2021 New York City borough president elections explained

Election Name:	2021 New York City borough president elections
Country:	New York City
Type:	legislative
Previous Election:	2017 New York City borough president elections
Previous Year:	2017
Next Year:	2025
Next Election:	2025 New York City borough president elections
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Seats Before1:	4
Seats1:	4
Popular Vote1:	769,221
Percentage1:	71.11%
Swing1:	6.12%
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Seats Before2:	1
Seats2:	1
Popular Vote2:	277,127
Percentage2:	25.62%
Swing2:	5.56%

The 2021 New York City borough president elections were held on November 2, 2021. Four of the five incumbent borough presidents were unable to run for reelection due to term limits. Only the Queens borough president was eligible to seek re-election after winning a special election in 2020 (and won re-election).

The winning candidates were as follows:

• Manhattan

Mark Levine, New York City Council member (Democratic)

• Brooklyn

Antonio Reynoso, New York City Council member (Democratic)

• Queens

Donovan Richards, incumbent borough president (Democratic)

• The Bronx

Vanessa Gibson, New York City Council member (Democratic)

• Staten Island

Vito Fossella, former U.S. Representative (Republican)

Overview

scope=col rowspan=3	Borough	scope=col colspan=2	Democratic	scope=col colspan=2	Republican	scope=col colspan=2	Others	scope=col colspan=2	Total	scope=col rowspan=3	Result
scope=col colspan=2 style="background:"	!	scope=col colspan=2 style="background:"	!	scope=col colspan=2	!	scope=col colspan=2
scope=col data-sort-type="number"	Votes !	scope=col data-sort-type="number"	% !	scope=col data-sort-type="number"	Votes !	scope=col data-sort-type="number"	% !	scope=col data-sort-type="number"	Votes !	scope=col data-sort-type="number"	% !	scope=col data-sort-type="number"	Votes !	scope=col data-sort-type="number"	%
align=left		223,248	84.98%	34,163	13.00%	5,309	2.02%	262,720	100.0%	align=left	Democratic hold
align=left		235,118	72.84%	74,068	22.94%	13,617	4.22%	322,803	100.0%	align=left	Democratic hold
align=left		181,947	66.86%	89,645	32.94%	538	0.20%	272,130	100.0%	align=left	Democratic hold
align=left data-sort-value=Bronx		94,886	79.93%	15,920	13.41%	7,905	6.66%	118,711	100.0%	align=left	Democratic hold
align=left		34,022	32.27%	63,331	60.07%	8,071	7.66%	105,424	100.0%	align=left	Republican hold
Total	769,221	71.11%	277,127	25.62%	35,440	3.28%	1,081,788	100.0%

Manhattan

Election Name:	2021 Manhattan presidential election
Flag Image:	Flag of the Borough of Manhattan.svg
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2017 New York City borough president elections#Manhattan
Previous Year:	2017
Next Election:	2025 New York City borough president elections#Manhattan
Next Year:	2025
Image1:	Mark Levine, 2023.jpg
Nominee1:	Mark Levine
Party1:	New York State Democratic Committee
Popular Vote1:	223,248
Percentage1:	85.0%
Nominee2:	Lou Puliafito
Party2:	New York Republican State Committee
Popular Vote2:	34,163
Percentage2:	13.0%
Map Size:	300px
President
Before Election:	Gale Brewer
Before Party:	New York State Democratic Committee
After Election:	Mark Levine
After Party:	New York State Democratic Committee

Incumbent Democrat Gale Brewer was term-limited and could not run for a third consecutive term.

Democratic primary

Declared

• Lindsey Boylan, former deputy secretary for economic development and special advisor to the governor, candidate for New York's 10th congressional district in 2020^[1]
• Elizabeth R. Caputo, former chair of Manhattan's Community Board 7^{[1] [2]}
• Brad Hoylman, state senator for the 27th district^{[1] [2]}
• Ben Kallos, councilmember^{[1] [2]}
• Mark Levine, councilmember^[2]
• Guillermo Perez, candidate for New York State Assembly District 71 in 2018^{[1] [3]}
• Kimberly R. Watkins, President of Community Education Council^{[1] [2]}

Declined

• Ydanis Rodriguez, councilmember^[4]

Withdrew

• Thomas Lopez-Pierre, candidate for New York City Council District 7 in 2017^{[1] [5]}

