FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Max Schulman, 347-861-4167
Good government group backs Harvey Epstein (CD-2), Vanessa Aronson (CD-4), Elsie Encarnacion (CD-8), Justin Sanchez (CD-14), Erycka Montoya (CD-21), Tyrell Hankerson (CD-28), Dermot Smyth (CD-30), and Maya Kornberg (CD-38). Incumbents Julie Menin, Pierina Sanchez, Alexa Avilés, and Frank Morano also earn Citizens Union’s preference in their respective Council races.
Click here for Citizens Union’s Voters Guide
New York, N.Y. (May 28, 2025) – Today, Citizens Union announced its candidate preferences in 12 contested City Council primary races and in the Manhattan Borough President Democratic Primary under New York City’s ranked choice voting system. After undertaking a rigorous evaluation of 37 candidates for 13 offices across all five boroughs, Citizens Union issued its ordered preferences, urging voters to make use of the ranked choice ballots.
“This year’s primary election features a number of open and competitive races for City Council and a closely-watched race for Manhattan Borough President. And as we face a crisis of confidence in City Hall, it is essential that our local representatives strengthen our democracy and usher in a new era of reform in New York. Citizens Union is proud to support this slate of candidates who are committed to fair and open elections and honest and accountable governance,” said John Avlon, Board Chairman of Citizens Union.
This year, Citizens Union’s century-old annual Voters Directory is getting a digital facelift – it will appear only in web format and will be renamed the “Voters Guide.”
Even as some national and local media outlets have stopped issuing endorsements in elections, Citizens Union remains steadfast in our commitment to provide voters with clear, nonpartisan information to make informed decisions at the ballot box. Citizens Union will issue its preferences in the citywide races for Mayor and Comptroller next week.
Support for Citizens Union’s reform agenda is the primary criterion used in deciding whether to support a candidate. Other criteria considered in evaluating candidates and campaigns:
- A record of ethical integrity;
- Commitment and ability to advance CU’s goals, if elected;
- For incumbents: demonstrated support for CU’s issues while in office;
- Evidence of ability to wage an effective and competitive campaign;
- Reliance on small-donor, local financing of the campaign;
- Candidates’ grasp of issues specific to the race’s jurisdiction, and whether they propose thoughtful solutions to represent constituents’ interests.
In the race for Manhattan Borough President, Citizens Union prefers Keith Powers first and Brad Hoylman-Sigal second. Both demonstrated a commitment to reform priorities and a clear vision for Manhattan. Powers articulated thoughtfully-considered and proactive solutions to the City’s problems using the powers of the Borough President’s Office.
In the race for Council District 2 (Manhattan), Citizens Union prefers Harvey Epstein first due to his strong legislative track record on election and accountability reform in the State Assembly. The organization ranks Sarah Batchu second and Andrea Gordillo third.
In the race for Council District 4 (Manhattan), Citizens Union prefers Vanessa Aronson first for her campaign’s emphasis on ethics and transparency, Ben Wetzler second for his granular understanding of policy, Virginia Maloney third for her experience in city government, Faith Bondy fourth for her deep civic commitment, and Rachel Storch fifth. Overall, this race presents a highly-qualified group of candidates who would represent their district well.
In the race for Council District 8 (Manhattan/the Bronx), Citizens Union prefers Elsie Encarnacion first for her experience serving this district and her solid support for reform policy priorities. Citizens Union ranks Wilfredo Lopez second and Clarisa Alayeto third in this race.
In the race for Council District 17 (Bronx), Citizens Union prefers Justin Sanchez first. His experience and knowledge of the district distinguish him from other candidates. It also preferred Antirson Ortiz second and Elvis Santana third.
In the race for Council District 21 (Queens), Citizens Union prefers Erycka Montoya. She brings valuable Council experience to the position, strongly backs Citizens Union’s priorities, and is well-positioned to work collaboratively with other stakeholders.
In the race for Council District 28 (Queens), Citizens Union prefers Tyrell Hankerson first for his experience serving the community as the Speaker’s Adrienne Adams’s District Chief of Staff and for his plans to unite the district. Citizens Union ranked Japneet Singh second and Romeo Hitlall third.
