How key New York candidates are raising and spending

For New York political wonks and campaign finance nerds alike, the date Jan. 15 was marked on our calendars: It’s the state campaign finance filing deadline. Covering a six-month period from mid-July 2025 through Jan. 10, it’s the first window into how money is being raised, spent and donated in this year’s races. 

We took a look at some of the Democratic primaries on our radar – given there are scant Republican primaries and general elections are months away. Though it’s worth noting state Sen. Jeremy Cooney is claiming he raised the most of any state legislator this cycle, with more than $525,000 raised. He doesn’t even have a primary. 

The fundraising totals don’t include public matching funds, since candidates’ claims first need to be reviewed by the state Board of Elections. The first payments won’t be awarded until vouchers are sent to the state comptroller’s office April 15 – after candidates finish petitioning and make the ballot in the spring. 

Governor

Kathy Hochul (Incumbent)

Cash on hand: $20,178,331.17

Antonio Delgado

Cash on hand: $1,125,778.62

The fraught relationship between Gov. Kathy Hochul and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado has been well-documented. After Delgado announced last winter he would not be Hochul’s running mate this cycle, the governor stripped him of many of his duties, his staff and of his cellphone. Delgado is now challenging Hochul to her left. Hochul started the latest filing period with about $17 million and raised approximately $5.45 million in the six months since. Delgado’s war chest is much smaller than Hochul’s, though – and it’s smaller than it was six months ago, when he had $1.3 million. He’s spending big, but not quite making it back in donations. 

State Comptroller

Thomas DiNapoli (Incumbent)

Cash on hand: $1,354,720.52

Drew Warshaw

Cash on hand: $1,270,448.84

Raj Goyle

Cash on hand: $1,246,543.04 

Adem Bunkedekko

Cash on hand: $67,591.16

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has comfortably enjoyed the benefits of incumbency for years – but now faces multiple serious primary challengers. DiNapoli is already throwing money down, spending about $295,000 this period. Both Drew Warshaw and Raj Goyle are keeping pace with the incumbent, with records showing Goyle received about $180,000 from a handful of family members. Adem Bunkedekko trails the pack, but he only launched his bid at the beginning of December.

Senate District 13 – Western Queens

Jessica Ramos (Incumbent)

Cash on hand: $78,833.72

Jessica González-Rojas

Cash on hand: $101,464.44

A fight between the left and further left, this Queens race is one of the most closely watched legislative primaries of the cycle, with state Sen. Jessica Ramos looking to fend off a challenge from Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas. Ramos is seen as vulnerable following her unsuccessful mayoral bid last year and her controversial decision to back Andrew Cuomo at the end of the Democratic primary. Fundraising was a big issue for Ramos in that race, and her most recent city filing shows her to be in significant debt; about $53,000 of her cash on hand as of Jan. 15 was transferred in from her previous state account. While she raised upwards of $26,000 over the six-month period, she only spent about $645 – not exactly the sign of someone running a robust campaign. Asked about it, Ramos told City & State she is in fact running for reelection and is in the process of hiring campaign staff. JGR, on the other hand, has spent more than $44,000 since mid-July.

Senate District 25 – Central Brooklyn

Jabari Brisport (Incumbent)

Cash on hand: $57,723.30

Marlon Rice

Cash on hand: $25,742.53

Democratic socialist state Sen. Jabari Brisport is gearing up for a challenge this June: Marlon Rice, a community organizer and a supporter of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, is taking on Brisport from the center. Rice is a former staffer to Assembly Member Stefani Zinerman.

Assembly District 34 – Western Queens

Aber Kawas

Cash on hand: $43,376.90

Brian Romero 

Cash on hand: $39,149.15

With Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas challenging Jessica Ramos in the Senate, her western Queens seat is up for grabs. While both Aber Kawas and Brian Romero sought the New York City Democratic Socialists of America’s endorsement, Kawas came out on top. But Romero, JGR’s former chief of staff and current senior adviser to state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, received the backing of Rep. Nydia Velázquez as the congressional representative finds herself at odds with Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The tight fundraising numbers underscore that this could be a close race.

Assembly District 54 – Eastern Brooklyn

Erik Dilan (Incumbent)

Cash on hand: $114,557.01

Christian Celeste Tate

Cash on hand: $48,978.16

As Assembly Member Erik Dilan is once again looking to protect his family dynasty in eastern Brooklyn, DSA-backed challenger Christian Celeste Tate made a strong showing in his first filing period, raising $62,500 since launching his campaign in November. But Dilan raised almost as much as the nonprofit leader and Mamdani canvasser in that same period – just over $61,150 – and started the period with nearly $81,000 in cash on hand. 

Assembly District 56 – Central Brooklyn

Stefani Zinerman (Incumbent)

Cash on hand: $10,996.93

Eon Huntley

Cash on hand: $51,959.56

Democratic socialist Eon Huntley is taking another swing at ousting Assembly Member Stefani Zinerman from her Bedford-Stuyvesant seat. Zinerman is arguably one of the most vulnerable incumbents heading into this June’s primaries, particularly in light of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s strong performance in the district last year and renewed calls from City Council Member Chi Ossé for a Zinerman challenger. While Zinerman raised some money this period, starting with $1,670 in her account in July and raising about $12,600, records show $3,000 of that came from a PAC affiliated with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie on Jan. 10 – the last day to accept contributions to be counted toward the Jan. 15 filing deadline. 

Assembly District 66 – Lower Manhattan

Jeannine Kiely

Cash on hand: $24,172.62

Ryder Kessler

Cash on hand: $124,149.66

The Democratic primary to replace Assembly Member Deborah Glick, who plans to retire when her term ends at the end of the year, will be closely watched. While Glick endorsed Jeannine Kiely, the area district leader, to succeed her, Abundance New York Executive Director Ryder Kessler has made quite a splash – and said he expects to max out on public matching funds as well. This is Kessler’s second run for the seat, having challenged Glick unsuccessfully in 2022.