2021 Manhattan District Attorney election
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2021 Manhattan District Attorney election was held on November 2, 2021, to elect the Manhattan District Attorney. The incumbent, Cyrus Vance Jr., had announced in March 2021 that he would not seek a fourth term.[1]
November 2, 2021
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Bragg: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Kenniff: 50–60% Tie: 50% No votes | ||||||||||||||||
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The Democratic primary election was held on June 22, 2021. Despite the introduction of ranked-choice voting for other elected positions in New York City, this race used plurality voting, as it is a state position, rather than a city position.[2]
A key issue in the election was which candidate would be best equipped to criminally prosecute or civilly sue former President Donald Trump.[3][4]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Alvin Bragg, former New York State Chief Deputy Attorney General and former federal prosecutor[2]
Eliminated in primary
- Tahanie Aboushi, civil rights attorney[2]
- Liz Crotty, former Assistant District Attorney for Manhattan[2]
- Tali Farhadian Weinstein, former federal prosecutor[2]
- Diana Florence, former prosecutor for the Manhattan Attorney General's office[2]
- Lucy Lang, former assistant attorney general for Manhattan[2]
- Eliza Orlins, public defender, former contestant on Survivor and The Amazing Race[2]
- Dan Quart, New York State Assemblymember for the 73rd district (2011–present)[2]
Withdrawn
Endorsements
U.S. senators
- Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator from Vermont since 2007[7]
U.S. representatives
- Jamaal Bowman, U.S. Representative for New York's 16th congressional district since 2021[8]
- Rashida Tlaib, U.S. Representative for Michigan's 13th congressional district since 2019[8]
Local officials
- Justin Brannan, member of the New York City Council from the 43rd district since 2018[9]
- Jumaane Williams, New York City Public Advocate since 2019[10]
State senators
- Jabari Brisport, member of the New York State Senate from the 25th district since 2019[11][better source needed]
- Jessica Ramos, member of the New York State Senate from the 13th district since 2019[12]
- Gustavo Rivera, member of the New York State Senate from the 33rd district since 2011[11][better source needed]
State assemblymembers
- Zohran Mamdani, member of the New York State Assembly from the 36th district since 2021[11][better source needed]
- Marcela Mitaynes, member of the New York State Assembly from the 51st district since 2021[11][better source needed]
- Yuh-Line Niou, member of the New York State Assembly from the 65th district since 2017[10]
Individuals
- Abdul El-Sayed, candidate for governor of Michigan in 2018[11][better source needed]
- Snoop Dogg, rapper[13]
- Melissa Mark-Viverito, former Speaker of the New York City Council[14]
- Cynthia Nixon, actress and activist, candidate for governor of New York in 2018[15]
- Linda Sarsour, civil rights activist[11][better source needed]
Organizations
- Citizen Action of New York[10]
- Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club[11][better source needed]
- The Jewish Vote[8]
- Real Justice PAC[15]
- Moms Demand Action[11][better source needed]
- Our Revolution[16]
- Progressive Change Campaign Committee (second choice)[17][better source needed]
- Working Families Party[8]
Labor unions
- District Council 37[18]
- UNITE HERE Local 100[14]
Federal legislators
- Gregory Meeks, U.S. Representative for New York's 5th congressional district since 1998[19][better source needed]
- Jerry Nadler, U.S. Representative for New York's 10th congressional district since 1992[20]
State senators
- Robert Jackson, member of the New York State Senate from the 31st district since 2019[21]
State assemblymembers
- Inez Dickens, member of the New York State Assembly from the 70th district since 2021[21]
- Al Taylor, member of the New York State Assembly from the 71st district since 2021[21]
Individuals
- Harry Belafonte, singer and activist[22]
- Preet Bharara, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York[23]
- Gwen Carr, activist and mother of Eric Garner[24]
- Hazel Dukes, former national president of the NAACP[21]
- C. Virginia Fields, former Manhattan Borough President[21]
- Dan Garodnick, former New York City Councilmember[25][better source needed]
