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Politico
6 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
Challenging Eric Adams offers a test for New York City comptroller candidates
NEW YORK — The two major candidates for New York City comptroller eagerly take aim at President Donald Trump on the campaign trail — but only one of them has called on the city's Trump-friendly mayor to resign. The race for the fiscal watchdog job has served as the underwhelming undercard to the crowded and chaotic mayor's race. And as they run for the job of being a check on the city's next mayor, the two leading candidates are battling over whether each has done enough to stand up to the current one. 'If you're not willing to stand up to Eric Adams, how the hell can voters expect you to stand up to Donald Trump?' City council member Justin Brannan said. As the City Council's Finance Chair, Brannan finds himself in a natural perch to criticize Adams — unlike his opponent Mark Levine, who as Manhattan Borough President enjoys a largely ceremonial role. The brash, in-your-face Brannan is claiming his quieter, more cerebral opponent isn't a loud enough critic of the mayor. One of his main proof points: Levine never called for Adams to resign. Now Brannan is hoping to make the differing approaches to the city's MAGA-minded mayor an issue in the race. 'He's the only one in the race that took on Adams' (budget) cuts,' a local deli worker says in one of Brannan's ads — which feature loud balloon pops, clown horns, knife sharpening sounds and an angry Brannan yelling 'Hell no!' By contrast, an early May ad from Levine features upbeat music, pie charts and focuses on his ability to communicate in five languages. After the DOJ moved to drop federal corruption charges against Adams, Brannan joined fellow Democrats in calling for Adams to resign. Levine largely stayed mum. But Levine scoffed at the notion he is unwilling to criticize Adams, and said he's deeply concerned about the possibility the mayor is beholden to the federal government following the Department of Justice's intervention in Adams' now-defunct criminal case. 'The truth is he's not going to resign; he's made that clear,' Levine said in a recent interview. 'He's either going to be removed by the courts or the voters. … I've been pretty unsparing in calling out what is an administration riddled with corruption.' Brannan's focus on standing up to the mayor marks a shift from 2021, when he supported Adams in his path to winning the election. Adams fared well in the Coney Island section of Brannan's purple district, and the two shared in common the endorsement of police unions. This year, Brannan has considerations beyond his district: In running for comptroller, he's secured the backing of the anti-police union — and decidedly anti-Adams — Working Families Party. 'The record is clear: when the mayor tried to slash crucial funding to our city's libraries, pre-K, and housing, the Manhattan Borough President was completely silent,' Brannan's spokesperson, Alyssa Cass, said in a statement. Levine's campaign responded with a four-page dossier that described Cass' statement as 'incredibly false' and cited the borough president's 2024 and 2025 city charter-mandated responses to the mayor's budget, which push back on a host of Adams' proposals. 'There have been myriad failings that I would call out as comptroller,' Levine said. 'I talk about them regularly in the campaign, and they impact the priorities I care about.' He mentioned the need to speed up the approval process for affordable housing, expand the 'broken system' for identifying children with learning disabilities and audit the system that public housing tenants use to request apartment repairs. While the two candidates are fighting over who has stood up to Eric Adams, neither is willing to say much about Democratic front-runner Andrew Cuomo, who has a history of structurally weakening the positions of his opponents. While it is politically easy to criticize Adams — whose popularity in the deep-blue city has nosedived — standing up to Cuomo is a tougher task. Unlike Adams, who faced calls for his post-indictment resignation from Democrats around the state, Cuomo has garnered support from power brokers within the party — even many those who had called for his ouster four years ago. He also spent his time as governor removing checks on his power. During his first year as governor, Cuomo greatly limited State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's powers by stripping him of his power to review certain state contracts before they are signed. His administration reportedly ridiculed him in the process — even referring to DiNapoli as 'chipmunk balls' for his ineffectual use of the post. In 2019, after state lawmakers thwarted Amazon's plans to open a second company headquarters in the city, the former governor greatly diminished the powers of a state board that oversees deals involving state public financing. While Brannan and Levine both said necessary rebukes of the president and mayor are central to the comptroller's role, each demurred when asked about standing up to a would-be Mayor Cuomo. 'I will stand up to any future mayor just as I've stood up to the current one,' Brannan said. 'Judge me by what I've done in my role for the past almost four years, where I've not been silent, I've been fearless,' Brannan added, citing his work to restore short-lived budget cuts to city services put in place by Adams last year. Levine provided a similar reply: 'I'm ready for whoever the next mayor will be, ready to use the considerable powers of the office which are established in the charter that no mayor can overturn … I'm being very careful not to make an endorsement in the mayor's race because I do want to be totally independent from whoever's elected.'
