Chris Sommerfeldt
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City Hall reporter / NY Playbook co-author @politico. Previously: @nydailynews. From 🇸🇪. Have a tip? DMs are open or reach me at csommerfeldt@politico.com
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Articles by Chris Sommerfeldt
Open primary proponents eye 2027 as their year in NYC
With help from Leah Clark HAPPY TUESDAY. Madison Fernandez here. On tap, we have a dispatch on the future of open primaries in the city, along with a preview of today's pied-à-terre tax hearing in the City Council and a look at an Assembly hopeful's uncommon campaign approach. Have news tips or just want to share what's on your mind?
Mamdani’s ‘unforgivable’ policy shift on policing
Some of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's closest allies are frustrated by how he's shifted on policing since taking office. | Andres Kudacki/AP WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE: Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s rhetorical pivot on NYPD funding has been whiplash-like. Not that many years ago, the democratic socialist crowed on social media about a need to “defund” and “dismantle” New York City’s police department, which he also called “racist” and a “major threat to public safety” at the time.
Republicans revisit the '22 crime playbook
HAPPY FRIDAY. It's Madison Fernandez . On tap today: President Donald Trump is in town, the City Council is using private consultants for land use matters and the Republican gubernatorial hopeful wants to shake up how crypto is regulated in the state. Have news tips or just want to share what's on your mind? Reach me at mfernandez@politico.com CRIME TIME: Heightened concerns over crime caused pain for New York Democrats at the ballot box in 2022. Could that happen again this year?
Another Constantino lawsuit
With help from Leah Clark HAPPY THURSDAY. This is Nick Reisman in Albany. I've got new reporting on yet another defamation suit that's been filed against an upstart House GOP candidate. Plus, the statewide general election debates are already starting to take shape. And we've got a look at one silver lining for Democrats in the new Siena University poll. Have news tips or just want to share what's on your mind?
NYC Council member in hot water as more super PAC overlap emerges
With help from Leah Clark HAPPY WEDNESDAY. This is Chris Sommerfeldt . I'm getting us started today with a deep dive into a New York City Council member's potentially problematic super PAC connections. Plus, my colleagues have a dispatch from one of New York's congressional battlegrounds and news on a new City Council probe into prediction markets. Have news tips or just want to share what's on your mind?
What El-Sayed's win means for AOC
With help from Leah Clark HAPPY FRIDAY. This is Madison Fernandez with the New York angle on this week's big election in Michigan. We also have a first look at your weekend read from Jason Beeferman in the Hudson Valley, as well as updates on competitive congressional races. Have news tips or just want to share what's on your mind?
Mamdani pick for crucial housing panel on thin ice with City Council
NOMINATION IN FLUX: Mayor Zohran Mamdani's pick for a key housing position faces a rocky road to City Council confirmation, as members of the chamber — including some progressives — are uneasy about how the process has played out and concerned about the nominee's views on development and homeownership, Playbook has learned.
New York City Council member accused of fundraising malfeasance
With help from Leah Clark HAPPY THURSDAY. This is Chris Sommerfeldt . Today, I'm kicking us off with a scoop on a whistleblower complaint accusing a New York City Council member of campaign malfeasance. Plus, my colleagues have a look at attempts to shift the definition of “working class” and a dispatch from two of New York's hotly-contested congressional races. Have news tips or just want to share what's on your mind?
New York City lawmaker accused of using government staff for political fundraising
The accusations, outlined in a formal whistleblower complaint, come as concerns about wrongdoing in New York City government remain heightened. New York City Council member Christopher Marte | William Alatriste/NYC Council Media Unit 08/06/2026 05:55 AM EDT NEW YORK — A New York City Council member allegedly directed at least one government staffer to raise money for his campaign and an outside group that supports him politically, according to a whistleblower complaint obtained by POLITICO.