Polling

First-past-the-post polls

Results

Republican primary

Declared

• Lou Puliafito, Republican candidate for New York's 76th State Assembly district in 2020 and Reform candidate in 2018^[7]

Endorsements

Libertarian Party

Declared

• Michael Lewyn, law professor at Touro Law Center^[8]

General election

Results

Brooklyn

Election Name:	2021 Brooklyn presidential election
Flag Image:	Flag of Brooklyn, New York.svg
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2017 New York City borough president elections#Brooklyn
Previous Year:	2017
Next Election:	2025 New York City borough president elections#Brooklyn
Next Year:	2025
Image1:	Antonio Reynoso.jpg
Nominee1:	Antonio Reynoso
Party1:	New York State Democratic Committee
Popular Vote1:	235,118
Percentage1:	72.8%
Nominee2:	Menachem Raitport
Party2:	New York Republican State Committee
Alliance2:	Conservative Party of New York State
Popular Vote2:	74,068
Percentage2:	22.9%
Map Size:	300px
President
Before Election:	Eric Adams
Before Party:	New York State Democratic Committee
After Election:	Antonio Reynoso
After Party:	New York State Democratic Committee

Incumbent Democrat Eric Adams was term-limited and barred from running for a third consecutive term. Instead of retiring, Adams successfully ran for mayor.

Democratic primary

Twelve candidates made it onto the ballot in the Democratic primary, of which three were regarded as the frontrunners; City Councilmembers Robert Cornegy and Antonio Reynoso, and State Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon.^[9]

Declared

• Robert Cornegy, councilmember^{[1] [2]}
• Kimberly Council, non-profit executive
• Khari Edwards, activist^[10]
• Robert Elstein, artist and teacher^[10]
• Mathieu Eugene, councilmember^[2]
• Pearlene Fields, member of Brooklyn Community Board 17^[10]
• Anthony Jones, District Leader for the 55th State Assembly District^[10]
• Shanduke McPhatter, activist^[1]
• Trisha Ocona, businesswoman^[11]
• Robert Ramos Jr., labor unionist^[10]
• Antonio Reynoso, councilmember^{[1] [2]}
• Jo Anne Simon, assemblymember^[1]
• Lamor Whitehead-Miller, pastor^{[1] [2]}

Withdrew

• Rafael Espinal, councilmember^[1]
• Emmanuel Whitmore^[1]

Declined

• Chirlane McCray, First Lady of New York City^[12]

Polling

Ranked-choice polls

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	RCV count	Others	Undecided
Benenson Strategy Group (D)^[13]	Apr 16–21, 2021	514 (LV)	± 4.3%		10%	7%	7%	6%	10%	8%	2%		50%
				1	20%	15%	14%	13%	20%	17%	–
				2	23%	17%	18%	–	22%	19%
				3	27%	–	22%	–	29%	22%
				4	33%	–	–	–	41%	27%
				5	45%	–	–	–		55%			–

First-past-the-post polls

Results

General election

Results

Queens

Election Name:	2021 Queens presidential election
Flag Image:	Flag of Queens, New York.svg
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Year:	2020 (special)
Next Election:	2025 New York City borough president elections#Queens
Next Year:	2025
Image1:	Donovan Richards, 2022.jpg
Nominee1:	Donovan Richards
Party1:	New York State Democratic Committee
Popular Vote1:	181,947
Percentage1:	66.9%
Nominee2:	Thomas Zmich
Party2:	New York Republican State Committee
Alliance2:	Conservative Party of New York State
Popular Vote2:	89,645
Percentage2:	32.9%
Map Size:	300px
President
Before Election:	Donovan Richards
Before Party:	New York State Democratic Committee
After Election:	Donovan Richards
After Party:	New York State Democratic Committee

Incumbent Democrat Donovan Richards assumed office in December 2020 after winning the November special election, and ran for a full term. He succeeded Sharon Lee, who became acting Borough President after Melinda Katz resigned to take office as Queens County District Attorney.

