He decided not to run for mayor and now is the favorite to become the next city comptroller. 

With 18% of likely primary voters, according to the latest NY1/Ipsos poll, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson leads the race to become the next fiscal watchdog.

Managing the $280 billion municipal workers pension fund and investigating city agencies are among the many duties of this office. 

What You Need To Know

  • Corey Johnson leads the comptroller's race, but a plurality of voters are still undecided

  • Ahead of the NY1 debate Thursday 7 p.m., support for the other candidates is in the single digits

  • This office oversees the municipal pension fund and is viewed as a stepping stone to a run for mayor
  • Scott Stringer is currently the fourth comptroller in a row trying to get to City Hall

To that, Johnson wants to add a “COVID relief tracker” to monitor how the city spends the pandemic-related billions of dollars in federal funds.

Financial journalist Michelle Caruso-Cabrera is second in our exclusive poll, with 9% of likely voters.

Last year, she unsuccessfully challenged Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a Congressional primary.

Tied at 9% and getting the support of Ocasio-Cortez and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and the New York Times editorial board, is Councilman Brad Lander.

Lander is accusing Johnson of not passing meaningful legislation in the last year.

He launched a website called "What's the Story, Corey?"

Also trailing in the single digits are candidates like State Assemblyman David Weprin, who wants to audit all city agencies every year, instead of every four, and State Sens. Kevin Parker and Brian Benjamin. 

Former Marine Zack Iscol and former financial advisor to the comptroller’s office Reshma Patel have also qualified for the NY1 debate, which will air live at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Giving every candidate hope is the fact that many New Yorkers don't seem to have tuned into this race yet. 

Our poll showed that 44% of likely voters have not decided whom to support. 

This office is also important because it is viewed as a stepping stone to a run for mayor. Scott Stringer is currently the fourth comptroller in a row trying to get to City Hall.