New York City lawmaker accused of using government staff for political fundraising
NEW YORK — A New York City Council member allegedly directed at least one government staffer to raise money for his campaign and an outside group that supports him politically, according to a whistleblower complaint obtained by POLITICO. The complaint — lodged against Democratic Council member Christopher Marte — was filed with the New York City Department of Investigation last week by Meng Qin Zou, a Chinese community liaison in Marte's government office.
‘Michigan Mamdani' (almost) gets endorsed by the real deal
GREAT LAKES TAKE: Mayor Zohran Mamdani is really impressed by Abdul El-Sayed, a like-minded progressive who's running for a Senate seat in Michigan. “I saw somewhere that he held more than 500 in-person events across the state of Michigan,” Mamdani said this afternoon after El-Sayed won by a razor-thin margin in Tuesday's Democratic Senate primary. “That's the kind of work it's going to take to ensure that we are winning in November,” he continued.
National Democrats expand New York targets
With help from Leah Clark HAPPY WEDNESDAY. It's Madison Fernandez with a first look at which New York congressional districts national Democrats are looking to flip in November. We also have the latest on the state's Medical Aid in Dying Act, City Council drama over horse carriages and efforts to curb Amazon. Have news tips or just want to share what's on your mind?
The anti-union AI blowing up your feed
With help from Leah Clark HAPPY TUESDAY . This is Jason Beeferman . Today we've got news on a curiously timed anti-union push, the names of two City Council members already making plans for 2029 campaigns for borough president, and the reason why one competitive congressional candidate gave blocks of cheese to his opponent. Let's get into it. Have news tips or just want to share what's on your mind?
Key personnel move for NY Senate Dems
With help from Leah Clark HAPPY MONDAY. I'm Nick Reisman in Albany. We've got some exclusive news this morning on who will lead the state Senate Democrats' campaign arm. Plus my colleagues have the latest on fundraising in the Hamptons and how Republicans are trying to leverage taxes in a crucial House race. Have news tips or just want to share what's on your mind? Reach me at nreisman@politico.com LEADERSHIP SHAKE-UP : New York Senate Democrats have tapped state Sen.
Democratic discontent with Mamdani mounts in New York City’s outer boroughs
4 hours ago The ownership of every property in New York City is public and searchable through a funky website that takes a minute to master. Last week, when a slice of that data set — some 900,000 names and addresses — was published in another easy-to-search form, the internet suddenly took notice. “The worst …
Democratic discontent with Mamdani mounts in New York City’s outer boroughs
NEW YORK — When Queens Borough President Donovan Richards accused the Democratic Socialists of America of perpetuating "white supremacy" earlier this month, it marked a rare instance of a well-known local Democrat taking direct, withering aim at the group that propelled Mayor Zohran Mamdani into City Hall. Since Mamdani's ascension there, local elected Democrats have been hard pressed to publicly blast him and his hard-left base.
Mamdani’s finance agency urged him to tone down contentious tax-the-rich rollout
NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Mamdani wanted his pied-a-terre tax announcement to land with a bang. So his communications team drafted up a press release celebrating the new property tax, and the mayor took to social media to let wealthy part-time residents know they were about to be on the hook. "You've got mail," Mamdani wrote in an X post last week.
Reaching for a reach on Long Island
With help from Leah Clark IT'S THURSDAY. This is Jason Beeferman . Today we've got news on the Democratic prayer for Suffolk County to turn blue, the Jewish lawyer claiming Mayor Zohran Mamdani 's administration is engaged in hypocritical “BS” and new details on how Gov. Kathy Hochul is pushing back against proposed federal changes to gun regulations. Have news tips or just want to share what's on your mind?
Mamdani's pied-a-terrible mess
TAX TROUBLE: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's pied-a-terre tax rollout is off to a rocky start. After spending months touting it as a tax that would only impact wealthy out-of-towners who own second homes in the city, the Mamdani administration has sent out letters in the past few days informing at least some full-time New Yorkers that they “may” have to pay the new levy because municipal records indicate their homes are secondary residences. As a result, a Kafkaesque situation is unfolding.
