The 2021 New York City borough president elections were held on November 2, 2021. Four of the five incumbent borough presidents were unable to run for reelection due to term limits. Only the Queens borough president was eligible to seek re-election after winning a special election in 2020 (and won re-election).
Overview † - Incumbent term-limited Borough Incumbent president Party Elected president Party Brooklyn Eric Adams† Dem Antonio Reynoso Dem Manhattan Gale Brewer† Dem Mark Levine Dem Queens Donovan Richards Dem Donovan Richards Dem Staten Island James Oddo† Rep Vito Fossella Rep The Bronx Rubén Díaz Jr.† Dem Vanessa Gibson Dem
BoroughDemocraticRepublicanOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Manhattan 223,248 84.98% 34,163 13.00% 5,309 2.02% 262,720 100.0% Democratic hold Brooklyn 235,118 72.84% 74,068 22.94% 13,617 4.22% 322,803 100.0% Democratic hold Queens 181,947 66.86% 89,645 32.94% 538 0.20% 272,130 100.0% Democratic hold The Bronx 94,886 79.93% 15,920 13.41% 7,905 6.66% 118,711 100.0% Democratic hold Staten Island 34,022 32.27% 63,331 60.07% 8,071 7.66% 105,424 100.0% Republican holdTotal 769,221 71.11% 277,127 25.62% 35,440 3.28% 1,081,788 100.0% 2020 Queens special election
Incumbent Democrat Melinda Katz resigned to take office as Queens County District Attorney in 2020 and acting borough president Sharon Lee did not run for her term.
Democratic primary Nominee Donovan Richards, member of the New York City Council from the 31st district (2013-2020) Eliminated in primary Costa Constantinides, member of the New York City Council from the 22nd district (2014-2021) Elizabeth Crowley, member of the New York City Council from the 30th district (2009-2017) Anthony Miranda, former New York City Police Department sergeant Dao Yin, businessman
Results
Republican primary Nominee Joann Ariola, chair of the Queens Republican Party
Results
Manhattan
Incumbent Democrat Gale Brewer was term-limited and could not run for a third consecutive term.
Democratic primary Declared Lindsey Boylan, former deputy secretary for economic development and special advisor to the governor, candidate for New York's 10th congressional district in 2020 Elizabeth R. Caputo, former chair of Manhattan's Community Board 7 Brad Hoylman, state senator for the 27th district Ben Kallos, councilmember Mark Levine, councilmember Guillermo Perez, candidate for New York State Assembly District 71 in 2018 Kimberly R. Watkins, president of Community Education Council
Declined Ydanis Rodriguez, councilmember
Withdrew Thomas Lopez-Pierre, candidate for New York City Council District 7 in 2017
Endorsements
Polling First-past-the-post polls Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorscope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" UndecidedData for Progress (D)Data for Progress (D)Jun 18–20, 2021451 (LV)± 5.0%7%6%22%14%26%2%22%
Results
Republican primary Declared Lou Puliafito, Republican candidate for New York's 76th State Assembly district in 2020 and Reform candidate in 2018
Endorsements
Libertarian Party Declared Michael Lewyn, law professor at Touro Law Centerlewynformanhattan.com
General election Results
Brooklyn
Incumbent Democrat Eric Adams was term-limited and barred from running for a third consecutive term. Instead of retiring, Adams successfully ran for mayor.
Democratic primary Twelve candidates made it onto the ballot in the Democratic primary, three of whom were regarded as the frontrunners: City Councilmembers Robert Cornegy and Antonio Reynoso, and State Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon.
