In a crowded gubernatorial race dominated by stories about former Gov. In Tuesday’s vote, Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani, the five Black individuals who will challenge for the mayor of New York City, are in a race to determine the state’s potential.
If you’ve been following the race for mayor of New York City, you’ve seen two Democrat contenders: Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo.
As the former governor of the state of New York and a longtime politico before his resignation in 2021 over sexual harassment claims, Cuomo has an astronomical lead with Black voters in the primary race—with one Emerson College/PIX11/Hill poll putting him at 62 % with would-be Black voters and Mamdani at 38 %.
The city’s Black residents make up the second-largest population after Caucasian residents, with the U.S. Census estimating non-Hispanic Black residents to account for 20.2 % ( or 1.78 million ) of the population.
Why does Cuomo have such a high voter turnout, particularly with a historically large number of Black prospects in the race?
Could it be brand recognition, sentimentality, or a realistic estimate that more encounter will correspond to better governance? Have there been conflicting emotions over the Eric Adams municipal management and the related scandals that have stifled representation rallies?
Whatever the reasons are, the strong performance of Cuomo and the new passion for Mamdani have dominated media attention for the past several months, overshadowing other individuals ‘ systems, particularly other Black individuals in the competition.
With ranked-choice election in NYC’s Democratic primary election, citizens can pick up to five candidates—so yet with Cuomo and Mamdani in the guide, knowing about various individuals ‘ systems matters.
Here’s a list of the candidates for the Democratic party ( Eric Adams is now an Independent ) and some policy recommendations that are important:
Michael Blake: A Democrat inside and brother of New York
Michael Blake is the son of Jamaican newcomers who was born and raised in the Bronx. From 2015 to 2021, he served as a condition assembly in New York’s 79th District. Additionally, Blake is a preacher who has made an effort to promote economic empowerment in his advocacy efforts.
His biggest claim to fame is working in the Obama administration and serving as vice head at significant of the Democratic National Committee.
Blake has made some great moves against Cuomo, dedicating ads to influencing Black voters ‘# NoCuomo votes.
Blake told theGrio in an interview,” You don’t need an Andrew Cuomo to assist you.” ” Andrew Cuomo has failed Black traditions. 13 people claimed Cuomo had a toxic environment and biologically harassed them. I’ve been a female my entire life, having a partner, having a reward father, and having a pastor. The latest management is failing you. You may not succeed under a Cuomo management.
As a way to help people stay out of poverty, Blake’s policy agenda emphasizes affordability, secure rent, and guaranteed income. He points to care and cover as the largest expenses that affect common New Yorkers.
According to him,” I think we may have a guaranteed income to help close the gap for New Yorkers to give those bills.” When someone is aware that that space exists to assist them in a moment of need, it lessens the stress and anxiety that results in life and gives them an opportunity and a chance.
Blake says that with a city budget of$ 115 billion and a reduction of NYPD overtime charges—which recently totaled$ 1.4 billion—the funds could be reallocated.
Previous NY Congressman Jamaal Bowman and, interesting much, Zohran Mamdani both supported Blake. Given NYC’s ranked-choice election solution, the two strategically endorsed one another.
Adrienne Adams: No crisis, serious business and could be NYC’s second lady president
Adrienne Adams is one of the few individuals in the race whose morning work most closely resembles the work she’s running for. She is the first Black people to be elected to the New York City Council as the presenter.
She was trying to balance the city’s$ 115 billion budget as of the writing of this article.
Adams has no home ties to the current president, Eric Adams, but she’s been defiant in her condemnation of him.
Mayor Adams has now lost the trust of his own personnel, his coworkers in state, and New Yorkers, according to Adams, who earlier blasted him for mismanagement in the wake of his Greek scandal. He now has to set New York City as his top priority.
Adams has been able to point to her history of creating 80, 000 affordable housing units and advocating for zoning transformation to demonstrate she can help people find a place to live.
She’s also developed pathways for people who had credits but couldn’t get to the finish line of school by enrolling in her CUNY Reconnect Program, which resulted in 40, 000 students serving.
