CFB Announces $1.4M in Public Funds

08/05/2021

The NYC Campaign Finance Board (CFB) approved $1,467,262 in public matching funds payments to 45 candidates this morning. With today's payments, the Board has issued more than $114 million to candidates in the 2021 elections overall. The Board has paid more than $5 million to candidates in the general election, while more than $109 million was issued to candidates for the June primary elections.

The matching funds payments are based on small contributions from New York City residents to candidates participating in the campaign finance program. The CFB's interactive contribution map helps voters see where candidates are raising money within the city, showing more than 93 percent of individual contributions raised by candidates are less than $250, and that more than 72 percent come from NYC residents.

To qualify for public funds, candidates must meet fundraising thresholds demonstrating support from within their communities. The eligibility thresholds encourage candidates to raise small contributions from voters living within the city. Today's public funds payments are based on campaign finance activity reported by the campaigns through June 11 and amendments filed by campaigns in response to the CFB's ongoing audit process.

The payments approved by the Board today are detailed in the table below and will be added to the CFB's campaign finance summary by the end of the day.

Office Candidate Payment Approved on August 5, 2021
Mayor Eric Adams $336,970
Comptroller Brad Lander $30,618
Borough President - Brooklyn Antonio Reynoso $12,371
Borough President - Queens Donovan Richards $20,140
Borough President - Staten Island Mark Murphy $31,788
Leticia Remauro $45,820
Borough President - Bronx Vanessa Gibson $12,046
Samuel Ravelo $3,610
City Council District 1 Christopher Marte $99,288
City Council District 5 Mark Foley $66,226
City Council District 11 Eric Dinowitz $2,668
City Council District 15 Oswald Feliz $836
City Council District 16 Althea Stevens $874
City Council District 19 Tony Avella $14,060
Vickie Paladino $54,393
City Council District 22 Edwin Dejesus $2,280
Felicia Kalan $13,452
City Council District 23 Linda Lee $43,124
City Council District 24 James Gennaro $665
Mujib Rahman $94,772
City Council District 25 Shekar Krishnan $33,373
City Council District 26 Marvin Jeffcoat $46,018
Julie Won $570
City Council District 28 Adrienne Adams $570
City Council District 29 Michael Conigliaro $37,287
Lynn Schulman $56,341
City Council District 31 Vanessa Simon $38,152
City Council District 32 Joann Ariola $4,826
Felicia Singh $16,720
City Council District 34 Jennifer Gutierrez $798
City Council District 35 Regina Kinsey $6,194
City Council District 39 Shahana Hanif $120,323
City Council District 41 Darlene Mealy $912
City Council District 43 Justin Brannan $121,283
Brian Fox $29,285
City Council District 45 Farah Louis $11,782
City Council District 48 Steven Saperstein $703
Inna Vernikov $13,482
City Council District 49 Kamillah Hanks $2,896
Patricia Rondinelli $20,035
City Council District 50 Sal Albanese $2,850
David Carr $2,212
George Wonica $5,187
City Council District 51 Joseph Borelli $236
Olivia Drabczyk $9,226

 

The CFB withholds five percent of the public funds payment until the final payment prior to the election.

DISCLOSURE AND PAYMENT CALENDAR

The next disclosure reports are due on August 27. The next general election payment will be issued on September 2.

HOW THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE PROGRAM WORKS

The CFB provides matching funds out of the city's General Fund to qualifying candidates at a rate of $8 for every $1 received from New York City residents, up to the first $175 for donations to City Council and Borough President candidates, and up to $250 for donations to citywide candidates, for a maximum payment-per-resident of $1,400 or $2,000, respectively.

To qualify for matching funds, candidates must demonstrate support from within their communities by meeting a two-part fundraising threshold and abide by the other requirements set in the Campaign Finance Act. For instance, to qualify for public funding in City Council races, candidates must raise at least $5,000 from city residents. Only the first $175 contributed per city resident counts towards meeting the threshold.

Additionally, City Council candidates must receive at least 75 contributions from residents of the district where they are running. Candidates also must comply with all program rules, including individual contribution limits and a prohibition on collecting contributions from corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships.

The matching rate increased to $8-to-$1 in November 2018 when it was adopted by voters along with other improvements to the matching funds program. For 2021, candidates may choose to participate in the previous program, which provides public funds at a $6-to-$1 matching rate. However, 98 percent of 2021 candidates participating in the program are choosing to abide by the new rules.

CANDIDATE SERVICES

The CFB's Candidate Services staff offers candidates extensive support by providing access to trainings, resources, and one-on-one guidance to help campaigns navigate their disclosure requirements and compliance obligations. For the 2021 elections, the agency published a detailed guidance document with the payment schedule, requirements, and applicable deadlines for candidates to follow.

FOLLOW THE MONEY

More information about the candidates' campaign finance data is available on the CFB website in the Campaign Finance Summary portal. Individual contributions, campaign spending, intermediaries, and independent expenditures are available in the CFB's Follow the Money database.