Declared Robert Cornegy, New York City Councilor for the 36th district Kimberly Council, non-profit executive Khari Edwards, activist Robert Elstein, artist and teacher Mathieu Eugene, New York City Councilor for the 40th district Pearlene Fields, member of Brooklyn Community Board 17 Anthony Jones, District Leader for the 55th State Assembly District Shanduke McPhatter, activist Trisha Ocona, businesswoman Robert Ramos Jr., labor unionist Antonio Reynoso, New York City Councilor for the 34th district Jo Anne Simon, state assemblymember for the 52nd district Lamor Whitehead-Miller, pastor
Withdrew Rafael Espinal, councilmember Emmanuel Whitmore
Declined Chirlane McCray, First Lady of New York City
Endorsements
Polling Ranked-choice polls Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RCVcountscope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" Others UndecidedBenenson Strategy Group (D)Benenson Strategy Group (D)Apr 16–21, 2021514 (LV)± 4.3%10%7%7%6%10%8%2%50%120%15%14%13%20%17%–223%17%18%–22%19%327%–22%–29%22%433%–––41%27%545%–––55%–
First-past-the-post polls Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorscope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" Others UndecidedBenenson Strategy Group (D)Apr 16–21, 2021514 (LV)± 4.3%10%7%7%6%10%8%2%50%
Results
General election Results
Queens
Incumbent Democrat Donovan Richards assumed office in December 2020 after winning the November special election, and ran for a full term. He succeeded Sharon Lee, who became acting borough president after Melinda Katz resigned to take office as Queens County District Attorney.
Democratic primary
Declared Elizabeth Crowley, former councilmember, candidate for Queens borough president in 2020 Donovan Richards, incumbent borough president Jimmy Van Bramer, councilmember
Withdrew Alicia Hyndman, New York State Assemblymember for the 29th district
Endorsements
Polling Ranked-choice polls Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RCVcountscope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" Others UndecidedBenenson Strategy Group (D)Apr 16–21, 2021358 (LV)± 5.2%20%2%28%6%9%2%33%131%3%43%9%14%–233%–43%10%14%336%–46%–18%444%–56%––
First-past-the-post polls Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorscope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" Others UndecidedBenenson Strategy Group (D)Apr 16–21, 2021358 (LV)± 5.2%20%2%28%6%9%2%33%
Results
Republican primary
Declared Danniel Maio, local activist and 2016 candidate for the New York's 6th congressional district Thomas Zmich, 2020 candidate for New York's 6th congressional district, retired union leader and organizer
Endorsements
Results
The Bronx
Incumbent Democrat Rubén Díaz Jr. was term-limited and could not run for a fourth consecutive term.
Democratic primary Declared Fernando Cabrera, councilmember Nathalia Fernandez, assemblymember for the 80th district Vanessa Gibson, councilmember Victor H. Gutierrez Luis R. Sepúlveda, state senator for the 32nd district Bryan Hodge Vasquez
Withdrew Rafael Salamanca, councilmember
Endorsements
Polling Ranked-choice polls Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RCVcountscope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" Others UndecidedBenenson Strategy Group (D)Apr 16–21, 2021249 (LV)± 6.2%10%12%25%4%9%5%34%117%19%42%7%16%–219%23%42%–16%325%29%45%––4–42%58%––
First-past-the-post polls Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorscope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" Others UndecidedBenenson Strategy Group (D)Apr 16–21, 2021249 (LV)± 6.2%10%12%25%4%9%5%34%
Results
Official results for each round are as follows: 2021 Bronx borough president Democratic primary election Candidate Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Votes % Votes % Votes %
40,097 39.5% 40,148 39.7% 49,401 53.5%
34,022 33.5% 34,130 33.7% 42,957 46.5%
14,397 14.2% 14,501 14.3% colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"
10,047 10.3% 10,444 10.3% colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"
1,958 1.9% 1,971 1.9% colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" Write-ins 582 0.6% colspan=4 style="text-align:center;" Inactive ballots 0 ballots 226 ballots 8,178 ballots
Results
Staten Island
Incumbent Republican James Oddo was term-limited and could not run for a third consecutive term.
Republican primary
Declared Vito Fossella, former U.S. representative Jhong Kim, businessman Steven Matteo, councilmember Leticia Remauro, businesswoman
Endorsements
Results
Democratic primary
Declared
Lorraine Honor, activist and businesswoman Radhakrishna Mohan, labor unionist Mark Murphy, businessman and nominee for New York's 11th congressional district in 2012 Brandon Stradford, community advocate Cesar Vargas, attorney and reservist
Endorsements
Results
General election Results
See also 2021 New York City mayoral election 2021 New York City Comptroller election 2021 New York City Council election
Notes
Partisan clients
References