Money Talk: Second Round of Public Funds Payments

The image of Benjamin Franklin of U.S. hundred dollar bill with afterimage of it repeated behind it.
Image credit: Never Sink Media

Last Friday, the New York City Campaign Finance Board (NYCCFB) announced the second round of public funds payments in the 2021 elections – this one totaling $1,450,718 among 13 candidates.

In the citywide races, Mayoral candidate Scott Stringer and Comptroller candidate Brian Benjamin stood out as the only two candidates to qualify for matching funds – receiving $38,503 and $952,162 in matching funds, respectively.

Of the ten City Council candidates who received matching funds this round, only three hailed from Manhattan. However, they received a collective $263,941 in matching funds, more than half of the $458,562 distributed among the ten candidates. Furthermore, Kristin Richardson Jordan, running for Council District 9, had the distinction of being the only candidate to reach the maximum possible payout under the NYCCFB’s new “Option A” program. 

Jan. 15 also marked the deadline by which candidates had to disclose their fundraising reports covering July 2020 through Jan. 2021. The third round of public funds payments will be based on those disclosures.

City-Wide & Manhattan Candidate Overview

OfficeCandidatePayment on Jan. 15
MayorScott Stringer$38,503
ComptrollerBrian Benjamin$952,162
City Council District 5Billy Freeland$950
City Council District 7Maria Ordonez$102,547
City Council District 9Kristin Richardson Jordan$160,444