The Weekly Watchdog

You’re not going to believe it, but this head-spinning election cycle is coming to an end on Tuesday.

Just kidding. Final results from the primary won’t be out next week. And we may get a re-run in November. Oh, and it’s about to get very hot in NYC.

Need a moment to take all this in? We’ve got you covered. Read our special primary election edition of the Weekly Watchdog. We’ve got everything you need to know.

News Worth Clicking

The Policy Where do they Stand on the Issues?	Still unsure who to support for mayor? Take a look at some of the great policy digests published over the course of this campaign. You have Chalkbeat’s guide on education, THE CITY’s review of climate, amNY’s look at public safety, CityLimits’ comparison of plans for immigrant communities, NYCLU’s forum on civil rights issues, the New York Housing Conference tracker on housing, and even the Citizens Budget Commission’s questionnaire on fiscal and economic issues.
The Numbers How Zohran Mamdani Can Win The Narrative Wars By Michael Lange	Michael Lange has been providing New Yorkers with data-driven, politics-grounded insights on this election cycle for months, and his latest analysis explains what you should watch for on election night – the numbers, neighborhoods, and markers that could indicate who will win this once-in-a-generation race. The impact of young voters is already generating a lot of attention, based on early voting data collected by Gothamist. And don’t forget to be patient on election night – it’s unlikely we’ll know who won the mayor’s race that day!
The Money Who’s Spending Big Money in NYC’s Local Elections? Here’s How to Find Out The CITY By Rachel Holliday Smith	Who’s paying for all those mailers you’ve been getting lately? This guide to the world of political committees, donor databases, and Super PAC disclosures gives you the rundown on money in our election cycle. Go and explore who’s funding the candidates vying for your vote. Or just catch up on the latest news on this front, like how DoorDash is secretly funding a labor union super PAC backing Adrienne Adams for mayor, and how a candidate not running on Tuesday – the New York City Mayor – just had his best fundraising haul since his indictment.
The Press What We Learned Interviewing the Democratic Candidates for Mayor The New York Editorial Board	You must have read one of their interviews with mayoral candidates this year – or at least seen a screenshot of a viral paragraph making the rounds. After many hours of conversations with candidates, a group of veteran New York City journalists known as The New York Editorial Board met to debrief and share what they’ve learned. And they weren’t the only ones. POLITICO assembled its New York team for a roundtable conversation about the state of the race. Want more? City & State’s election podcast convened reporters Katie Honan and Sahalie Donaldson to share their takeaways from this campaign.
The Long View Cuomo’s Comeback: How New York City’s Shattered Political Culture Made It Possible POLITICO Magazine By Will Bredderman	Let’s end by looking into the past. The starpower candidates leading this mayoral election illustrate how badly the city’s institutions – the political machines and the hyper-engaged voting public that once checked them – have broken down. How did club infrastructure, plummeting turnout rates, and even campaign finance reforms usher in a new era of superstar politics? Worth a read while you wait for the results on Tuesday night (unofficial results – did we mention that already?).