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Is Kari Lake returning to Iowa to run for political office? What she said:
Republican Arizona political figure Kari Lake isn't planning a return to Iowa to run for Gov. Kim Reynolds' open seat — or any other political office, her spokesperson said. Reynolds' unexpected April 11 announcement that she isn't seeking reelection in 2026 fueled speculation on whether Lake, who grew up in Iowa, was considering a bid for office in the state. Lake, a former television news anchor, grew up in Donahue, Iowa, and graduated from the University of Iowa. Lake's spokesperson Alex Nicoll wrote in an April 16 statement that she plans to stay focused on her work for President Donald Trump's administration. "Kari Lake is not running for office. She is in DC working with the President Trump and the DOGE team helping to root-out waste, fraud and abuse at the United States Agency for Global Media," Nicoll wrote. "For too long, the hard-working taxpayers of America have been screwed by the self-serving bureaucrats in Washington DC. Kari is honored to be helping President Trump make America Great Again for the good people of Iowa, Arizona and every other state." Trump tapped Lake to lead the government-funded Voice of America news agency after she lost two consecutive statewide elections in Arizona. She first ran for Arizona governor in 2022 and then for U.S. Senate in 2024 against Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. But Lake's position with the U.S. Agency for Global Media is reportedly shifting to a new role in the Trump administration with the State Department after helping carry out an executive order the president signed in March to dismantle Voice of America. More: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds isn't seeking reelection. Who might run to replace her? The 2026 Iowa governor's race isn't the first time Lake's name has come up as a potential candidate for an Iowa election. Speculation swirled in December among Iowa's MAGA-minded Republicans who suggested on social media she would be a strong potential primary challenger to Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. Ernst, who is up for reelection in 2026, faced backlash from Trump supporters after she hesitated to endorse the nomination of then-Department of Defense candidate Pete Hegseth. She ended speculation by publicly declaring her vote for Hegseth. The rush to name Lake as a primary candidate against Ernst also coincided with a "Welcome Home Kari Lake" event in Des Moines that Lake was set to appear at before it was postponed. Lake has met with Iowans in recent years at previous public appearances in the state, including stops in Ankeny, Bettendorf and Iowa City. Since Reynolds' announcement less than a week ago, several Iowa Republicans have hinted or stated they are considering running for her seat. The 2026 governor's election marks the first time an incumbent won't be on the ballot in Iowa since 2006. Republican Brad Sherman, a Williamsburg pastor and former state representative, announced in February he would run for governor in 2026, regardless of what Reynolds chose to do. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird issued a statement congratulating Reynolds after her announcement and hinted that she would be considering a run herself. "In the weeks ahead, Bob and I will pray and consider what this decision means for our future," she said in a statement. "I appreciate the calls of encouragement I've already received. I am committed to continuing my work on behalf of Iowans and to support President Trump as he works to Make America Great Again." House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford; Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton; and Sen. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny, have also said they aren't ruling out a gubernatorial bid. Another interested candidate, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, said he and his family are "thoughtfully discussing" the possibility of running for governor and "keeping all options on the table." Sabine Martin covers politics for the Register. She can be reached by email at or by phone at (515) 284-8132. Follow her on X at @sabinefmartin. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Kari Lake confirms she won't run for Iowa governor, or any office
USA Today
27-01-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Donald Trump supporter Kari Lake postpones Iowa homecoming for MAGA event
Donald Trump supporter Kari Lake postpones Iowa homecoming for MAGA event Show Caption Hide Caption Kari Lake campaigns with JD Vance in Arizona Kari Lake stumped with Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance at Arizona Christian University on July 31, 2024. Arizona political figure Kari Lake's return to Iowa this week for a MAGA event has been postponed. The "Welcome Home Kari Lake" event was originally scheduled for Jan. 30 at the West Des Moines Marriott. Event organizer and Clive resident BJ James McLaughlin said a new date in the spring "is being considered." "As is often the case political figures manage a dynamic schedule. Kari's schedule change will make her unavailable to visit her home state, Iowa on Jan. 30," James McLaughlin said. Lake's homecoming to the state initially came as Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, faced intense backlash from President Donald Trump supporters over her hesitation to back the now recently confirmed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Ernst ended speculation by publicly declaring her vote for Hegseth. Speculation swirled among MAGA-minded Republicans in Iowa who suggested on social media that Lake would be a strong potential primary challenger to Ernst. Lake grew up in Donahue, Iowa, and graduated from the University of Iowa. More: Iowa's US Sen. Joni Ernst will vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense Lake's spokesperson Alex Nicoll told The Arizona Republic after news of the event that she's not planning to be a political candidate. "Kari Lake is not running for office in Arizona or anywhere else. She's going to D.C. to lead the Voice of America and help spread the amazing story of America around the world," Nicoll told the Republic in a written statement. Trump recently tapped Lake to lead the government-funded Voice of America news agency after she lost two consecutive statewide elections in Arizona. She first ran for Arizona governor in 2022 and then for U.S. Senate in 2024 against Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. More: Kari Lake returns to Iowa for MAGA event as questions swirl about her political prospects James McLaughlin said ticket sales for the event, which cost $80 for general admission and $150 for VIP tickets, were planned to benefit the political organization MAGANation Network. Lake has made previous public appearances in Iowa, including stops in Ankeny, Bettendorf and Iowa City. Sabine Martin covers politics for the Register. She can be reached by email at or by phone at (515) 284-8132. Follow her on X at @sabinefmartin. Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at bpfann@ or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR.
