Live updates from Somos 2025

Every year, win or lose, high or low, the Democratic political class returns to San Juan for the Somos conference. We’re reporting live from all the receptions, pool parties and late night chats.

Thursday

7:30 p.m. – Back in New York, the race for governor is about to pop off. Both Politico New York and The New York Times reported that Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik will announce her challenge to Gov. Kathy Hochul tomorrow, while the Democratic incumbent will still be in Puerto Rico. A source familiar with the plans confirmed to City & State that Stefanik indeed plans to launch her statewide campaign tomorrow. 

The news comes as a surprise to absolutely no one. Stefanik has broadcasted her intentions for months and is already acting as if she’s on the campaign trail with constant attacks on Hochul, whom she’s dubbed “the worst governor in America.” But she hasn’t made her gubernatorial campaign official yet. The launch tomorrow will make Stefanik the first Republican to announce in the race.

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani was unimpressed by news of her launch. “I think Elise Stefanik typifies the exact kind of politics that has created so much despair across the city, across the state and across the country,” he told reporters shortly after arriving at El Caribe. 

It didn’t take long for other Democrats to take aim at Stefanik over the reports of her launch. “Elise Stefanik is a rubber stamp in Washington for Trump’s deeply unpopular agenda that is raising costs, gutting health care, and defunding New York schools, hospitals, and police,” said state Democratic Party spokesperson Addison Dick. “Voters in New York and across the country rejected Trump and his enablers earlier this week, and Stefanik will face the same fate when she launches her campaign to put Trump ahead of New Yorkers.” A spokesperson for Hochul’s campaign declined to comment. – Rebecca C. Lewis and Sahalie Donaldson

7 p.m. – Assembly Member Charles Fall, the new chair of the Staten Island Democratic Party, is looking forward to standing up for the “forgotten borough.” Even as Democratic officials celebrate Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s win in New York City, he is aware that Staten Island has no appetite for socialist politics. 

“Absolutely not, absolutely not,” Fall said. “DSA cannot win a Staten Island seat now.”

But his new role, he feels, could lead to a greater voice for Staten Island, as well as the parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn he represents in the Assembly. Former party chair Laura LoBianco Sword may have ruffled feathers with her support of Mamdani, but her ouster hasn’t distracted from the issues the borough faces, even if former Gov. Andrew Cuomo performed well on the island. 

“How do you have over 70 agencies? Every single agency has some sort of office or operation in any other borough, but you don't have a main headquarters on Staten Island? That's a problem, right? So anybody from Staten Island needs service,” he told City & State. – Austin C. Jefferson

6:50 p.m. – A cool night had descended on Somos. Ocean waves crashed against weathered stone. A copse of palm trees bent in the wind, their fronds rustling. Bodies were packed together tightly, pressed up against the small stage. This was the scene as Attorney General Letitia James broke out in song during her packed joint event with District Council 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido, Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City’s next mayor. 

“Mammmmdannniii,  whoa-oh-oh-oh,” she crooned to the tune of the Italian song Volare, swaying back and forth on stage, mic in hand. “Come on, sing it with me, Mammmmdannniii.”

Attorney General Letitia James is serenading the crowd with a song of her own making: “Mamdannnnnni, Mamdannnnni,” she sings, as the mayor-elect looks on. pic.twitter.com/K06Y0qWaCs

— Sahalie Donaldson (@SahalieD) November 6, 2025

Garrido acted as the event’s emcee. “I created controversy today because I declared myself the Dominican Zohran Mamdani,” he joked. “Somebody asked me what does that mean? I said I can dance and I can talk about politics at the same time.”

The crowd roared as Mamdani himself took the stage. On brand, he stayed on message, centering almost the entirety of his remarks on his goal to make New York City more affordable. In closing, he referenced that most sacred of New York City’s treasures: the dollar slice – a dying breed these days.