Democratic primary

Declared

• Elizabeth Crowley, former councilmember, candidate for Queens Borough President in 2020
• Donovan Richards, incumbent Borough President^[1]
• Jimmy Van Bramer, councilmember^[1]

Withdrew

• Alicia Hyndman, New York State Assemblymember for the 29th district^[1]

Endorsements

• Zephyr Teachout, attorney, professor, former candidate for Governor of New York in 2014 and Attorney General of New York in 2018

Polling

Ranked-choice polls

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	RCV count	Others	Undecided
Benenson Strategy Group (D)	Apr 16–21, 2021	358 (LV)	± 5.2%		20%	2%	28%	6%	9%	2%		33%
				1	31%	3%	43%	9%	14%	–
				2	33%	–	43%	10%	14%
				3	36%	–	46%	–	18%
				4	44%	–		56%	–			–

First-past-the-post polls

Results

Republican primary

Declared

• Danniel Maio, local activist and 2016 candidate for the New York's 6th congressional district^[14]
• Thomas Zmich, 2020 candidate for New York's 6th congressional district, retired union leader and organizer^[15]

Endorsements

Results

The Bronx

Election Name:	2021 Bronx presidential election
Flag Image:	Flag of Borough of the Bronx.svg
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2017 New York City borough president elections#The Bronx
Previous Year:	2017
Next Election:	2025 New York City borough president elections#The Bronx
Next Year:	2025
Image1:	A picture of Council Member Gibson.jpg
Nominee1:	Vanessa Gibson
Party1:	New York State Democratic Committee
Popular Vote1:	94,886
Percentage1:	79.9%
Nominee2:	Janelle King
Party2:	New York Republican State Committee
Popular Vote2:	15,920
Percentage2:	13.4%
Image3:	3x4.svg
Nominee3:	Sammy Ravelo
Party3:	Conservative Party of New York State
Popular Vote3:	7,735
Percentage3:	6.5%
Map Size:	300px
President
Before Election:	Rubén Díaz Jr.
Before Party:	New York State Democratic Committee
After Election:	Vanessa Gibson
After Party:	New York State Democratic Committee

Incumbent Democrat Rubén Díaz Jr. was term-limited and could not run for a fourth consecutive term.

Democratic primary

Declared

• Fernando Cabrera, councilmember^{[1] [2] [16]}
• Nathalia Fernandez, assemblymember for the 80th district^{[1] [2]}
• Vanessa Gibson, councilmember^{[1] [2] [16]}
• Victor H. Gutierrez^{[1] [2] [16]}
• Luis R. Sepúlveda, state senator for the 32nd district^[1]
• Bryan Hodge Vasquez^[1]

Withdrew

• Rafael Salamanca, councilmember^[17]

Polling

Ranked-choice polls

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	RCV count	Others	Undecided
Benenson Strategy Group (D)	Apr 16–21, 2021	249 (LV)	± 6.2%		10%	12%	25%	4%	9%	5%		34%
				1	17%	19%	42%	7%	16%	–
				2	19%	23%	42%	–	16%
				3	25%	29%	45%	–	–
				4	–	42%		58%	–			–

First-past-the-post polls

Results

Official results for each round are as follows:

2021 Bronx Borough President Democratic primary election							- style="background:#eee; text-align:center;" ! rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;"	Candidate ! colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"	Round 1 ! colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"	Round 2 ! colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"	Round 3	- ! Votes	% ! Votes	% ! Votes	%	- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"		40,097	39.5%	40,148	39.7%	49,401	53.0%	-	- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"		34,022	33.5%	34,130	33.7%	42,957	46.5%	-	- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"		14,397	14.2%	14,501	14.3% ! colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"	-	- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"		10,047	10.3%	10,444	10.3% ! colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"	-	- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"		1,958	1.9%	1,971	1.9% ! colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"	-	- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"	Write-ins	582	0.6% ! colspan=4 style="text-align:center;"	-	- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"	Inactive Ballots ! colspan="2"	0 ballots ! colspan="2"	226 ballots ! colspan="2"	8,178 ballots	-

Results

Staten Island

Election Name:	2021 Staten Island presidential election
Flag Image:	Flag of the Borough of Staten Island.svg
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2017 New York City borough president elections#Staten Island
Previous Year:	2017
Next Election:	2025 New York City borough president elections#Staten Island
Next Year:	2025
Image1:	Vito Fossella 2022 (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Vito Fossella
Party1:	New York Republican State Committee
Popular Vote1:	63,331
Percentage1:	60.1%
Nominee2:	Mark Murphy
Party2:	New York State Democratic Committee
Popular Vote2:	34,022
Percentage2:	32.3%
Image3:	3x4.svg
Nominee3:	Leticia Remauro
Party3:	Conservative Party of New York State
Popular Vote3:	7,892
Percentage3:	7.5%
Map Size:	300px
President
Before Election:	James Oddo
Before Party:	New York Republican State Committee
After Election:	Vito Fossella
After Party:	New York Republican State Committee

Incumbent Republican James Oddo was term-limited and could not run for a third consecutive term.

