A Useless Guide to NYC's 2021 Mayoral Race
22 things you don't need to know about 22 current candidates
The race to become New York City’s next mayor is heating up. More than 30 candidates are officially registered to run, according to Campaign Finance Board records, and more likely to announce. With much of the recent media cycle focusing on Andrew Yang—who has proposed opening a casino on Governors Island and bringing Tik Tok hype houses to NYC, staged an unconvincing bodega visit, and tried to justify his absence from the city during Covid by asking, “Can you imagine trying to have two kids on virtual school in a two-bedroom apartment, and then trying to do work yourself?”—you probably haven’t had much of a chance to familiarize yourself with the rest of the slate.
I’m not going to try to parse policy positions, or dive into backstories. For more practical information, you can check out guides at The City, Curbed, and City Limits. What I will do, in the midst of this wide and uneven field, is share some fun facts—the kind of tidbits these declared candidates might offer up in a “two truths and a lie” icebreaker. You have until the June Democratic primary to decide. Let’s get to it.
Eric Adams (D): Moved into his office during the pandemic, loves smoothies:
Art Chang (D): Loves puns, per this website copy: “Change is an art form.”
Eddie Cullen (D): According to this profile in Rockaway’s The Wave, the “near-cancellation” of last year’s 9/11 tribute was a major reason he decided to run: “In the end, Mayor De Blasio agreed to allow the Tribute to carry on, but for Cullen, that kind of mismanagement was too great to bare [sic].” Has just 9 Twitter followers.
Shaun Donovan (D): Named the designated survivor for Obama during 2010 state of the Union.
Aaron Foldenauer (D): As a candidate for City Council in 2017, called on the authorities to jail De Blasio after security guards at a mayoral town hall confiscated his campaign pamphlets.
Quanda Francis (I): Currently pursuing her PhD in Information Science.
Kathryn Garcia (D): “In 1995, she married Jerry Garcia, who bears no relation to the Grateful Dead frontman.”
Garry Gurrier (D): An emergency room nurse who cared for NYC’s Covid patient zero, according to his campaign website.
Zach Iscol (D): Once thought Nick Jonas was Harry Styles:
Christopher S. Krietchman: Competed as a bodybuilder for 15 years.
Carlos Menchaca (D): Has modeled on the side while serving as a city councilman.
Ray McGuire (D): His stepson, Cole Anthony, is a point guard for the Orlando Magic.
Dianne Morales (D): Lives one block away from candidate Joycelyn Taylor in Bed-Stuy.
Bill Pepitone (R): Is the nephew of former New York Yankee Joe Pepitone.
Paperboy Love Prince (D): Was an avid Andrew Yang supporter, releasing the song “Yang Gang” in in 2019.
Scott Stringer (D): Has long received support from Scarlett Johansson, whose grandmother and twin brother worked with him.
Loree Sutton (D): Known as “the general” at her Manhattan boxing club.
Joycelyn Taylor (D): Lives one block away from Dianne Morales.
Sara Tirschwell (R): Is from Texas.
Isaac Wright Jr. (D): Wrongfully sentenced to life in prison on drug charges, became a paralegal while serving his sentence, and after 7 years was able to prove his own innocence in court. Inspired the ABC show “For Life.”
Maya Wiley (D): Owns four cats, NOT one, per City & State:
Andrew Yang: In 24 years of city residency, has never voted for mayor.
23.8%
turnout in NYC’s 2017 mayoral election
Around town…
-The rumors were true: last week, some lucky New Yorkers were able to get about-to-expire vaccines at the Brooklyn Army Terminal site. (Gothamist) But the city is on track to run out of doses this week. (CBS News)
-Workers at the South Bronx’s Hunts Point Produce Market are striking for better wages and healthcare support. The market provides 60% of the city’s produce, and grocery store shelves could soon feel the impact. (NY1)
-The tragic story of the project manager behind Penn Station’s new Moynihan Train Hall, who became so consumed by the project he took his own life. (NYT)