“One of my favorite memories is a $1 slice. Go to Two Brothers, you get two slices and a coke, $2.75,” Mamdani said, reflecting on growing up in New York City. “Now … you will find pizza places that say $1 pizza and the closer you get, you see in the window $1.50. That’s been our politics for far too long. It’s time to deliver on that which we promise.” – Sahalie Donaldson

6:30 p.m. – Looking to avoid the swarm of press awaiting his arrival at the main entrance to the El Caribe Hilton, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani came in a side door and took a few questions alongside state Attorney General Letitia James, Rep. Nydia Velazquez and Assembly Member Karines Reyes. 

Asked about the new advocacy group, Our Time for an Affordable NYC, which was launched by some of his allies today, Mamdani pointed out that it is an entity separate from his campaign and transition team. Still, he said that he will “always celebrate anyone who is looking to build on the incredible grassroots enthusiasm” of his campaign. (He also encouraged supporters to join the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, his political home.) Hoping to re-engage the army of people that flocked to Mamdani’s campaign during the primary and general elections, Our Time’s goal is to buy the database of over 100,000 volunteers who worked on Mamdani’s campaign, according to The New York Times. 

As for whether Mamdani plans to get involved in the City Council speaker race? He’s not saying – at least for now. “I’m looking forward to working with the council and the speaker to fulfill the agenda that we ran.” – Sahalie Donaldson

6:15 p.m. – Gov. Kathy Hochul called the victory of Zohran Mamdani in the race for New York City mayor “another rejection of Trump policies and a rejection of candidates perceived as too close to Donald Trump,” a dig at her former boss Andrew Cuomo. The governor has proven to have a relatively good working relationship with the president – certainly better than the average Democratic governor. But Hochul said that since the election, she has not had a chance to speak with Trump, who promised to punish New York City and send in the National Guard if Mamdani won.

“I anticipate that I will (speak with Trump) at some point,” Hochul told reporters. “But my message is the same as it's always been: If we need your help with the National Guard, I'll give you a call.” She also dismissed the idea that the city would devolve into chaos under Mamdani. “I won’t let that happen, but I don’t think that’s even in the cards,” Hochul said. “I don't think that's going to happen; I think that's all just this hysteria.”

True to moderate form though, Hochul made clear that she didn’t believe that democratic socialism will entirely take over the Democratic party. “I think that’s a very important dynamic of our party, to keep embracing more people,” she said of the flood of new voters inspired to vote for Mamdani’s socialist message. “It doesn't mean that there's only one philosophy that governs … or defines our party, as we saw very moderate people get elected in other parts of our state.”

Conference-goers who swarmed a reception to catch a glimpse of the mayor-elect had a different message for Hochul. She was once again met with chants of “tax the rich” – a key populist, left-wing refrain from Mamdani’s campaign that she has long opposed. “I hear you, but I’m the type of person where the more you push me, the more I’m not going to do what you want,” Hochul warned the crowd. – Rebecca C. Lewis

6 p.m. – Bronx Democratic Party Chair Jamaal Bailey is in a celebratory mood after the lone City Council Republican representing the borough, Kristy Marmorato, lost her seat to Democrat Shirley Aldebol on election night. 

“The Bronx is whole,” he said. — Austin C. Jefferson

5 p.m. – Everyone is moving their schedule around to make sure they can be seen with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at Somos – even Gov. Kathy Hochul. – Rebecca C. Lewis

Gov. Hochul originally had an event scheduled for 6 pm, but at the last minute moved that up to 5:20 in order to appear with Zohran Mamdani at El Caribe. He's scheduled to arrive at a reception co-hosted with AG Letitia James and DC37 at 6:15

— Rebecca C. Lewis (@_rebeccaclewis) November 6, 2025

4 p.m. – As Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani moves quickly to staff up his new administration, some of those still working for Eric Adams are hoping to continue in the positions they were appointed to.

New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda, the highest-ranking Latino in New York City law enforcement, made a name for himself (and elevated the profile of his oftentimes overlooked office) busting illegal cannabis shops.