Adams pledges to concentrate on cover value and to take part in the local-level Trump weight. She’s been endorsed by New York Attorney General Letitia James and Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.
Zellnor Myrie: Brookly n’s very own attorney-turned-state senator supporting housing
Afro-Latino ( his relatives immigrated from Costa Rica ) is Zellnor Myrie, a 38-year-old three-term Brooklyn State Senator. A student of Fordham and Cornell Law School, Myrie worked as an counsel before launching his career in public services.
He can vouch for his victories in passing affordable housing laws that favor landlords and for promoting voter access. In New York, Myrie was the one to introduce a bill making early voting a nationwide straight.
Myrie said in an interview with NY1 that she was” just like every other New Yorker who takes the train every day, who is still trying to pay back student loans, who is still trying to make my way.”
Myrie somewhat has a Black plan exclusively for Black voters, in addition to his larger policy plan, which includes creating generational wealth through homeownership, increasing mental health services, Black parental health resources, and a Black Business Accelerator Fund.
Myrie is one of the eleven individuals in the race’s polls, but he has received support from former New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman, New York Attorney General Letitia James, New York Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who represents New York’s 14th Congressional District.
Dr. Selma K. Bartholomew: tutor and group organizer from Harlem.
Dr. Bartholomew ( also known as Dr. B) is a self-described oddity who has entered the race with a varied range of experiences as a woman and trainer. Dr. Bartholomew’s perspective for New York City includes improved public health, cleaner roads, stronger education programs, and free Metro accounts for 18- to 21-year-olds who are still in the developing phase of young adulthood. She graduated from Lehman College, where she focused on math and physics, and earned advanced degree at Fordham and Adelphi.
Additionally, Dr. Bartholomew has stated that he wants to conduct a quality-of-life survey that reports how residents ‘ needs are being met.
” I am not a traditional candidate”, she told The Amsterdam News in an interview. ” I’ve always voted Democratic, and I believe that people must be the change they want.”” My goal is to bring our children back. I work in schools in New York and throughout the nation, and I observe the slow, steady demise of our children. They are pushing this synthetic marijuana on our kids. I want to make New York City a bigger, bolder vision.
Although Dr. Bartholomew’s website does not mention any significant fundraising initiatives or endorsements, she spoke to her about being on the ballot as a reflection of her grassroots vision:
” New York City has had 108 white men as mayors and 110 men. Our electoral process is really about selection, not election, she told The Amsterdam News. The attorneys were able to afford them, according to the saying” the people with money.” They are able to pay people to go out and collect signatures, and they know the process because they might have that historical knowledge. I simply accomplished it all with the help of my army of volunteers, faith, and love.
Paperboy Prince: Artist-turned-candidate
Paperboy Prince’s ad campaign features them dressed in a suit, clown shoes with clown face paint, entering a New York City finance committee meeting with a message to share. At the end of the ad, it says,” A clown you can trust.”
This is not Paperboy Prince’s first electoral rodeo. They ( their pronouns are they/them ) also ran against Nydia Velázquez in the 2020 congressional race and were considered a longshot, but didn’t succeed in the race, but managed to get 20 % of the vote. However, Paperboy Prince, who is also a rapper and activist, campaigns with a focus on a$ 2,000 universal basic income, housing for all, health care for all, and spreading love.
Paperboy Prince, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, has Puerto Rican, Colombian, and Panamanian roots, has established a following on social media and uses clown clothing to press politicians about why they can’t do anything.
” The people that are in office right now, they’re focused on division. They are concentrating on the opposing forces to increase their power. I want to unite everyone, in my opinion. It doesn’t matter what race you are, what gender you are … We need to come together as a family, as a city now… because that’s what’s humane”.
The Democratic primary in NYC will open on Tuesday, June 24 at 6:00 a.m. and close at 9:00 p.m.
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Originally sourced via trusted media partner. https://thegrio.com/2025/06/23/meet-five-black-candidates-running-for-nyc-mayoral-democratic-primary-to-faceoff-with-eric-adams/
