A cheat sheet to super PACs in the 2026 New York primaries

If you’re a registered Democrat in the right districts, your mailbox – and text messages and voicemails – are getting bombarded with campaign ads. Your TV time likely isn’t safe either, with plenty of political ads hitting the airwaves – including during the historic Knicks finals run. 

Sometimes, they’re paid for by a candidate’s campaign itself, clearly labeled with their name. But other times, voters looking to get a little more info about the political spending invading their personal time may be hit with a variety or group names with a combination of meaningless platitudes. City & State’s been closely tracking outside spending in our twice-weekly Heard Around Town newsletter, but it’s time to share even more. That’s where we come in. 

The surging of the Democratic Socialists of America following New York City Mayor Zohran Mamandi’s victory last year and a wave of exits from the state Legislature means that there are dozens of legislative races up in the air this year. And outside interests are looking to tip the scale through independent expenditure committees, more colloquially known as super PACs. The basic rule: super PACs have no contribution limits, as long as they don’t coordinate directly with the campaign committees they’re supporting.

A lot of them are getting involved in races this year, raising and spending big bucks. Here’s what you need to know. This story has been updated as of June 15, and more will be added ahead of the June 23 primary election.

The American Centerpoint PAC

Target: Supporting Stephanie Ruskay in the open race to replace Assembly Member Micah Lasher

Follow the money: Adeena Rosen, a key figure of the pro-Israel and anti-DSA Solidarity PAC from the previous election cycle, is so far the lone contributor to this committee. She has given just under $25,000 shortly after it was formed on June 11.

What’s up with that? This is no DSA-endorsed candidate in the race, but progressive Eli Northrup is pretty closely aligned with the organization. Ruskay, who running to become the first female rabbi in the state Legislature, holds a traditional pro-Israel position. So pro-Israel interests likely want to mainatin an ally in the Upper West Side seat.

Citizens for Affordable Rates PAC

Target: Supporting Gov. Kathy Hochul

Follow the money: It’s all from Uber, the international ride share company.

What’s up with that? Hochul’s not facing a primary, but Uber has been showering her with thanks and praise for pushing car insurance reforms into the state budget. It’ll save Uber much more money than the $12 million that CAR has already spent.

Laborers Building A Better New York

Target: Supporting state Sen. Jessica Ramos against her challenge from Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Patrick Martinez in his bid to replace Assembly Member Steven Raga and Assembly Members Karines Reyes.

Follow the money: This one is pretty straightforward – this is the super PAC of the state’s construction worker unions and is therefore funded by various locals and other associated unions and labor groups. 

What’s up with that? Even as Ramos has hemorrhaged significant union support, she has maintained the loyalty of many of the construction trades, including the laborers. So to see their super PAC back her in the race for her life is unsurprising. But the group hasn’t actually spent in her race yet with the primary looming, The committee instead has this year only recorded expenditures to back Assembly Member Diana Moreno in her February special election to replace now-New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. 

Local Economies Forward NY

Target: Supporting Assembly Members Jeffrey Dinowitz, Bill Magnarelli, Stefani Zinerman and Jordan Wright as they seek reelection as well as candidates Patrick Martinez and Nathaniel Hezekiah

Follow the money: This IE is funded entirely by DoorDash, to the tune of nearly $960,000. 

What’s up with that? The food delivery company is looking to protect incumbents and candidates with ties to establishment Democrats – likely in the interest of maintaining friendly relationships in Albany as legislators consider regulations.

Making our Tomorrow

Target: Supporting Nathaniel Hezekiah, running for retiring Assembly Member Vivian Cook’s Southeast Queens seat

Follow the money: It’s fully funded by Meta, the tech company behind Facebook, Instagram and more.

What’s up with that? It’s not totally clear. But Hezekiah is a longtime staffer of Rep. Greg Meeks, and spending to help his favored candidate could be a way to win the favor of the powerful Congress member.

Moving Brooklyn Forward

Target: Supporting Assembly Member Stefani Zinerman as she faces a challenge from Eon Huntley 

Follow the money: The well-funded committee has raised $340,000, mostly from members of the real estate industry, including developer brothers Henry and Kamran Elghanayan, Extell Development Company’s Gary Barnett and developer David Brodsky. But New York State United Teachers also gave a whopping $100,000 to the committee as well, and Next NYC PAC gave at least $55,000. (Keep reading for more information on that committee.)

What’s up with that? It’s no surprise that real estate is interested in keeping a friendly incumbent in office and a DSA official out – and Zinerman has benefited from special interest independent expenditure committees in the past. 

Moving Harlem Forward

Target: Supporting Assembly Member Jordan Wright as he attempts to fend off a DSA challenge from Conrad Blackburn

Follow the money: The committee has received over $210,000 in donations this year from a mix of pro-Israel and union sources. Adeena Rosen, Daniel Lowy and Lori Schreiber, all donors with tied to pro-Israel advocacy, gave $25,000 a piece to the committee. On the union side, 32BJ SEIU’s American Dream Fund donated $25,000, while New York State United Teachers gave $100,000.

