51,951 5.5% 53,599 5.7% 56,723 6.1% Eliminated
Dianne Morales 26,495 2.8% 26,534 2.8% 26,645 2.8% 30,157 3.2% 30,933 3.3% Eliminated
Raymond McGuire 25,242 2.7% 25,272 2.7% 25,418 2.7% 26,361 2.8% 27,934 3.0% Eliminated
Shaun Donovan 23,167 2.5% 23,189 2.5% 23,314 2.5% 24,042 2.6% Eliminated
Aaron Foldenauer 7,742 0.8% 7,758 0.8% 7,819 0.8% Eliminated
Art Chang 7,048 0.7% 7,064 0.8% 7,093 0.8% Eliminated
Paperboy Prince 3,964 0.4% 4,007 0.4% 4,060 0.4% Eliminated
Joycelyn Taylor 2,662 0.3% 2,683 0.3% 2,780 0.3% Eliminated
Isaac Wright Jr. 2,242 0.2% 2,254 0.2% Eliminated
Write-ins 1,568 0.2% Eliminated
Inactive ballots 0 ballots 752 ballots 1,207 ballots 5,314 ballots 8,062 ballots 26,445 ballots 65,714 ballots 140,202 ballots
Close

Republican primary

Quick facts Candidate, First round ...
2021 New York City Republican mayoral primary

 2017
June 22, 2021[99]
2025 
 
Candidate Curtis Sliwa Fernando Mateo
First round 40,794 16,719
Percentage 67.9% 27.8%

First round results
Sliwa:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Mateo:      50–60%

Previous Republican nominee

Nicole Malliotakis

Republican nominee

Curtis Sliwa[100]

Close

Candidates

Major candidates

Two candidates appeared on the Republican primary ballot.

More information Candidate, Experience ...
Republican primary candidates
Candidate Experience Announced Ref

Fernando Mateo

Founder of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers

February 4, 2021

(Website Archived March 10, 2021, at the Wayback Machine)
[101][102]

Curtis Sliwa

Founder of the Guardian Angels Radio talk show host

March 8, 2020

(Website Archived March 8, 2021, at the Wayback MachineArchived April 22, 2021, at the

Wayback Machine)

[103]
Close

Sliwa ran on a platform opposing the Defund the Police movement, supporting a property tax overhaul so that wealthy citizens pay more in comparison to working-class residents, keeping in place the Specialized High School Admissions Test while increasing opportunities for vocational training in charter schools, and focusing on fiscal restraint.[104][105][106] He also opposes the killing of unwanted animals and supports making all animal shelters no-kill shelters.[107]

Failed to qualify for ballot access

  • Abbey Laurel-Smith, businesswoman[63]
  • Adam Oremland, attorney and social media personality[108]
  • Bill Pepitone, retired NYPD officer (ran as the candidate for the Conservative Party)[109]
  • Sara Tirschwell, CFO of Foundation House[110]

Withdrawn

  • Cleopatra Fitzgerald, activist
  • Christopher Scott Krietchman, entrepreneur

Declined

Endorsements

Curtis Sliwa

US Representatives

State legislators

Local officials

Individuals

Organizations

Fernando Mateo

Individuals

Organizations

Opinion polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Fernando
Mateo
Curtis
Sliwa
Undecided
Emerson College[128][A] Jun 7–8, 2021 250 (LV) ± 6.2% 27% 33% 40%
Close

Debates

More information No., Date ...
2021 New York City mayoral election Republican primary debates
No. Date Host Moderator Link Participants
Key:
 P  Participant    A  Absent    N  Non-invitee    I  Invitee  W  Withdrawn
Curtis Sliwa Fernando Mateo
1[129] March 31, 2021 WABC Dominic Carter Video[dead link] P P
2[118] June 3, 2021 PIX11 Ayana Harry
Dan Mannarino
Henry Rossoff
Video[dead link] P P
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
2021 New York mayoral Republican primary election[99]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Curtis Sliwa 40,794 67.9
Republican Fernando Mateo 16,719 27.8
Write-in 2,536 4.2
Total votes 60,049 100%
Close

Third parties

Conservative Party

Nominee

Working Families Party

Candidate

  • No candidate nominated[131]

Declined

Empowerment Party

Nominee

  • Quanda S. Francis, Sykes Capital Management President and Accountant[133]

Libertarian Party

Nominee

  • Stacey Prussman, activist and comedian[134]

Party for Socialism and Liberation

Candidate

Independents

Declared

  • Thomas Downs, activist[136]
  • Quanda Francis, president of Sykes Capital Management[59][137]
  • Christopher Scott Krietchman

General election

Debates

More information No., Date ...
2021 New York City mayoral election general election debate
No. Date Host Moderator Link Participants
Key:
 P  Participant    A  Absent    N  Non-invitee    I  Invitee  W  Withdrawn
Eric Adams Curtis Sliwa
1 October 20, 2021 Citizens Budget Commission
NBC 4 New York
New York City Campaign Finance Board
New York Urban League
Politico
Telemundo 47
Sally Goldenberg
Melissa Russo
David Ushery
Allan Villafaña
[138] P P
2 October 26, 2021 ABC 7
Hispanic Federation
League of Women Voters
NAACP NYS Conference
Univision 41
Dave Evans
Bill Ritter
Mariela Salgado
[139] P P
Close

