2021 New York City borough president elections

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).

Overview

† - Incumbent term-limited<br>

2020 Queens special election

Incumbent Democrat Melinda Katz resigned to take office as Queens County District Attorney in 2020 and acting borough president Sharon Lee did not run for her term.

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Donovan Richards, member of the New York City Council from the 31st district (2013-2020)

Eliminated in primary

• Costa Constantinides, member of the New York City Council from the 22nd district (2014-2021)
• Elizabeth Crowley, member of the New York City Council from the 30th district (2009-2017)
• Anthony Miranda, former New York City Police Department sergeant
• Dao Yin, businessman

Results

Republican primary

Nominee

• Joann Ariola, chair of the Queens Republican Party

Results

Manhattan

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
• Elizabeth R. Caputo, former chair of Manhattan's Community Board 7
• Brad Hoylman, state senator for the 27th district
• Ben Kallos, councilmember
• Mark Levine, councilmember
• Guillermo Perez, candidate for New York State Assembly District 71 in 2018
• Kimberly R. Watkins, president of Community Education Council

Declined

• Ydanis Rodriguez, councilmember

Withdrew

• Thomas Lopez-Pierre, candidate for New York City Council District 7 in 2017

Endorsements

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

Endorsements

Libertarian Party

Declared

• Michael Lewyn, law professor at Touro Law Center

General election

Results

Brooklyn

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, three of whom were regarded as the frontrunners: City Councilmembers Robert Cornegy and Antonio Reynoso, and State Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon.

Declared

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

Withdrew

• Rafael Espinal, councilmember
• Emmanuel Whitmore

Declined

• Chirlane McCray, First Lady of New York City

Endorsements

Polling

Ranked-choice polls

First-past-the-post polls

Results

General election

Results

Queens

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
• Jimmy Van Bramer, councilmember

Withdrew

• Alicia Hyndman, New York State Assemblymember for the 29th district

Endorsements

Polling

Ranked-choice polls

First-past-the-post polls

Results

Republican primary

Declared

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

Endorsements

Results

The Bronx

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

Democratic primary

Declared

• Fernando Cabrera, councilmember
• Nathalia Fernandez, assemblymember for the 80th district
• Vanessa Gibson, councilmember
• Victor H. Gutierrez
• Luis R. Sepúlveda, state senator for the 32nd district
• Bryan Hodge Vasquez

Withdrew

• Rafael Salamanca, councilmember

Endorsements

Polling

Ranked-choice polls

First-past-the-post polls

Results

Official results for each round are as follows:

Results

Staten Island

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
• Jhong Kim, businessman
• Steven Matteo, councilmember
• Leticia Remauro, businesswoman

Endorsements

Results

Democratic primary

Declared

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

Endorsements

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<br />

References