Republican primary

Declared

• Vito Fossella, former U.S. Representative^[18]
• Jhong Kim, businessman^[19]
• Steven Matteo, councilmember
• Leticia Remauro, businesswoman^[2]

Results

Democratic primary

Declared

• Lorraine Honor, activist and businesswoman^[20]
• Radhakrishna Mohan, labor unionist^[21]
• Mark Murphy, businessman and nominee for New York's 11th congressional district in 2012^[22]
• Brandon Stradford, community advocate^[23]
• Cesar Vargas, attorney and reservist^[24]

Results

General election

Results

See also

• 2021 New York City mayoral election
• 2021 New York City Comptroller election
• 2021 New York City Council election

Notes

Partisan clients

Notes and References

1. Web site: Candidate List - 2021 Citywide Elections . New York City Campaign Finance Board . September 19, 2020.
2. News: Who's Running for What in the 2021 New York City Elections . September 18, 2020 . Gotham Gazette . July 16, 2020.
3. Web site: Race To Represent 2018: Guillermo Perez For State Assembly D71 Candidate Statement. YouTube. MNN NYC. September 8, 2018. July 31, 2021.
4. News: Frassl . Amina . What Will Outgoing New York City Council Members do After 2021? . September 19, 2020 . City & State NY . July 21, 2020.
5. Web site: City Council candidate 'cares about' Jews, compares them to Germans who enabled the Nazis. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Sales. Ben. July 20, 2017. July 31, 2021.
6. https://www.filesforprogress.org/datasets/2021/6/dfp_nyc_pre_election_manhattan_crosstabs.pdf Data for Progress (D)
7. Web site: Lou Puliafito for Manhattan Borough President. Lou for All.
8. http://lewynformanhattan.com lewynformanhattan.com
9. Web site: Antonio Reynoso is the Likely Next Brooklyn Borough President; Here's What He Ran On. Gotham Gazette. Glesby. Laura. July 5, 2021. July 8, 2021.
10. Web site: Who's Running For Brooklyn Borough President?. Gothamist. Cruz. David. January 31, 2021. July 31, 2021.
11. Web site: Brooklyn Borough President Race: Trisha Ocona Seeks Office. Patch. Quinn. Anna. June 14, 2021. July 31, 2021.
12. News: Mays. Jeffery C.. 2020-10-16. N.Y.C.'s First Lady Won't Seek Office as Mayor's Popularity Fades. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-04-08. 0362-4331.
13. https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000179-1ff1-d356-affd-3ffddc4e0000 Benenson Strategy Group (D)
14. Web site: Danniel Maio.
15. Web site: Thomas Zmich.
16. News: Millman . Andrew . 2021 Borough President Election Set to Unfold Amid Dramatic Shift in Bronx Politics . September 18, 2020 . Gotham Gazette . August 8, 2020.
17. Web site: Salamanca drops out of BP race. Cohen. Jason. January 22, 2021. July 9, 2024. Bronx Times-Reporter.
18. Web site: 2021-03-17. Former congressman Vito Fossella joins borough president race. 2021-03-22. silive. en.
19. Web site: GOP Borough Hall primary is a battle that SI Republicans could have never predicted (analysis). Staten Island Live. Wrobleski. Tom. June 3, 2021. July 31, 2021.
20. Web site: Democratic activist and business owner Lorie Honor enters Staten Island borough president race. Staten Island Live. Liotta. Paul. February 17, 2021. July 31, 2021.
21. Web site: Election 2021: Immigrant and labor leader wants to be the next borough president. Staten Island Live. Liotta. Paul. March 8, 2021. July 31, 2021.
22. Web site: 'I'm running to rebrand Staten Island': Businessman Mark Murphy joins borough president race. Staten Island Live. Dalton. Kirstin F.. February 24, 2021. July 31, 2021.
23. Web site: Lifelong Staten Islander, community advocate wants to be next borough president. Staten Island Live. Liotta. Paul. March 30, 2021. July 31, 2021.
24. Web site: 'It's time for bold leadership:' Reservist who just earned citizenship announces BP run. Staten Island Live. Liotta. Paul. February 25, 2021. July 31, 2021.