Endorsements

Eric Adams (D)

U.S. Senators

U.S. Representatives

State officials

State legislators

Local officials

Individuals

Organizations

Labor unions

Newspapers

Cathy Rojas (PSL)

State legislators

Individuals

Curtis Sliwa (R)

U.S. Representatives

State legislators

Local officials

Individuals

Organizations

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Eric
Adams (D)
Curtis
Sliwa (R)
Undecided
Emerson College[195] October 22–23, 2021 615 (LV) ± 3.9% 61% 25% 14%
Close

Results

Results by precinct, overlaid with neighborhoods
Support for Party for Socialism and Liberation candidate Cathy Rojas by State Assembly district:
     <1%      >1%      >2%      >3%      >4%      >5%      >6%      >8%

Though Adams won the election easily in the heavily Democratic city, he received fewer votes than Bill de Blasio in either of his two mayoral runs, and lost many heavily Asian American precincts. This is partly attributed to Sliwa's pledge to halt the construction of homeless shelters which were proposed by Adams to be built in neighborhoods such as Asian-majority Sunset Park. Other issues of importance to Asian American activist leaders included proposed reforms to the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test in high schools, bail reform, and plans to build new jails in neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Manhattan.[196]

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election results[197][198][199]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Eric Adams 753,801 66.99% +0.82%
Republican Curtis Sliwa 302,680 26.90% +2.95%
Independent Curtis Sliwa 9,705 0.86% N/A
Total Curtis Sliwa 312,385 27.76% +0.17%
Socialism and Liberation Cathy Rojas 27,982 2.49% N/A
Conservative Bill Pepitone 12,575 1.12% −2.13%
Empowerment Quanda S. Francis 3,792 0.34% N/A
Libertarian Stacey Prussman 3,189 0.28% +0.04%
Humanity United Raja Flores 2,387 0.21% N/A
Save Our City Fernando Mateo 1,870 0.17% N/A
Out Lawbreaker Skiboky Stora 264 0.02% N/A
Write-in 7,013 0.62% +0.15%
Total votes 1,125,258 100.0%
Democratic hold
Close

By borough

Adams won four boroughs out of five, mirroring the Democratic performances in 2013[200] and 2017[201] to win Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Bronx while losing Staten Island. He performed the best in Manhattan, crossing 80% of the vote, and earned more than 70% of the vote in Brooklyn and the Bronx. In contrast, Sliwa performed more strongly in Queens, with slightly more than a third of the vote, and handily defeated Adams in Staten Island, the city's only borough to back Trump in 2020. Manhattan and Staten Island were the only boroughs that swung left from 2017.[202][203][204]

More information Candidate, Brooklyn ...
Candidate
Brooklyn Queens Manhattan Staten Island Bronx
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
Eric Adams 239,999 70.76% 168,451 59.79% 219,045 80.36% 30,226 28.69% 96,080 76.01%
Curtis Sliwa 77,763 22.93% 100,187 35.56% 36,668 13.45% 69,924 66.38% 25,843 20.45%
others 21,429 6.32% 13,112 4.65% 16,781 6.16% 5,194 4.93% 4,476 3.54%
Total counted votes 339,191 100.00% 281,750 100.00% 272,584 100.00% 105,344 100.00% 126,399 100.00%
Close

By congressional district

Congressional district results

Adams won in 11 districts out of 13, securing more than 80% of the vote in the 13th, 15th and 16th districts in the city's northwest.[205] He also crossed the 70% threshold in six more districts, but underperformed significantly in the Asian-plorality 6th district[206], where he only beat Sliwa out by 60 votes. Conversely, Sliwa won the 11th district, the city's only one to back Trump in 2020[207] and the only one to be represented by a Republican; additionally, he outran Adams in the portion of the 3rd district.[208]

More information District, Adams ...
District Adams Sliwa Representative
3rd (part) 43.1% 53.4% Tom Suozzi
5th 78.3% 19.1% Gregory Meeks
6th 47.8% 47.7% Grace Meng
7th 73.0% 18.9% Nydia Velázquez
8th 74.1% 20.7% Hakeem Jeffries
9th 77.0% 66.9% Yvette Clarke
10th 73.4% 21.0% Jerry Nadler
11th 31.5% 61.5% Nicole Malliotakis
12th 75.8% 18.2% Carolyn Maloney
13th 82.8% 11.6% Adriano Espaillat
14th 59.2% 34.6% Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
15th 82.9% 14.0% Ritchie Torres
16th (part) 81.5% 15.2% Jamaal Bowman
Close

See also

Notes

  1. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

Partisan clients

  1. Poll sponsored by WPIX and NewsNation

References

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