Campaign Finance Board Issues Matching Funds Payments to City Council Special Election and 2021 Candidates
02/19/2021
The NYC Campaign Finance Board (CFB) issued public matching funds payment totaling $924,779 to nine candidates for city office today.
The CFB approved payments totaling $88,408 to five candidates in the City Council District 31 special election (see details below). Including today's payments, the CFB has distributed a total of $566,893 to five candidates in the race. The election will be held on February 23.
The CFB also approved payments totaling $836,327 to four candidates in the 2021 citywide elections. Including the payments approved today, the CFB has issued a total of $38,615,139 to 150 candidates.
With more than 300 candidates seeking to qualify for public funds, the January 15, 2021 filing was the largest in the history of the matching funds program, with more transactions than were recorded for the entire 2017 election cycle. In less than one month, the CFB reviewed this enormous volume of transactions to issue public funds payments on Tuesday, February 16.
We have since identified information that was erroneously omitted from the payment reviews. Based on that additional information, these candidates should have been eligible for payment on February 16, and we are paying them today.
We are conducting a careful and thorough review of the February 16 payments to identify and issue any other payments that should be made. We will provide further information next week.
| Candidate | Feb. 19 |
|---|---|
| Rux, Shawn | $55,425 |
| Benjamin, Latoya | $9,214 |
| Brooks-Powers, Selvena | $7,125 |
| Osina, Pesach | $8,976 |
| Silva, Manuel | $7,668 |
| Candidate | Office | Feb. 19 |
|---|---|---|
| Low, Jenny | City Council, District 1 | $160,396 |
| Osse, Chi | City Council, District 36 | $160,400 |
| Raymond, Edwin | City Council, District 40 | $160,444 |
| Richards, Donovan | Borough President - Queens | $355,087 |
The City Council District 31 special election is among the first elections for city office conducted with Ranked Choice Voting, which allows voters to rank five candidates in order of preference. Voters may refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section of the CFB website for more info about Ranked Choice Voting.
HOW THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE PROGRAM WORKS
The CFB provides public matching funds to qualifying candidates at a matching rate of $8-to-$1 for the first $175 for City Council and Borough President candidates, or $250 for citywide candidates contributed by city residents. Contributions from New York City residents are eligible for a maximum matching funds payment of $1,400 for City Council and Borough President candidates, or $2,000 for citywide candidates.
To qualify for public matching funds, candidates must meet the nonpartisan objective criteria set in the law, including a two-part fundraising threshold. In City Council elections, candidates must raise 75 contributions from district residents and $5,000 in match-eligible funds (the first $175 from a city resident). Candidates must also comply with all program rules, including individual contribution limits and a prohibition on contributions from corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships.
The $8-to-$1 matching rate was adopted by voters, along with other improvements to the matching funds program, in November 2018. Candidates may choose to participate in the old program, which provides public funds at a $6-to-$1 matching rate.
The CFB's Candidate Services staff offers extensive support to campaigns, providing access to training, resources, and one-on-one guidance to help them navigate their disclosure requirements and compliance obligations.
More information about the candidates' campaign finance data is available on the CFB website in the Campaign Finance Summary portal. Individual contribution data is available in the Follow the Money database.