New York's national hotspots
As New York remains key in the battle for control of the House this year, down-ballot Republicans are getting an extra boost from national leaders. OUT AND ABOUT: Last week, Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters hit Nassau County to stump with former state Assemblymember Mike LiPetri and Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll , who are challenging Democratic Reps. Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen , respectively.
Mamdani pushes early budget savings
TRIMMING TIME : New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is getting started on his next savings plan early. This morning, he announced city agencies will need to shave spending by 2.5 percent in the fiscal year that began July 1 along with the three following years. He's going to need it. While the mayor completed his first city budget just this month, his administration's bean counters are already projecting a hefty $6.4 billion shortfall for next year's spending plan.
ICE's county brawl
With help from Leah Clark IT'S TUESDAY , I'm Nick Reisman in Albany. New York state's friendly reminder to a dozen local governments that they can no longer formally coordinate with federal immigration officials is not going over well in some parts of the state — and it's reigniting some old disputes. Plus my colleagues have scoops on an unusual problem for a state Senate candidate and a utility group's effort to highlight one of their top concerns.
The Israel-Palestine policy whiplash at City Hall
With help from Leah Clark IT'S MONDAY , and this is Chris Sommerfeldt in New York City. As tensions remain high in the Big Apple over Israel's war in Gaza, I'm starting us off today with a look into a lawsuit illustrating just how drastically things have changed at City Hall when it comes to posturing on the Middle East conflict.
Surveillance pricing be gone! ... Or not?
TECH BLITZ: New York is set to become the first state in the nation to ban almost every company from using algorithms to set individualized prices based on consumer habits — if tech companies don't derail the effort.
Mamdani was urged during 2025 campaign to stop talking about arresting Netanyahu
NEW YORK — During last year's New York City mayoral race, outside advisers to Zohran Mamdani urged him to stop making public threats about arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that his focus on the issue could put him in a politically precarious position, according to two people with direct knowledge of the conversations.
Stock trading debate gets muddied
As confidence in Congress remains abysmally low many lawmakers view banning stock trading among themselves as a way to repair that trust — and a politically smart move. But when a bill restricting congressional stock trading came to the House floor Wednesday, nearly every Democrat voted against it. That included upstate New York Rep.
POLITICO Pro: Mamdani lawfully dissolved Eric Adams’ controversial Charter Revision Commission, judge rules
The ruling deals a potentially fatal blow to the zombie-like panel, which has lived on past Adams’ mayoralty to haunt his successor. NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Mamdani acted lawfully in disbanding his predecessor’s controversial effort to change the New York City Charter, a state judge ruled Wednesday.
Mamdani and Menin butt heads on Legionnaires' outbreak
CULTURE CLASH: As New York City health officials announced a fifth death last night from an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, a telling split screen was playing out online.
Constantino's power inheritance
With help from Leah Clark HAPPY WEDNESDAY. This is Nick Reisman in Albany. An outsider candidate has conquered the political structure of a sprawling upstate House district, but one local leader is refusing to go along. I've got more on that dynamic, plus Gov. Kathy Hochul is touting her data center pause with an argument aimed at the business community and City Council member Vickie Paladino faces a “high tea” controversy.
A look inside the stock portfolio of a top Mamdani lawyer
TAKING STOCK: Like his boss, Ramzi Kassem is a longtime critic of Israel. So it might come as a surprise that Kassem, Mayor Zohran Mamdani's chief counsel at City Hall, holds direct ownership of stock in RTX, a multinational defense contractor that supplies Israel's military with weapons. Making matters more awkward for Kassem: He's dating Darializa Avila Chevalier , the democratic socialist who defeated Rep.
