Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine took the first official step this week to run for city comptroller in 2025 — a move that paves the way for a competitive Democratic primary for the fiscal watchdog post.
Incumbent Comptroller Brad Lander, a progressive Democrat, announced last month he’s mounting a challenge against Mayor Adams next year, potentially leaving Lander’s post vacant for the primary elections set for next June. Lander has left open the possibility he could shift gears, though, and run for reelection.
Levine signaled his interest in the comptroller’s job by filing paperwork with the city Campaign Finance Board Wednesday, switching his Manhattan beep reelection fundraising account to become a comptroller account, a source close to Levine confirmed to the Daily News.
The fundraising flip, first reported by Politico, allows Levine to accept larger contributions from individual donors, as borough president accounts are only able to take in a max of $1,600 per person while comptroller accounts can accept upward of $2,100. Levine, a former City Council member, is able to also funnel the nearly $263,000 he has in his beep account into his new comptroller war chest.
The source close to Levine said the filing shouldn’t be interpreted as meaning he is officially running for comptroller, noting he could change his mind down the line and run for reelection as borough president.
Still, Levine, who has been a prominent name in Manhattan politics for over a decade with an established fundraising base, could cause other potential candidates for comptroller, such as Council Finance Chairman Justin Brannan and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, to reconsider entering the race.
A spokesman for Levine declined to comment Thursday.
One local politician who has already announced she’s running for comptroller in 2025 is Queens Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, an ally to Mayor Adams who’s known for frequently appearing alongside him at press conferences across the five boroughs.
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Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar speaks from the podium during press conference at City Hall on Monday. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)
Rajkumar’s first comptroller campaign fundraising filing, submitted last month, shows she has a long way to go, with an estimated balance of -$19,435.
The assemblywoman told The News she welcomes Levine to the comptroller battle.
“I welcome the challenge because we live in the world’s greatest democracy, one that my immigrant parents left everything for to be a part of,” Rajkumar said. “Everyone should be able to run.”
In addition to setting the stage for a potential showdown with Rajkumar, Levine’s filing could put pressure on Lander to not change course and run for reelection instead of continuing his bid against Adams. In a recent interview with The News, Lander notably declined to rule out that prospect.
A Lander spokeswoman didn’t immediately return a request for comment on Levine’s filing.
Also exploring 2025 runs against Adams are former Comptroller Scott Stringer and Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie.
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