Jessica Ramos, Michael Blake don't make cut for 2nd NYC mayoral debate in sign of thinning field
NEW YORK — Back-of-the-pack New York City mayoral candidates Jessica Ramos and Michael Blake won't participate in the second Democratic primary debate next month as they haven't met the fundraising thresholds to qualify for it.
The city's Campaign Finance Board, which organizes the mayoral primary debates, announced Thursday that Ramos and Blake had not made the cut for the showdown scheduled for June 12.
Ramos, a state senator representing Queens, and Blake, a former Bronx state Assembly member, will participate in this Wednesday's first mayoral primary debate, though. The CFB set lower fundraising thresholds to qualify for that debate.
Still, the exclusion from the second debate of Ramos and Blake, who haven't mustered more than 1% support in most mayoral race polls, indicates the crowded primary field could soon start thinning out.
A campaign rep for Blake declined to comment Thursday. Ramos' campaign didn't immediately return a request for comment.
The Democratic mayoral primary is set for June 24, and the debates will provide voters with an important window into the candidates' messages as the campaign enters the final, hectic few weeks.
The candidates who have qualified for the second debate are Andrew Cuomo, Zohran Mamdani, Brad Lander, Adrienne Adams, Scott Stringer, Zellnor Myrie and Whitney Tilson. All of them are also expected to participate in the first debate next week.
Lots of attention at the first debate will focus on Cuomo, who's polling as the favorite to win the mayoral primary.
Typically in New York City, the winner of the Democratic primary tends to be a shoo-in to become mayor.
This year, that tradition is being put to the test, though, as Mayor Eric Adams has dropped out of the Democratic primary to instead run as an independent in November's general election. He made that switch last month as he was facing intense political fallout from the Trump administration's controversial dismissal of his federal corruption indictment.
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