Next year’s mayoral race just got even more crowded: Michael Blake, a former Bronx assemblyman and one-time Obama White House aide, has announced his intention to challenge Mayor Eric Adams.
Blake is the seventh prominent challenger to enter the race, with candidates poised to run in June’s Democratic mayoral primary.
Others who have announced their campaigns are City Comptroller Brad Lander, former Comptroller Scott Stringer, Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, Queens state Sen. Jessica Ramos, Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and prominent attorney Jim Walden.
Speaking with The New York Times, his campaign said Blake plans on focusing on the city’s high cost of living and quality-of-life issues.
The Bronx native served three terms in the New York state Assembly, representing the 79th District from 2014 to 2020. Blake also served as the vice chair at-large of the Democratic National Committee from 2017 to 2021.
Blake lost to Rep. Ritchie Torres in his 2020 congressional bid and placed fourth among 17 candidates in a special election for New York City public advocate in 2019.
Blake’s campaign website touts his signature legislation of getting small minority- and women-owned business enterprises with fewer than 300 employees who contract with the state paid in 15 days instead of 30.
Blake also fought to pass the “raise the age” law, which upped the age of criminal responsibility so that 16- and 17-year-olds are not tried as adults in criminal court.