Miranda – who arrived at Somos without his uniform and a more relaxed look, including a neatly trimmed, full beard – says he is ready to go work for the new mayor. “Any time you can stay on and continue to work with the city, it’s a great thing,” he told City & State. “If the opportunity is there, I’d love to stay on with the administration.” 

Not everyone working for Adams was so direct.

Passing Miranda in the lobby of the El Caribe Hilton was Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. When asked if he would stay with the Mamdani administration, Rodriguez made it clear he wanted to finish the work he had started under Adams. “Well, you want to stay on and finish the job, right?” he said.

Miranda and Rodriguez both said they have not spoken with the Mamdani administration – yet. – Ralph R. Ortega

3:15 p.m. – Supporters of the housing-related ballot proposals took a jubilant victory lap in the El Caribe bar, cheering the fact that all three proposals passed Tuesday despite City Council members’ fierce opposition.

Amit Singh Bagga, campaign director of the political action committee and coalition “Yes on Affordable Housing,” was the reigning man of the hour. For every couple of steps he took, conference-goers swarmed, congratulating him on their passage. While the City Council and the Charter Revision Commission convened by Mayor Eric Adams waged dueling public education battles over the proposals, the Open New York-led coalition ran ads, rallied and recruited supporters.

“No amount of taxpayer-funded electioneering is going to be able to convince New Yorkers that their rent isn’t too damn high,” Bagga said, referencing the City Council’s opposition to the measures. “When we had a positive message about real solutions to peoples’ real problems, we were confident that it was going to cut through the noise.” (While the City Council’s campaign criticizing the proposals has raised some concerns about whether it violated electioneering laws, it’s only allegations – and very complicated. Too complicated for this blog, I fear.)

Not all City Council members were against the proposals. Manhattan City Council Members Keith Powers and Eric Bottcher – both of whom were among the small cohort of members publicly voicing support – were at the bar, soaking in the YIMBY energy. Comptroller Brad Lander was also there.

“New Yorkers have told us very clearly that affordable housing is our number one priority. We saw it take place in the mayor’s race, but it’s what New Yorkers tell us every day,” Powers said. “We have an opportunity to do something about it.” – Sahalie Donaldson

3 p.m. – Political nerds at Somos, be warned! Airlines sent out warnings that the ongoing government shutdown could impact flights around the country starting tomorrow. Attendees who flew down to the Somos conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico (which is just about 99% of us) may discover their scheduled flight home on Sunday has been canceled!

“Delta is complying with a federal directive to reduce flights at 40 major U.S. airports starting Friday, November 7th, due to air traffic control staffing shortages caused by the government shutdown,” the airline wrote in an email to City & State, which booked travel for six staffers for this year’s conference. Delta advised fliers to change their travel plans or seek a refund. That credit could come in handy to pay for a few more rounds of drinks for those of us who end up stranded in paradise. – Ralph R. Ortega

2:30 p.m. – New York’s AAPI elected officials are standing in unison against the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation agenda. A new campaign organizing elected officials on all ends of the Democratic ideological spectrum launched with a video organized by New York City Council Member Susan Zhuang, a sometimes conservative Democrat in southern Brooklyn, and state Sen. John Liu, the former comptroller from Queens, denouncing ICE arrests nationwide and in New York City. Other elected officials featured in the video include Rep. Grace Meng, Assembly Members Grace Lee and Steven Raga, Council Members Julie Won, Linda Lee, Sandra Ung, Shekar Krishnan and Shahana Hanif, and several district leaders in Brooklyn and Manhattan, like Larry He, the former Asian outreach director for Andrew Cuomo. 

“We see parents torn away from their children and children as young as seven years old detained,” Zhuang, who herself is an immigrant from China, says of ICE arrests in the video.

Zhuang is a member of the council’s centrist Common Sense Caucus, which is led by outgoing conservative Democrat Bob Holden and largely features Republican members.

