City Councilman Mark Levine raised his profile considerably over the past year, emerging as a prominent voice on COVID-19 and a leading critic of the city’s response.

The increased attention has likely boosted his bid for Manhattan borough president. But he’s got plenty of competition, including from two fellow lawmakers: state Senator Brad Hoylman and City Councilman Ben Kallos.

Hoylman and Kallos are both reform-minded progressives. And like Levine, they’ve both scooped up plenty of endorsements.

What You Need To Know

  • Seven candidates are vying to replace outgoing Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer

  • City Councilman Mark Levine, who emerged as a prominent voice on COVID-19, is among the leading candidates

  • Another candidate, Lindsey Boylan, became the first woman to accuse Governor Cuomo of sexual misconduct in February
  • Others include state Senator Brad Hoylman, Councilman Ben Kallos and former Community Board 7 chair Elizabeth Caputo

Levine boasts the support of numerous unions, political clubs and elected officials, including Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez and Congressman Adriano Espaillat.

Hoylman has been endorsed by Congressman Jerrold Nadler and members of the ascendant left wing of the party, like state Senators Jessica Ramos and Julia Salazar. 

Kallos, meanwhile, has been endorsed by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and a host of unions and NYCHA tenant leaders.

They're joined in the race by Upper West Side civic leader Elizabeth Caputo, who served as chair of Community Board 7 and is currently an executive with the World Economic Forum. She’s making her first run for public office.

“The borough president is not a legislator, it’s not an administrator, it’s not a stepping stone to a long political career,” Caputo said during our NY1 debate earlier this month. “The borough president’s job is to connect and empower the people of Manhattan.”

Lindsey Boylan is a former state economic development official who also recently increased her profile. In February she made detailed allegations of sexual misconduct against Governor Cuomo, setting off a cascade of accusations that has created an ongoing crisis for the Cuomo administration.

At our debate, Boylan, like several of her opponents, railed against the dangers of unchecked development.

“The production scheme really run by our real estate developers and supported by absentee politicians continues to produce and manufacture warehouse luxury housing,” she said.

Then there’s Kimberly Watkins, president of her school district’s Community Education Council. She calls herself “the schools candidate” in the race. Among other reforms, Watkins would like to eliminate mayoral control of schools.