Menin's husband finds his firm in politically inconvenient tax trouble
With help from Leah Clark HAPPY TUESDAY. This is Chris Sommerfeldt in New York City, where I'm still trying to come to terms with the end of the World Cup. On tap today, I got a tax-related scoop about the City Council speaker's husband, and my colleagues have news about super PAC spending and progressive politicians in New York pushing their counterparts in Congress to support abolishing ICE. Have news tips or just want to share what's on your mind?
Is Mamdani's Netanyahu arrest threat toothless? (Hint: probably)
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani tossed more red meat to his base recently by suggesting he was still exploring options for arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during September's United Nations General Assembly. Yet after being in office for more than six months and presiding over a Law Department staffed by hundreds of capable jurists, the mayor has yet to articulate a legal rationale for collaring a foreign head of state.
Platner is finished. Does the same fate await the out-of-state consultants who recruited him?
When Daniel Moraff showed up on Graham Platner's doorstep last summer, the oyster farmer had a message for the young political operative who had traveled to the Maine coast to convince him to run for the U.S. Senate: "Get the fuck off my property." It took weeks of prodding before Platner relented, according to two people who worked on the campaign.
Dems continue to grapple over Israel
With help from Leah Clark IT'S FRIDAY. Madison Fernandez here. Today we're taking a look at the politics around this week's vote to halt aid to Israel, the latest point of contention between Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Council Speaker Julie Menin , and who New York pols are betting on for the World Cup final. Have news tips or just want to share what's on your mind? Reach me at mfernandez@politico.com NO THANKS: Democratic Rep.
Platner is finished. Does the same fate await the out-of-state consultants who recruited him?
A string of early missteps, like rejecting an offer for a deeper vetting of Platner, has cast doubt over the young consultants' future in Democratic politics. Democratic strategist Morris Katz attends Zohran Mamdani's inauguration as the 112th mayor at City Hall on Thursday Jan. 1, 2026 in New York City.
Why Mamdani's ditching public matching funds for his 2029 run
BIG MONEY MOVES: Mayor Zohran Mamdani got a huge boost from New York City's public matching funds program during his successful 2025 campaign. Now, he's foregoing the taxpayer-funded benefit over concerns the fundraising caps would limit him as he seeks to exert “national” influence, according to two people with knowledge of the move.
Mamdani to forego public matching funds for reelection run due to spending cap concerns
NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was boosted by New York City's public matching funds program during his successful 2025 campaign, is now foregoing the taxpayer-funded benefit over concerns the fundraising caps would limit him as he seeks to exert "national" influence, according to two people with knowledge of the move.
Federal authorities raid home of former NYC sheriff
Follow Federal authorities raid home of former NYC sheriff Thu, July 16, 2026 at 6:11 PM UTC Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. NEW YORK — Federal authorities raided the Queens home of recently-fired New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda on Thursday, two people with knowledge of the law enforcement action told POLITICO.
POLITICO Pro: Mamdani to forego public matching funds for reelection run due to spending cap concerns
The decision comes as the mayor is emerging as a national figure with political demands that make spending limits fraught, two people with knowledge of the move said. NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was boosted by New York City’s public matching funds program during his successful 2025 campaign, is now foregoing the taxpayer-funded benefit over concerns the fundraising caps would limit him as he seeks to exert “national” influence, according to two people with knowledge of the move.
Moderates gently push back
With help from Leah Clark IT'S THURSDAY . This is Nick Reisman in Albany. Moderate Democrats insist they haven't lost the plot in American politics after a cascade of primary wins by left-leaning candidates. Indeed, these middle-of-the-roaders believe they can affirmatively offer voters new ideas. We'll look at that, plus my colleagues have housing and public safety news about Mayor Zohran Mamdani Have news tips or just want to share what's on your mind?
NYC Council gallops to ban city's horse carriage industry
YEAR OF THE HORSE: The New York City Council appears closer than ever to passing legislation that would ban the Big Apple's horse carriage industry — but two significant obstacles remain on the horizon. The biggest step toward enacting a ban came Tuesday evening, when Council Speaker Julie Menin announced she's backing the bill that would make horse-drawn carriages illegal in the city starting June 2028.