In the race for Council District 30 (Queens), Citizens Union prefers Dermot Smyth first for his ability to serve as an effective representative and strong support for Citizens Union’s reform agenda and Paul Pogozelski second.
In the race for Council District 39 (Brooklyn), Citizens Union prefers Maya Kornberg. She has spent her career researching ways to make democracy healthier, improve legislative processes, and reduce the role of big money in politics.
The good government group also issued preferences for City Council incumbents in three contested races. In Council District 5 (Manhattan), Citizens Union prefers Julie Menin; in Council District 14 (Bronx), Citizens Union prefers Pierina Sanchez first and Bryan Hodge Vasquez second; in Council District 38 (Brooklyn), Citizens Union prefers Alexa Avilés; and in Council District 51 (Staten Island), Citizens Union prefers Frank Morano.
Primary Election Day is June 24, with Early Voting running from June 14 to June 22. To find your early voting location, hours, and election day poll site, visit findmypollsite.vote.nyc.
Citizens Union’s first batch of June 2025 preferences:
Manhattan Borough President
- Keith Powers
- Brad Hoylman-Sigal
City Council District 2 (Manhattan- Greenwich Village, Lower East Side, East Village, Midtown South-Flatiron-Union Square, Gramercy, Murray Hill-Kips Bay)
- Harvey Epstein
- Sarah Batchu
- Andrea Gordillo
City Council District 4 (Manhattan- Midtown South-NoMad, Midtown-Times Square, Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village, Murray Hill-Kips Bay, East Midtown-Turtle Bay, United Nations, Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill)
- Vanessa Aronson
- Ben Wetzler
- Virginia Maloney
- Faith Bondy
- Rachel Storch
City Council District 5 (Manhattan- East Midtown-Turtle Bay, United Nations, Upper East Side-Lenox Hill-Roosevelt Island, Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill, Upper East Side-Yorkville)
- Julie Menin
City Council District 8 (Manhattan/The Bronx – Mott Haven-Port Morris, Melrose, Concourse-Concourse Village, Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill, Upper East Side-Yorkville, East Harlem (South), East Harlem (North), Randall’s Island)
- Elsie Encarnacion
- Wilfredo Lopez
- Clarisa Alayeto
City Council District 14 (The Bronx- University Heights South-Morris Heights, Fordham Heights, University Heights-North Fordham, Morris Heights, Kingsbridge Heights-Van Cortlandt Village, Kingsbridge-Marble Hill, Mount Hope, Bedford Park)
- Pierina Sanchez
- Bryan Hodge Vasquez
City Council District 17 (Queens- Crotona Park East, Melrose, Hunts Point, Concourse, East Tremont, Morrisania, Longwood, Port Morris, West Farms)
- Justin Sanchez
- Antirson Ortiz
- Elvis Santana
City Council District 21 (Queens- Astoria (North)-Ditmars-Steinway, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, North Corona, Elmhurst, Corona, Rego Park, Flushing-Willets Point, LaGuardia Airport, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park)
- Erycka Montoya
City Council District 28 (Queens- Richmond Hill, Jamaica, South Ozone Park, Rochdale Village)
- Tyrell Hankerson
- Japneet Singh
- Romeo Hitlall
City Council District 30 (Queens- Ridgewood, Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale, Woodhaven, Woodside)
- Dermot Smyth
- Paul Pogozelski
City Council District 38 (Brooklyn- Sunset Park, Red Hook, Greenwood Heights, Windsor Terrace, Dyker Heights, Borough Park, Park Slope, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach)
- Alexa Avilés
City Council District 39 (Brooklyn- Kensington, Borough Park, Windsor Terrace, Park Slope, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, Columbia Waterfront)
- Maya Kornberg
City Council District 51 (Staten Island- Todt Hill-Emerson Hill-Lighthouse Hill-Manor Heights, New Springville-WillowbrookBulls Head-Travis, Fresh Kills Park, Oakwood-Richmondtown, Great Kills-Eltingville, Arden HeightsRossville, Annadale-Huguenot-Prince’s Bay-Woodrow, Tottenville-Charleston, Freshkills Park, Great Kills Park)
- Frank Morano
About Citizens Union
For more than a century, Citizens Union has been fighting for reform in New York. We work to ensure fair and open elections, honest and accountable government, and a civically engaged public. Learn more at www.citizensunion.org.
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