Now, Zhuang isn’t sure if she will stay in the Common Sense Caucus, telling City & State she’s still thinking about whether to remain or not. Why? Different views on immigration, she said today.

She’s split with the caucus before on immigration – skipping a meeting with border czar Tom Homan earlier this year.

Spotted above chatting with fellow Brooklyn Democrat Sandy Nurse, Zhuang also said she’s a true undecided in the City Council speaker’s race. – Annie McDonough

1:30 p.m. – New York City voters rejected the prospect of moving its municipal elections to even-numbered years. That throws cold water on state Sen. James Skoufis’ push to do just that. 

On the heels of a new state law that will move town and county elections to even-numbered years that he also sponsored, Skoufis had hoped to approve a state constitutional amendment that would do the same for cities across the state, including New York City. Going forward, though, he’s focusing on a second version of the amendment that would explicitly exclude The Big Apple. 

“In light of the election, the proposition, the version that includes New York City faces extremely steep odds,” he conceded. 

Skoufis said he was surprised that voters voted down the ballot proposal that would have changed the city charter in order to get the ball rolling for the even-year switch. He said last-minute mobilization from progressives against the measure seemed to doom it. “Bill de Blasio came out publicly against it, you had Zohran (Mamdani) announce he voted against it,” Skoufis said. “And I think one of the reasons, one of the motivations … is yes, this was a particularly high-turnout mayoral contest, but most are not.”

Despite his disagreement, Skoufis still heard New York City voters loud and clear. “We have to respect those election results,” he said. – Rebecca C. Lewis

12:30 p.m. – In the interest of setting the record straight… Council Member Kevin Riley is not running for City Council speaker. A joking comment featured in a certain tweet from a certain City Hall reporter may have inadvertently caused a flurry of questions for the Bronx council member on Wednesday night. But Riley is publicly supporting Council Member Julie Menin’s speaker bid. 

He’s one of a few members who have put their speaker pick on the record – something of a rarity this early in the race. Others publicly with Menin include Council Members Shaun Abreu and Joann Ariola. (Ariola is the Republican Conference’s minority leader, and observers speculate the other four members of the conference will lean towards Menin, too.) Supporters see the public votes of confidence as a sign of her strong pole position. But most public speaker events still await. 

Menin will host a reception in Puerto Rico, just after her current top challenger, Council Member Crystal Hudson, hosts a reception of her own this evening. Other speaker candidate receptions are taking place Friday and Saturday – including one that was already scheduled for Carmen De La Rosa, who dropped out and is now backing Hudson’s run. – Annie McDonough

11:30 a.m. – Catching up with Assembly Member Jordan Wright, son of Manhattan Democratic Party boss Keith Wright

It's Assembly Member Jordan Wright's third Somos, but it's his first as an elected official. He's "here to ensure Harlem is heard."

"It's a one-stop shop," he says. "Everyone I need to see, I can go see ... There's ten people just in eyeshot that I can talk to, move legislation" pic.twitter.com/eVpdlVpmIn

— Sahalie Donaldson (@SahalieD) November 6, 2025

11:15 a.m. – Somos’ most anticipated attendee was just spotted at the airport back in New York City getting on his flight. Fellow passengers said Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani arrived early with a security detail and was among the first to board the flight. He’s expected to arrive in San Juan this afternoon around 3 p.m., before hosting an event with state Attorney General Letitia James at 5 p.m. Meanwhile, El Caribe is abuzz with talk about his coming arrival.  – Sahalie Donaldson

10 a.m. – Conference-goers who were up bright and early to attend the Code Red: Healthcare Breakfast were treated to a celebrity appearance from The Kid Mero. He took the stage after a number of health care professionals like Dr. Oxiris Barbot, president and CEO of the United Hospital Fund, detailed the negative impacts on public health of federal cuts and the spread of disinformation. Mero, of course, isn’t a doctor. But the comedian pulled no punches in ringing the alarm bells. “Donald Trump, you bitch, this is your job to do the things at the federal level I can’t do,” he said. “I am not the president. I am just a mortal comedian here on earth trying to provide for my family – but I can’t do it alone.”

