Intrigue grew over Friday’s quarterly fundraising reporting deadline, as Mayor Eric Adams faces five federal indictments and at least four Democratic primary challengers next year.
Will Mr. Adams see a significant drop in donations, and who among the candidates seeking to replace him will make the most of the mayor’s problems?
The answer was only partially revealed Friday, with Adams’ fundraising disclosures not reported by the New York City Campaign Finance Commission by the end of the day.
It is unclear whether the mayor’s campaign disclosed information on time, after the deadline, or not at all. Vito Pitta, compliance attorney for the Adams campaign, did not respond to a request for comment.
As for Adams’ Democratic rival, City Comptroller Brad Lander boasted that his mayoral campaign has raised just under $1 million so far. That’s enough to qualify for $3.5 million in taxpayer funding under the city’s matching funds program, which gives candidates $8 for every dollar up to the first $250 donated by city residents. It was the amount.
Lander said he is in a “strong position” to qualify for the maximum amount allowed in matching funds, the spending cap for primaries and special elections, if Adams resigns or is forced out. He said it would be possible to reach $7.93 million. Mr. Lander also raised the most money in the three-month reporting period ending Oct. 7, raising just over $315,000.
Scott Stringer, a former comptroller who is running for mayor, brought in $180,000 in the past three months, leaving him with just under $600,000. This could make him eligible for $2.5 million in matching funds, according to campaign records.
But Stringer’s donations have slowed, with his last application raising just over $410,000.
“I’m very excited that we’re well on our way to preparing for what’s next, whether it’s the immediate special election or the long run leading up to the primary,” Stringer said in an interview.
Zellner Miley, a state senator from Brooklyn, raised $137,000 and received an additional $563,000 in matching funds. He has raised more than $464,000 in total, which could result in nearly $1.6 million in matching funds. A spokesperson for Mr Miley said the fundraising had “buoyed his confidence and prepared him for any scenario”.
The latest candidate to enter the race, state Sen. Jessica Ramos of Queens, said her campaign has raised more than $52,500, but the minimum fundraising threshold to receive matching funds is $250,000. He said it would not reach the dollar amount.
Adams’ latest campaign report reports he has raised more than $4 million, which could net taxpayers an additional $4 million by mid-July of this year.
But given that the federal charges against the mayor involved matching funds, some of his rivals, including Mr. Lander and Mr. Ramos, believe that the mayor should be allowed to participate in the program. I have doubts.
“Don’t put your hands in the cookie jar,” Ramos said.
Brooklyn City Councilman Lincoln Ressler sent a letter to the Campaign Finance Commission last month requesting that Adams not receive any public matching funds. He said in an interview that the charges against the mayor mean he should not receive “another penny” of public matching money.
No candidates received public matching funds for the 2025 election. Adams’ eligibility, including his 2025 campaign, will be determined by the Campaign Finance Committee in December.
“The reputation and credibility of our campaign finance system depends on their pending decisions,” Ressler said.
Federal prosecutors have accused Mr. Adams of colluding with foreign nationals to illegally funnel money to his 2021 and 2025 campaigns through so-called straw donors in New York. Prosecutors said many of those contributions were later increased through the city’s 8-to-1 matching funds program.
Adams raised about $9 million in his 2021 campaign and received more than $10 million in public funds, more than any other mayoral candidate that year. However, his fundraising efforts had come under intense scrutiny even before his indictment.
In July 2023, the Manhattan District Attorney indicted the construction company owner and former police lieutenant Dwayne Montgomery, a longtime friend of Adams. They are accused of using straw donors to illegally obtain tens of thousands of dollars in matching funds for the mayor’s 2021 campaign.
In a separate case brought by the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, a Chinese businessman pleaded guilty earlier this year to facilitating straw donations to three U.S. politicians, including Adams.
And in a draft audit of Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign, the Campaign Finance Commission found that $24,500 worth of contributions from people who had never donated or were reimbursed by others for their contributions52 I flagged the issue. These donations secured nearly $50,000 in matching taxpayer funds.
Adams’ campaign has until the end of next month to answer questions from the audit committee.
The mayor also raised $1.7 million for a legal defense fund and spent more than $1.1 million as of June 30th. The latest figures are expected to be released next week.