- Dan Goldman, former assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (2007–2017), former general counsel for the U.S. House Intelligence Committee (2019–2020)[26]
- Renée Elise Goldsberry, actress and singer/songwriter[25][better source needed]
- Elizabeth Holtzman, former New York City Comptroller, former Brooklyn District Attorney, former U.S. Representative for New York's 16th congressional district[27]
- John Legend, singer[16]
- Antron McCray, member of the Central Park Five[28]
- Peter Neufeld, attorney[28]
- David Paterson, 55th Governor of New York (2008–2010), former Lieutenant Governor of New York (2007–2008), former State Senator (1985–2006)[21]
- Christine Quinn, former Speaker of the New York City Council[29]
- Charles Rangel, former U.S. Representative for New York's 13th congressional district[21]
- Rachael Rollins, District Attorney of Suffolk County, Massachusetts[30][better source needed]
- Kevin Richardson, member of the Central Park Five[28]
- Yusef Salaam, member of the Central Park Five[28]
- Raymond Santana, member of the Central Park Five[28]
- Zephyr Teachout, attorney and law professor, candidate for governor of New York in 2014 and attorney general of New York in 2018[6]
Organizations
- Citizens Union[31]
- Color of Change PAC[32]
- National Association of Social Workers NYC PAC (co-endorsement with Quart)[33]
- Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund[34]
Newspapers
Labor unions
Individuals
Organizations
Executive branch officials
- Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State[38]
- Eric Holder, former U.S. Attorney General[38]
U.S. representatives
- Adriano Espaillat, U.S. Representative for New York's 13th congressional district since 2017[39]
- Ritchie Torres, U.S. Representative for New York's 15th congressional district since 2021[39]
- Nydia Velázquez, U.S. Representative for New York's 7th congressional district since 1993[39]
Individuals
- Carol Bellamy, former President of the New York City Council[40][better source needed]
- Ben Jealous, former President of the NAACP[41]
- Robbie Kaplan, lawyer, co-founder of Time's Up[42]
- Ruth Messinger, former Manhattan Borough President[41]
- Letty Cottin Pogrebin, author and activist[40][better source needed]
- Gloria Steinem, activist[14]
Newspapers
Organizations
- Citizens Union[31]
- National Organization for Women New York City[41]
Labor unions
- Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181[45]
- International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers New York State District Council & Local 361[46][better source needed]
- International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 12[46][better source needed]
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 3[46][better source needed]
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters Joint Council 16 & Local 282[46][better source needed]
- International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1 & Local 7[46][better source needed]
- International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 1[46][better source needed]
- International Union of Operating Engineers NYC Coalition[46][better source needed]
- International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 9[46][better source needed]
- Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association Local Union 262 & Local Union 780[46][better source needed]
- Sheet Metal Workers' International Association Local 28[46][better source needed]
Individuals
Zephyr Teachout, attorney and law professor, candidate for governor of New York in 2014 and attorney general of New York in 2018[15] (switched endorsement to Bragg after Marton withdrew)
Individuals
- Rosanna Arquette, actor and director[47]
- Valerie Bell, activist and mother of Sean Bell[48][better source needed]
- Valerie Castile, activist and mother of Philando Castile[48][better source needed]
- Caitlin Dulany, actress and activist[47]
Individuals
- Rabia Chaudry, attorney and author[49][better source needed]
- Charlotte Clymer, activist and author[49][better source needed]
- Simran Jeet Singh, activist and writer[49][better source needed]
Organizations
- Progressive Change Campaign Committee (first choice)[17][better source needed]
Labor unions
- United Auto Workers Region 9A[50]
U.S. representatives
Local officials
- Diana Ayala, member of the New York City Council from the 8th district since 2018[6]
State senators
- John Liu, member of the New York State Senate from the 11th district since 2019[52]
