Voters Guide

2021 Primary Election

Our Preferences

This June, New Yorkers will vote in the primary election for New York City Mayor, Comptroller, Public Advocate, Borough Presidents, CIty Council, and Manhattan District Attorney. Judicial and party positions will also be on the ballot. 

To help our supportive Citizens Union members prepare to vote, Citizens Union has been publishing an annual Voters Directory for over a century. The current edition provides a roster of Citizens Union’s preferred candidates in several key races, and information about the rigorous evaluation process and assessments of candidates. 

We caution voters that there may be last minute elimination or reinstatement of candidates on the ballot, so the list contained in this directory may have changed since this document was printed.

Citizens Union evaluates candidates for office to determine who strongly supports our issues, can advance a reform agenda, and can best fulfill the obligations of the position. Interview teams made up of 30 volunteer Local Candidates Committee members and Citizens Union Board members assessed the candidates based on their responses to Citizens Union’s questionnaire, research, first-hand knowledge of the candidates, and interviews with the candidates. The Citizens Union Board considers the recommendations of the Local Candidates Committee and makes a final decision.

You can find our candidate evaluation below. Click the tabs above to find more information on candidates’ responses to Citizens Union’s questionnaire.

 

Read the full Voters Directory here: Citizens Union Voters Directory 2021 Primary

 

Press release: Preferences for New York City Mayor – 2021 Primary Election

Press release: Citizens Union Announces Preferences of Kathryn Garcia, Eric Adams for Mayor, and Brian Benjamin, Corey Johnson for Comptroller, in Ranked Choice Voting

Press release: Citizens Union Announces Preferences of Jo Anne Simon for Brooklyn Borough President; Brad Hoylman for Manhattan Borough President; Dual- Preference of Alvin Bragg and Tali Farhadian Weinstein for Manhattan DA; and 8 Candidates for City Council

Citywide

New York City Comptroller – Democratic Party Primary
Rank #1
Brian Benjamin
Our Pick
Brian Benjamin
Rank #1
Our Pick
Rank #2
Corey Johnson
Corey Johnson
Rank #2
Rank #3
Brad Lander
Brad Lander
Rank #3
New York City Mayor – Democratic Party Primary
Rank #1
Kathryn Garcia
Our Pick
Kathryn Garcia
Rank #1
Our Pick
Rank #2
Eric Adams
Eric Adams
Rank #2
Rank #3
Scott Stringer
Scott Stringer
Rank #3

Brooklyn

Council District 39 – Democratic Party Primary
Council District 35 – Democratic Party Primary
Council District 33 – Democratic Party Primary
Brooklyn Borough President – Democratic Party Primary
Rank #1
Jo Anne Simon
Our Pick
Jo Anne Simon
Rank #1
Our Pick
Rank #2
Antonio Reynoso
Antonio Reynoso
Rank #2
Rank #3
Khari Edwards
Khari Edwards
Rank #3

Manhattan

Manhattan District Attorney – Democratic Party Primary
Dual Preference:
(Listed in alphabetical order)
Alvin Bragg Tali Farhadian Weinstein
Manhattan Borough President – Democratic Party Primary
Rank #1
Brad Hoylman
Our Pick
Brad Hoylman
Rank #1
Our Pick
Rank #2
Mark Levine
Mark Levine
Rank #2
Council District 3 – Democratic Party Primary
Council District 5 – Democratic Party Primary
Council District 6 – Democratic Party Primary
Rank #1
Gale Brewer
Our Pick
Gale Brewer
Rank #1
Our Pick
Rank #2
Jeffrey Omura
Jeffrey Omura
Rank #2
Council District 7 – Democratic Party Primary

Queens

Council District 26 – Democratic Party Primary
Rank #1
Julie Won
Our Pick
Julie Won
Rank #1
Our Pick
Rank #2
Amit Bagga
Amit Bagga
Rank #2
Rank #3
Brent O’Leary
Brent O’Leary
Rank #3