Crunching The Numbers: Who's Making Bank In The Comptroller's Race?

David Cruz

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Jacob Dobkin

Published Jan 29, 2021

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Close up of four privacy screens at a Crown Heights polling site. At a Crown Heights polling site on November 3, 2020

Scott Heins / Gothamist

David Cruz

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Jacob Dobkin

Published Jan 29, 2021

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The race for NYC's next comptroller — the city's official money manager and auditor — is underway, and early campaigning has helped city councilmember Brad Lander out-raise his rivals so far, giving him an edge toward succeeding outgoing comptroller Scott Stringer (who is now running for Mayor).

The city's Campaign Finance Board's website shows the legislator for Brooklyn's 39th Council District as having raised more than $3 million, an amount that grew exponentially thanks to the city's 8-to-1 matching program. Technically, Lander—who announced a run for comptroller in 2019—has raised $779,853 in campaign contributions in which $442,752 qualified him for the taxpayer-funded program's match. Lander boasts his funds were not obtained from the real estate industry.

While Lander remains the top fundraiser, Harlem state senator Brian Benjamin comes in at a distant second in fundraising, having raised $1.6 million thanks to the CFB program, which matched $202,154 of the $703,696 he's cobbled.

Benjamin's status could be compromised by Queens assemblymember David Weprin, who announced a run for office in December. Figures show he's raised $454,937 with $209,159 of those monies qualifying to be matched. That payment won't be transferred to Weprin's account until next month.

Throwing a wrench into the race is entrepreneur Zachary Iscol, who announced a run for Comptroller immediately after dropping out of the mayor's race on Tuesday. Campaign records show Iscol transferred $746,190 in campaign contributions he raised for the mayoral race. Of that total haul, $229,733 of it qualifies to be matched. Like Weprin, the 8-to-1 matching figure won't reflect in Iscol's account until next month.

Below, a graph breaks down how the rest of the candidates are faring so far:

Unlike in the mayor's race, where the Upper West Side and Upper East Side served as the epicenter of the candidate's coffers, the source of a candidate’s funds for this race is widespread. ZIP code data shows Benjamin picking up the most donations from across the city. The concentration of Lander’s donations is in west Brooklyn, specifically in his Council district, as the map below shows:

With the 8-to-1 matching program, here's a graph showing exactly how much each of the candidates currently have in the campaign kitty when applying the program to their privately raised funds:

When it comes to who's donating, it appears those employed in the legal world have been very generous to Benjamin and Weprin's coffers, racking a total of $61,358 and $48,133 apiece from people who've identified as attorneys. Just what kind of law these donors are practicing remains unclear.

Those with the title of CEO have been friendly to Iscol, having collected $36,961, the most than any other candidate.

The interactive graph below helps you track just where the candidates are getting their money by profession:

Large donations have helped candidates like chief legal and chief compliance officer Terri Liftin, who, while raising the least amount of money, has secured the highest percentage of large contributions. Even so, Liftin has raised $25,575.

But with small donors and the matching funds program, Lander comes out on top, with 19% of his donors contributing anywhere between $1 to $100. Under the program, funds between $1 to $250 count towards the program so long as the candidate secures 75 donors from New York City registered voters and not political action committees. Rosenthal trails behind Lander, with 13% of her donors also contributing between $1 and $100.

Below is another interactive graph breaking down the size for each candidate.

Finally, the graph below shows how much money New York City residents have pumped into the race, which can be interpreted as a sign of an individual candidate's support from New Yorkers and potential voters. As the graph shows, Weprin, Lander, and Brooklyn state senator Kevin Parker have plenty of money coming from bonafide New Yorkers (at least those with New York addresses). Iscol and Liftin are largely benefitting from those unable to cast a vote in the race:

The primary for Comptroller is scheduled for June 22nd, 2021.

Tagged

comptroller

election 2021