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NYC Comptroller Brad Lander’s mayoral bid will set off a game of political musical chairs, with other lefty Dems scrambling to grab seats once thought to be untouchable.
Lander’s long-shot challenge to Mayor Adams in a 2025 Democratic primary will leave next year’s comptroller’s race wide open and prompt other competitive races for borough president in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The political scramble is a result of many progressive Dems believing the moderate Adams is beatable in a primary, said Democratic consultant Jon Paul Lupo.
“This is really a very rare occurrence in New York City politics where you have mid-cycle races like this,” said Lupo. “The last time a sitting citywide official challenged a mayor in office was 2009 when [then-Comptroller] Bill Thompson ran against Mike Bloomberg for mayor [and lost]. Those things tend to create a lot of competition and openings for seats.”
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine is expected to soon announce his candidacy for comptroller, according to multiple sources. And with Levine giving up his post, term-limited Manhattan Councilman Keith Powers would run for borough president.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso is also seriously eyeing a comptroller run – as is fellow Dem and term-limited Brooklyn Councilman Justin Brannan, sources said.
Reynoso “is about 50/50” on whether to run for comptroller and try becoming the first Latino to win a citywide elected office, or play it safe and likely cruise to a second term as beep, said a source familiar with his thinking.
If Reynoso runs for comptroller, Brannan would run for borough president, sources said. If Reynoso doesn’t, Brannan would run for comptroller.
Councilman Chi Ossé (D-Brooklyn) is also considering running for borough president if Reynoso runs for comptroller.
Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, a moderate Queens Democrat and Adams ally, last month announced she’s running for comptroller.