Money Talk: Manhattan Race Highlights (Jul. 2020 – Jan. 2021)

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Last Friday was the deadline by which the candidates in 2021 elections had to submit their campaign disclosure reports to the New York City Campaign Finance Board (NYCCFB). According to the reports, Manhattan Borough President candidate Brad Hoylman and Council District 1 candidate Jenny Low enjoyed the most fundraising success during the period between July 2020 and Jan. 2021.

The disclosure reports detail the private fundraising each candidate did from last July to January. These numbers will determine their eligibility for the third round of NYCCFB’s campaign matching funds program, which will take place on Feb. 15.

From July 2020 to Jan. 2021, Hoylman accumulated $365,870 in private funds – more than that received between July 12th, 2020 and January 11, 2021 by Lindsey Boylan ($122,700), Mark Levine ($120,254) and Ben Kallos ($90,568) combined. Hoylman also boasted the largest overall number of contributors – 1,603.

However, Kallos also did quite well for himself. Although he only came in fourth in terms of total private funds received, he boasted the second highest number of contributors (1,025), as well as the second smallest average donation size ($88) – just barely behind Kimberly Watkins, who averaged $81 per donation.

Council District 1 candidate Jenny Low accumulated a whopping $86,453 – surpassing not only her fellow District 1 candidates, but every other City Council candidate in Manhattan. In a close second was District 5 candidate Julie Menin, who raised $73,187.

Low also led the District 1 race in overall contributors (478), placing her third among all of the Manhattan City Council candidates, after District 9’s Mario Rosser (491) and District 6’s Jeffrey Omura (628). Omura also reported an unusually small average donation size – $65, the smallest among all the candidates in District 6.

See below for an overview of every candidate who raised $1,000 or more: