As temperatures rise with the coming of summer, so too do political tensions as primary day approaches. On June 23, voters will head to the polls and decide who will carry their party’s nominations for November’s races. Due to the high density of registered Democrats, these primary elections are usually more competitive than November’s.
The 2026 primaries are also the first major citywide elections since Mayor Zohran Mamdani took office last year. Several contests are being closely watched as tests of the balance of power between progressive Democrats aligned with Mamdani and the DSA, and more moderate Democrats aligned with the party’s establishment including Governor Kathy Hochul and City Council Speaker Julie Menin.
Below is a guide to several key races that may appear on your ballots.
New York State Comptroller
(Statewide)
The comptroller does not set policy, but rather serves as the state’s chief fiscal officer, overseeing the state pension fund and conducting audits of state agencies and local governments.
For nearly two decades, Thomas DiNapoli has held onto the office with an iron fist, not facing a single primary challenge. This year he faces two opponents: Raj Goyle, a former member of the Kansas House of Representatives and founder of Phone Free New York, and Drew Warshaw, a former Port Authority chief of staff, nonprofit executive, and assistant to former Governor Eliot Spitzer.
Both candidates have run campaigns attacking DiNapoli from his left, criticizing the comptroller for his reluctance to divest state pension funds from Israeli bonds, and claiming they would use the powers of the office to audit the New York State Public Service Commission in an attempt to lower utility rates. DiNapoli has countered that his opponents are attempting to over-politicize the office and ascribe to it powers which it does not in have.
With the backing of the state Democratic Party as well as strong support from many of the state’s largest labor unions, DiNapoli remains the favorite to once again secure the nomination.
New York’s 10th Congressional District (Lower Manhattan & Western Brooklyn)
Incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman finds himself in a competitive primary as he faces a challenge from Brooklyn politician Brad Lander.
Lander came in a weak third in last year’s Democratic primary for mayor after announcing a co-endorsement with Mamdani in order to prevent Andrew Cuomo from winning.
After Mamdani secured the nomination, most Democrats got behind him as the nominee and gave him their endorsements for November. Goldman was one of the few holdouts.
That decision looms large over the primary for NY-10, a district that swung-heavily toward Mamdani last year.
Lander, now with Mamdani’s endorsement, has held a polling advantage throughout, with a recent Emerson/PIX11 giving him a huge lead.
The outcome could provide an early indication of the strength of the DSA following Mamdani’s election.
New York State Senatorial District 27 (Greenwich Village, East Village, SoHo, Tribeca, Little Italy, Chinatown, Financial District)
A rematch between two old rivals will decide the next state senator for New York’s 27th as former assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou, faces off against the current representative of the 65th AD, Grace Lee.
The pair previously clashed in 2020 when Lee challenged Niou, then the sitting assembly member, in that year’s Democratic primary. She would go on to lose to Niou by just under 30 points. In 2022, Niou left the Assembly to unsuccessfully run for the 10th congressional district, which left the door open for Lee to win the state assembly seat on her second attempt.
The two now face off to replace two-term incumbent Senator Brian Kavanagh, who announced in February that he would not be seeking reelection. The Working Families Party, which had previously endorsed both women at separate times, chose to endorse Niou in this election. Niou has also received endorsements from Lander, US Senator Bernie Sanders, and City Councilmember Alexa Avilés. Lee, meanwhile, received the endorsement of Kavanagh, Attorney General Letitia James, and Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal.
New York State Assembly District 66 (Greenwich Village, Tribeca, SoHo, NoHo, Battery Park City)
Six candidates are vying to replace Deborah Glick, the 35 year incumbent who is not running for reelection.
District 66 leader and former chair of CB 2 Jeannine Kiely was hand-picked by Glick to be her successor. She has also received endorsements from Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Congressman Jerry Nadler. However, she won’t simply jog her way to the finish line.
Ryder Kessler is the co-executive director of Abundance New York and a member of CB 2. He challenged Glick in 2022, but lost by a nearly 40-point margin. He received the WFP endorsement this year.
David Siffert is a civil rights lawyer and NYU professor. In the past, they have served as the Treasurer and President of Village Independent Democrats as well as a judicial delegate, and a member of the Manhattan Democratic County Committee. They have received endorsements from Sunrise Movement, State Senator Jabari Brisport, and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher.
Other challengers include former digital director for Barack Obama Ben Yee, small business owner Corinne Arnold, and firefighter Furhan Ahmad.
New York City Council District 3
After winning a special election in April to replace Erik Bottcher, Carl Wilson once again finds his name on the ballot. However this time the challenge is more superficial than anything. Due to a quirk in NYC election law, Wilson’s challengers in the April special election (Lindsey Boylan, Layla Law-Gisiko, and Leslie Boghosian Murphy) will all also appear on the ballot.
However, none of these three are contesting the race, giving Wilson an open lane to victory
The early voting period for this month’s election begins on Saturday June 13 and ends on Sunday, June 21.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on election day, Tuesday June 23.
You can find your nearest polling site at https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/.
