NYC-CC04: Upper East Side City Council candidates contend with the Carolyn Maloney factor
On Mother’s Day, New York City Council candidate Virginia Maloney posted one of her regular “endorsement alerts,” emphasized with siren emojis and all-caps writing. “Proud to have the support of Carolyn Maloney – trailblazing former Congresswoman and longtime East Side champion,” the campaign wrote on social media.
Of course, Carolyn Maloney – who is Virginia Maloney’s mother and whose congressional district included the same East Side of Manhattan neighborhoods her daughter is vying to represent – was actively supporting her daughter’s City Council campaign long before the May 11 endorsement announcement. Shortly after Virginia Maloney officially entered the crowded race in council District 4 last fall, she held a fundraiser in Washington D.C. that coincided with the unveiling of her mother’s official congressional portrait. The fundraiser was co-hosted by Carolyn Maloney and her former chief of staff, Politico New York reported. Another fundraiser the next month also listed Carolyn Maloney as a co-host. The former Congress member has also appeared at campaign events – including a candidate forum on Tuesday night held at the Roosevelt House, where she serves as a distinguished leader in residence.
“Many days, it feels like I’m running against Carolyn Maloney,” said one rival candidate in Council District 4, who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of concern of becoming a target of Carolyn Maloney.
The Democratic primary in Council District 4 is one of this June’s most crowded – and most expensive – council primaries. Apart from Maloney, other candidates include two presidents of local Democratic clubs – Vanessa Aronson and Faith Bondy – former district leader and state housing policy official Ben Wetzler, veterans advocate Luke Florczak, and former Missouri state legislator Rachel Storch. (So far, one of the most notable stories out of the race has been Storch’s fundraising: She opted out of the public matching system, allowing her to spend without limits.) Several of the candidates running against Virginia Maloney agreed that the former Congress member has been a major factor in the race – and they aren’t too thrilled about it.
https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2025/05/upper-east-side-city-council-candidates-contend-carolyn-maloney-factor/405553/?oref=csny-category-lander-featured-river