Campaigns & Elections

You know the presidential candidates. What about the mayoral?

Each of the 2021 candidates has a presidential equivalent.

Senator Bernie Sanders and Mayor Bill de Blasio during the de Blasio campaign in 2017.

Senator Bernie Sanders and Mayor Bill de Blasio during the de Blasio campaign in 2017. AP/Shutterstock

By Jeff Coltin

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We’re six debates deep in the Democratic presidential primary, so you probably know the cast of characters pretty well by now. But we municipal maniacs here at City & State are already focused on the 2021 New York City mayoral race, and we want our readers to know those Democratic contenders just as well.

So here’s a quick rundown of the top mayoral contenders – and their presidential primary equivalents.

Corey Johnson is Pete Buttigieg

New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.
Amy Lombard

They’re both gay millennials leading a city, but left-leaning Democrats are skeptical of their progressive credentials.

Scott Stringer is Bernie Sanders

New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer.
Office of the New York City Comptroller

They may be old, white, Jewish, left-leaning New Yorkers, but they’re also the darlings of a young, female, multi-racial “squad.”

Eric Adams is Cory Booker

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
a katz/Shutterstock

These bald-headed health nuts are proud of putting down roots in tough neighborhoods, and love charter schools almost as much as they love riding bikes.

Ruben Diaz Jr. is Joe Biden

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As Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s favorite in the race, these two guys love touting their middle-class roots, and get a lot of mileage from their cool personas and aviator sunglasses.

Loree Sutton is Tulsi Gabbard

Retired Army general and former head of the city veterans' affairs department, Loree Sutton.
a katz/Shutterstock

They’re charming military veterans with questionable allegiance to the Democratic Party.

Dianne Morales is Julián Castro

2021 Mayoral hopeful Dianne Morales.
Kris Graves

Impressive credentials and a Harvard degree may not be enough to make a blip in the polls.

Christine Quinn is Hillary Clinton

Former Speaker of the New York City Council, Christine Quinn.
lev radin/Shutterstock

They aren’t running. But that isn’t stopping moderate Democrats from looking to them as saviors.

Bill de Blasio is Michael Bloomberg

Mayor Bill de Blasio.
a katz/Shutterstock

It’s technically possible that de Blasio will bribe the City Council into giving him a third term. It’s happened before!

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