With matching funds, Lander has raised $5.3M for NYC mayoral bid, overtaking Adams
With public matching funds factored in, City Comptroller Brad Lander has raised more than $5.3 million for his mayoral run, outpacing Mayor Adams, whose haul to date sits at about $4.5 million from private donations alone, according to their campaigns.
The money moves make Lander the first 2025 mayoral candidate to claim the fundraising lead from Adams — who has been denied matching funds over his federal corruption indictment and is reeling from historically low approval ratings. The city’s public funds program is highly lucrative for mayoral candidates, as it matches any donation made by a city resident at an 8:1 ratio up to $250.
Lander’s pull gives him an early edge in the sprawling field of candidates running against Adams in June’s Democratic mayoral primary, especially as they need hefty war chests to pay for ads and properly staff their campaigns. A major unknown in the primary remains whether former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who polls suggest could pose the most serious challenge to Adams, will enter the race.
Other candidates have qualified for matching funds, too. Ex-Comptroller Scott Stringer, Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie also announced this week they have locked in more than $3 million once public matching funds are baked in, with Stringer topping that list at roughly $4.1 million raised in total.
https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/01/15/mayor-fundraising-campaign-disclosures-adams-2025/