- José M. Serrano, member of the New York State Senate from the 29th district since 2019[6]
State assemblymembers
- Harvey Epstein, member of the New York State Assembly from the 74th district since 2018[53][better source needed]
- Ron Kim, member of the New York State Assembly from the 40th district since 2013[53][better source needed]
- Robert J. Rodriguez, member of the New York State Assembly from the 68th district since 2011[6]
- Carmen De La Rosa, member of the New York State Assembly from the 72nd district since 2017[6]
- Rebecca Seawright, member of the New York State Assembly from the 76th district since 2015[51]
Individuals
- Michael Blake, former member of the New York State Assembly from the 79th district[53][better source needed]
- Jeffrey Mark Deskovic, activist[53][better source needed]
- Mark Green, former New York City Public Advocate[53][better source needed]
- Aravella Simotas, former member of the New York State Assembly from the 36th district since 2013[53][better source needed]
- Thomas Sung, founder of Abacus Federal Savings Bank[54]
- Michael K. Williams, actor[55]
Organizations
- National Association of Social Workers NYC PAC (co-endorsement with Bragg)[33]
- Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City[56]
Labor unions
Organizations
- Democratic Socialists of America Manhattan branches[57]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Tahanie Aboushi | Alvin Bragg | Liz Crotty | Tali Farhadian Weinstein | Diana Florence | Lucy Lang | Eliza Orlins | Dan Quart | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data For Progress (D)[58] | June 18–20, 2021 | 451 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 10% | 34% | 2% | 25% | 1% | 6% | 3% | 6% | 14%[a] | – |
| Data For Progress (D)[59] | June 7–13, 2021 | 642 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 7% | 26% | 5% | 26% | 2% | 8% | 2% | 5% | 21%[a] | – |
| Benenson Strategy Group (D)[60][A] | April 16–21, 2021 | 390 (LV) | – | 5% | 6% | 2% | 16% | 5% | 12% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 44% |
| Tulchin Research (D)[61][B] | April 6–11, 2021 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.38% | 11% | 5% | 2% | 11% | 2% | 4% | 2% | 5% | – | 57% |
Debates and forum
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn |
||||||||||||
| Tahanie Aboushi | Alvin Bragg | Liz Crotty | Tali Farhadian Weinstein | Diana Florence | Lucy Lang | Eliza Orlins | Dan Quart | |||||
| 1 | May 13, 2021 | Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College | Rachel Smith | YouTube | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |
| 2 | Apr. 15, 2021 | NYU Wagner Students for Ending Mass Incarceration | Khalil Cumberbatch | YouTube | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |
| 3 | Jun. 15, 2021 | Asian American Bar Association of New York Issues Committee | YouTube | P | P | N | P | N | P | N | N | |
| 3 | Jun. 16, 2021[b] | YouTube | N | N | P | N | P | N | P | N | ||
| 4 | New York City Bar Association | Nicholas Turner | YouTube | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | |
| 5 | PoliticsNY | Skye Ostreicher Steve Witt |
YouTube | P | N | P | P | P | P | P | P | |
Results
By precinct
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Alvin Bragg | 85,720 | 34.2% | |
| Democratic | Tali Farhadian Weinstein | 76,892 | 30.7% | |
| Democratic | Tahanie Aboushi | 27,458 | 11.0% | |
| Democratic | Lucy Lang | 18,910 | 7.5% | |
| Democratic | Diana Florence | 12,246 | 4.9% | |
| Democratic | Liz Crotty | 11,453 | 4.6% | |
| Democratic | Eliza Orlins | 10,610 | 4.2% | |
| Democratic | Dan Quart | 6,984 | 2.8% | |
| Write-in | 330 | 0.13% | ||
| Total valid votes | 250,603 | 93.7% | ||
| Rejected ballots | 16,908 | 6.3% | ||
| Total votes | 267,511 | 100.0% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Thomas Kenniff, former prosecutor
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Thomas Kenniff | |||
| Total votes | 100.00% | |||
General election
Debate
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Democratic | Republican |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn |
||||||
| Alvin Bragg | Thomas Kenniff | |||||
| 1 | MNN NYC | Ben Max | YouTube | P | P | |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Alvin Bragg | 211,686 | 83.6% | |
| Republican | Thomas Kenniff | 41,211 | 16.3% | |
| Write-in | 397 | 0.1% | ||
| Total votes | 253,294 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||