What’s up with that? Solidarity PAC may not be spending this year, but Moving Harlem Forward is one of the committees that has emerged this year to continue the previous group’s pro-Israel election work this cycle to fend of DSA opponents of more supportive incumbents.

Moving New York Families Forward

Target: Supporting Assembly Members Erik Dilan, Jordan Wright, Al Taylor and Brian Cunningham, along with Nathaniel Hezekiah, who is running to replace retiring Assembly Member Vivian Cook

Follow the money: No one gave to the committee this year, but it’s a longtime pro-charter school committee. Its biggest – and most recent – donor is former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who gave $1.3 million last year. The group has spent nearly $630,000 this on its candidates so far. 

What’s up with that? This committee is historically a powerhouse, and was first formed in 2016 to help flip Republican-held state Senate seats. Since Democrats regained the chamber, the group has mostly focused on helping moderate, pro-charter incumbents fend of progressive challenges, or to oppose DSA officials – including those already in office.

New York Accountability Coalition

Target: Supporting state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli

Follow the money: Name any union (other than UAW!) in New York, and their political arm has probably given money to this IE. IBEW, the New York State Nurses Association, District Council 37 and TWU Local 100’s campaign accounts have all pitched in healthy sums, to name a few. 

What’s up with that? This is the first time since he was elected comptroller that DiNapoli has faced a primary. With Raj Goyle and Drew Warshaw challenging him from the left, it makes sense labor would want to get involved.

New York Future

Target: Supporting state Sens. Toby Ann Stavisky, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Kristen Gonzalez and Joseph Addabboo, Assembly Members Jordan Wright, Jeffrey Dinowitz, Andrew Hevesi, Patrick Carroll, Erik Dilan Michael Benedetto, Keith Powers, Clyde Vanel, David Weprin and Landon Dais, and Assembly candidates Eli Northrup, Karen Hoak, Pesach Osina and Nathaniel Hezekiah.

Opposing Assembly candidates Conrad Blackburn, Adam Bojak, Stephanie Ruskay, Bryan Oster, Kevin Deese, Morgan Evers, Mahtab Khan, LaToya LeGrand, Tunisia Morrison, Mike Scala, Christian Tate

Follow the money: This is the mobile sports betting super PAC with $5 million donated this year to spend on its chosen candidates. It has already spent over $2 million of that cash. FanDuel and DraftKings are the two biggest contributors.

What’s up with that? Mobile sports betting is lucrative – and at times controversial – business. So it makes sense for the deep-pocketed multi-billion dollar companies to try to get their preferred candidates into office, or keep favorable ones around. The group largely has backed incumbents facing challenges – like Addabbo, the chair of the state Senate committee that oversees mobile sports wagering – and opposed DSA candidates. But the rhyme and reason for some of the choices remain a little unclear. 

Next NYC PAC

Target: Promoting candidates running against progressives

Follow the money: It’s funded by dozens of wealthy individuals, many of them in real estate, such as Peter Lowy of Westfield, Wendy Eisenberg of A&E Real Estate and James Dolan’s Coalition to Restore New York.

What’s up with that? Next NYC hasn’t spent boosting any candidates directly, instead it’s collected donors’ money, then sent to two other IEs: Moving Brooklyn Forward, which is backing Zinerman, and Westside Progress (see below) , which is supporting Stephanie Ruskay for Assembly.

NYCDCC Carpenters for Progress

Target: Supporting Assembly Members Jenifer Rajkumar, Erik Dilan, Stefani Zinerman and Jordan Wright

Follow the money: New York City District Council of Carpenters 

What’s up with that? This is the union’s political arm. And it’s boosting incumbents who are facing DSA-backed challengers.

Westside Progress, Inc

Target: Supporting Stephanie Ruskay in the open race for Micah Lasher’s Assembly seat on the Upper West Side, and Carl Wilson in his already successful New York City Council special election bid

Follow the money: The aforementioned Next NYC is its biggest funder, but it’s also supported by the teachers’ unions and wealthy individual donors like real estate developer Gary Barnett.

What’s up with that? Ruskay’s opponent Eli Northrup is backed by the Working Families Party and is running to her left. Both big business and the teachers seem to think she’ll be a better ally in Albany.

Working Families Party PAC-NYS IE

Target: Supporting Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas

Follow the money: All the money comes from the Working Families Party federal PAC. And that’s funded by progressive groups and donors from across the country – with George Soros’ Democracy PAC as its single biggest funder. 

What’s up with that? The WFP endorses dozens of candidates, but its IE has so far zeroed in on just trying to unseat state Sen. Jessica Ramos – an old friend the party once helped to elect to her Queens seat.