State Assemblywoman Jennifer Rajkumar, a close aide to Mayor Eric Adams, formally announced her not-so-secret bid for auditor on Monday.
The Queens Democrat has previously acknowledged she is considering running for a city council seat, and revealed the news in a short video she posted online to coincide with the launch of her campaign website.
“I’m here to serve New Yorkers who can work 25 hours a day, eight days a week and still not get life-saving health care or a quality education,” Rajkumar said in a campaign video.
“Government inefficiency costs lives”
Incumbent Auditor Brad Lander, who has used his position as a thorn in the side of the mayor, recently announced he will challenge Adams in next year’s Democratic mayoral primary.
Rajkumar is likely to face off against Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, who switched to a job on the New York City Campaign Finance Commission last week and has expressed interest in the comptroller post.
“There’s been no big, formal announcement yet,” he told The Washington Post after the filing.
Levine said if he were to formally appoint a comptroller, he would let his own record as borough president speak for itself, rather than criticizing potential opponents.
“I expect there will be many candidates in this election. I’m proud of my record – I’ve helped the city get through COVID, I’ve passed legislation on behalf of tenants facing eviction, I’ve made really bold statements on affordable housing, and now as Borough President, I will continue to provide leadership for New Yorkers,” he said.
Asked whether he would adopt a similar strategy to Rajkumar, who has always had a strong presence outside his constituency in announcing his mayoral campaign, Levin said he would only attend press conferences “that I believe in.”
“I won’t attend any press conferences that I don’t believe in and don’t feel passionate about,” he said.
But he stressed that Rajkumar was a “friend” and that she was “doing a fantastic job.”
Rajkumar has been hinting at a run for auditor for months, raising questions in political circles about how he plans to leverage the position – usually seen as a foil to the mayor – given his “close friendship” with the mayor.
Rajkumar told The Washington Post that he speaks to Adams at least twice a day, and some have suggested that the relationship could be an advantage in the campaign.
“The people of New York don’t want to see their leaders bickering and fighting,” she said in an exclusive interview last month after opening a campaign fund account to run for fiscal watchdog.
City Council Finance Chairman Justin Brannan is also rumored to be interested in the post, according to sources close to Brooklyn politics.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso was also rumored to be interested in the role, but told Pix11 he would stay on in his position.
“I’m not going to play musical chairs anymore. I was considering it, but I’m sticking with the status quo,” he said, announcing his intention to seek re-election as ward president.
Meanwhile, as Levine considers the comptroller post, Manhattan Borough Councilman Keith Powers announced his intention to run for borough president over the weekend.