Mero admitted that he had not always been active on this front because he didn’t know what was going on. He met with a variety of health care professionals yesterday in preparation for the breakfast event. “I like to say I know what I know and I know what I don't know,” Mero said.

Threats to health care no longer fall into the latter category. Mero told conference-goers that he was ready to disseminate the troubling information he had learned to anyone who would listen. “I’ll be the crazy guy on the train, except instead of talking about Jesus and how he's coming to rapture, I'm talking about how Medicaid is coming to rapture your nana, if you don't turn this shit around,” he said. “And by you, I mean the government.” – Rebecca C. Lewis

9 a.m. – Mayor Eric Adams is out of office in less than 60 days. Where he’ll go next is still a mystery. (Maybe St. Barts?) But members (and former members) of his administration and inner circle are all over Somos. City Hall Chief of Staff Camille Joseph-Varlack and Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana Almanzar are here – Almanzar briefly stopped into an education policy breakfast this morning. Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Louis Molina is here, as is New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda and campaign attorney Vito Pitta. Also spotted jovially chatting up other attendees in the Caribe lobby on Wednesday night: former First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and former Schools Chancellor David Banks. The two former officials, who happen to be married, were caught up in a string of investigations into the administration and left their posts last year. – Annie McDonough

7 a.m. – Seeking top talent to come work with him at City Hall, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is opening up a public application process for people interested in serving in his future administration.

According to his team, he is hiring for all positions – deputy mayors, commissioners and beyond. Interested parties can apply through a new résumé portal launching Thursday, two days after Mamdani’s historic victory against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

“To build a team of top talent, we need to search far and wide – which is why we are calling on New Yorkers across the five boroughs to share their backgrounds with us and join our movement to deliver a city we can afford,” Transition Executive Director Elana Leopold said in a statement. “As we begin the transition to a new era, this resume portal will allow us to roll up our sleeves, hit the ground running and enact the agenda that got Zohran elected.”

The news, shared exclusively with City & State ahead of its release, comes in wake of Mamdani announcing which New Yorkers would be leading his transition team Wednesday morning. While some of the top roles in his future administration are likely already spoken for, Mamdani does have a history of picking candidates out of obscurity. His closest adviser, Elle Bisgaard-Church, cold-applied to be his Assembly chief of staff in 2020.

Read more here. – Sahalie Donaldson

Wednesday

9:30 p.m. – The Democratic primary for New York’s 12th Congressional District is filling up with a handful of well-liked, relatively mainstream elected officials with some experience under their belts and a strong start in fundraising. Among them: Assembly Members Micah Lasher and Alex Bores and New York City Council Member Erik Bottcher.

But in the sticky and crowded Caribe Hilton lobby on Night 1 of Somos, Bores offered one unique (if quite nerdy) pitch he plans to bring to voters: a degree in computer science.

Bores is passionate about the havoc technology and AI can wreak on democracy and elections. He also maintains a balanced optimism: “Tech can and should be a force for good. But too often it’s being used to actually tear our democracy apart.” He talks about deep fakes, algorithm-driven social media bubbles, AI hyper-targeting messaging. So what’s the fix, if he’s elected? “I’ve worked in tech for nearly a decade, and I understand both how the technology works and the incentives of the companies that are putting it out there,” he said. Among other policies, there’s a need for a federal standard on AI regulation, he said. (His statewide RAISE Act might serve as an example.)

Tech regulation, however, has long failed to advance in Congress. “Maybe if you elect someone like Alex Bores, it actually does because he knows what he’s talking about,” said political consultant Ryan Adams, who has no horse in the race. In the legislative body that once asked how Facebook makes money, some voters might want to give it a shot. – Annie McDonough

9 p.m. – Gubernatorial primary candidate and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado is feeling especially emboldened after Zohran Mamdani’s mandate win in New York City, and he thinks that other results across the state – including Columbia County electing its first Black female sheriff and Dutchess County’s legislature flipping blue – mean the appetite is there for a statewide populist campaign.

