Campaign Finance Board Issues Matching Funds Payments to 26 Candidates
02/24/2021
The NYC Campaign Finance Board (CFB) issued public matching funds payment totaling $584,623 to 26 candidates for city office, including one candidate receiving public funds for the first time. Details are available in the table below.
Including today's payments, the CFB has approved payments totaling $39,199,762 to 151 candidates in the 2021 citywide elections.
Why is the CFB issuing public funds today?
As noted last week, CFB staff determined that information was omitted from reviews for the February 16 public funds payment. An update to the CFB’s internal database application used to review candidate filings and determine payment amounts resulted in an undercount of valid match-eligible contributions for some candidates. The application update in question has been removed from our system and will not affect audit reviews for future candidate filings.
After conducting a careful and thorough secondary review of all disclosure statement filings over the last several days, we have determined that the following campaigns were eligible to receive additional public funds payments on February 16 and we are issuing those payments today.
| Candidate | Office | Feb. 24 |
|---|---|---|
| Stringer, Scott | Mayor | $12,654 |
| Benjamin, Brian | Comptroller | $6,916 |
| Lander, Brad | Comptroller | $270,081 |
| Cornegy, Jr., Robert | Borough President - Brooklyn | $16,720 |
| Edwards, Khari | Borough President - Brooklyn | $23,180 |
| Caputo, Elizabeth | Borough President - Manhattan | $5,130 |
| Kallos, Benjamin | Borough President - Manhattan | $5,662 |
| Levine, Mark | Borough President - Manhattan | $4,180 |
| Matteo, Steven | Borough President - Staten Island | $190 |
| Cabrera, Fernando | Borough President - Bronx | $20,832 |
| Gibson, Vanessa | Borough President - Bronx | $2,204 |
| Li, Gigi | City Council - District 1 | $160,277* |
| Lamorte, Rebecca | City Council - District 5 | $532 |
| Sosa, Christopher | City Council - District 5 | $3,040 |
| Tejada, Luis | City Council - District 7 | $5,882 |
| Ayala, Diana | City Council - District 8 | $1,710 |
| O'Leary, Brent | City Council - District 26 | $6,711 |
| Scala, Michael | City Council - District 32 | $2,470 |
| Cambranes, Victoria | City Council - District 33 | $2,850 |
| Sherman, Stuart | City Council - District 33 | $4,218 |
| Solotaire, Benjamin | City Council - District 33 | $6,764 |
| Willabus, R. Dimple | City Council - District 46 | $3,838 |
| Grey, Selina | City Council - District 49 | $3,116 |
| Ogunleye, Ranti | City Council - District 49 | $1,292 |
| Pirozzolo, Sam | City Council - District 50 | $13,794 |
| Wonica, George | City Council - District 51 | $380 |
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.