POLITICO Pro: State takes over contract talks between Mamdani administration and NYPD’s largest union
The move comes amid an impasse that stands to strain the mayor's already fraught relationship with rank-and-file officers. NEW YORK — A state panel is taking over control of labor negotiations between Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration and the NYPD’s largest union because contract talks have hit an impasse.
I'm staying out of Maine: Chuck Schumer sidelines himself with the Senate majority on the line
Jordain Carney, Nick Reisman and Chris Sommerfeldt The fate of the Senate majority could lie in the hands of 601 yet-to-be-chosen Maine Democrats . And Chuck Schumer, known for working every possible angle to give his party's campaigns an edge, is largely helpless to do anything about it. The sidelines are an unusual place for the longtime Senate Democratic leader.
Menin pounces on another political weakness for Mamdani
With help from Leah Clark IT'S WEDNESDAY . This is Chris Sommerfeldt in New York City, where the Council speaker is increasingly harnessing progressive legislation to cause political headaches for the mayor. I'm starting us off today by delving into that unusual dynamic, and my colleagues have news on Gov. Kathy Hochul 's latest campaign fundraising haul, as well as an update on her tense dealings with the Trump administration over immigration issues.
‘I’m staying out of Maine’: Chuck Schumer sidelines himself with the Senate majority on the line
The fate of the Senate majority could lie in the hands of 601 yet-to-be-chosen Maine Democrats. And Chuck Schumer, known for working every possible angle to give his party's campaigns an edge, is largely helpless to do anything about it. The sidelines are an unusual place for the longtime Senate Democratic leader.
It's all Wright in Harlem ... for now
With help from Leah Clark IT'S TUESDAY . This is Jason Beeferman , bringing you news on the DSA's continued push into new territory and how one incumbent assemblymember kept them at bay. Plus, why a prominent group fighting workplace sexual harassment is calling Mayor Zohran Mamdani a hypocrite, and new details on Gov. Kathy Hochul 's move to enact the nation's first state-level moratorium on large-scale data center construction. Have news tips or just want to share what's on your mind?
Mamdani in damage-control mode over aide's scuttled Iran meeting
CLEAN UP ON AISLE Z: Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration is developing “a new process” for how to field requests for meetings with top city officials after his international affairs chief almost sat down with an Iranian government official earlier this week.
Why Mamdani (probably) won't issue more midterm endorsements
With help from Leah Clark HAPPY FRIDAY . It's Chris Sommerfeldt in New York City, pumped for an action-packed World Cup weekend. On a non-soccer note, I'm kicking us off today with a look at why Mayor Zohran Mamdani 's probably done with political endorsements for this year. My colleagues have news on Gov. Kathy Hochul ‘s semiconductor industry bear hug and an update on the gambling addiction challenges facing New York. Let's get into it. Have news tips or just want to share what's on your mind?
Bruce Bl-ai-keman
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman is going all in on AI, and playing fast-and-loose with new rules around the disclosure of AI in political communications that was signed into law by his opponent. A video from earlier this week shows a very-realistic-looking AI-generated Hochul being offered crack by a gentleman she refers to as a “nice young man.” Another shows an “illegal immigrant” grinning after Hochul gifted her an “amazing hotel room” for free.
Inside the tense final hours of Graham Platner's campaign Original
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Graham Platner went down swinging — even as some of his political confidants urged him not to. Several of the embattled Maine Democrat's closest advisers pleaded with him Wednesday to strike a "conciliatory" tone in the announcement terminating his Senate campaign, according to two people close to Platner's team with knowledge of the internal discussions.
By Chris Sommerfeldt Verified, Lisa Kashinsky Verified, Will Steakin Verified, Jessica Piper Verified
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