“People don’t want the same old thing, so I’m very encouraged by what I’m hearing on the ground and what I’m seeing on the ground,” he said. – Austin C. Jefferson

6:40 p.m. – A day after winning the election, New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani isn’t in Puerto Rico just yet. He plans to fly in at some point tomorrow. But while his team declined to say exactly when for security purposes, he’s expected to be ready to go for evening events. His Chief Adviser Elle Bisgaard-Church and press secretary Dora Pekec will be with him – and likely some of the newly-announced transition team members too.

In the meantime, attendees will just have to wait for Mamdani to arrive. He’s bound to be among the if not the very most popular attendee this year once he does. Expect a hungry vortex of people vying for his attention at all times. Now will Mamdani make an exception to his one-Red Bull-per-week indulgence? If ever there was a time to do so, now may be the time. – Sahalie Donaldson

11:30 a.m. – Packed airplanes of sleep-deprived politicos are headed down to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Wednesday morning. On the heels of a dizzying mayoral race – and with a breakneck transition period already underway – New York’s political power players have plenty to discuss. Among the pressing topics: Who will be the next speaker of the City Council? Who will join Zohran Mamdani’s administration – and which, if any, of the current Adams administration official might be asked to stay on apart from NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch?

Some people on the City & State flight who might have some opinions include City Council speaker candidate Julie Menin, Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Louis Molina, Mayor Eric Adams’ chief of staff Camille Joseph Varlack and Deputy Mayor Ana Almanzar. Also spotted: Assembly Members Kalman Yeger and Grace Lee, New York Immigration Coalition President and CEO Murad Awawdeh, Hotel and Gaming Trades Council Political Director Bhav Tibrewal and New York City Council Member-elect Harvey Epstein.

But state Attorney General Letitia James stole the show at the JFK gate, eliciting an impromptu round of applause on arrival. She was in high spirits after Mamdani’s victory last night. “I’m feeling good,” she told City & State. “It’s a brand new day, a new dawning.” James promised to continue standing up to President Donald Trump, who had said he would send the National Guard to New York if Mamdani won. Trump tacitly endorsed Andrew Cuomo as an alternative to keep Mamdani out of office, though that obviously did not pan out.

And on the topic of Cuomo, James had some parting words for her onetime ally and more recent foe: “God bless you. Have a good life.” – Annie McDonough, Rebecca C. Lewis and Sahalie Donaldson

10 a.m. – Drinks will flow unabated and without guilt into the wee hours of the morning at the Fairmont El San Juan hotel bar this week. For a minute, it looked like New York politicos’ favorite late night spot might be taken out of the rotation, thanks to a planned boycott by the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council and Unite Here, Local 610 over a contract dispute. Several dozen elected officials signed on, but the situation stood to put politicians with hefty campaign chests and well-heeled lobbyists who had already booked rooms at the swanky hotel in an awkward position. Just a couple weeks before the conference, however, the hotel workers’ unions reached an agreement with the Fairmont that included the wage increases and benefits they were pushing for. We’ll see you at the bar. – Annie McDonough

9 a.m. – Assembly Member Karines Reyes, who is chair of the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, talked with City & State about what she’s looking forward to this year. “I think the overall feeling will be more hopeful than it was last year. We can possibly make history in this mayoral election in New York. There will be moments to celebrate during this conference, and I think that’s a marked difference from last year’s.” Read more here. – Ralph R. Ortega

8 a.m. – Which City Council speaker candidate’s reception will be the most well-attended? Who will be seen angling for a job? Why does Somos still matter? We asked the experts, including Karines Reyes, Joe Borelli, Corey Johnson, Trip Yang, Yvette Buckner and Roberto Perez. Read more here. – Holly Pretsky