As one mayoral ship sinks, so rises another?
A handful of prospective mayoral candidates had already announced their 2025 bids to assume the mayor’s seat before the federal indictment of Eric Adams on bribery and fraud charges last week. Now, even more have taken his legal troubles as chum in the water and a sign that the city needs new leadership.
Former Bronx Assemblymember Michael Blake falls in the latter camp.
“Prayer,” Blake told the AmNews about what inspired this decision, “and then [paying] attention to what’s been happening.”
Blake, who is founder and CEO of the KAIROS: Democracy Project, told the AmNews that he is “seriously considering” and engaging in “conversations” to see how to move forward with running for mayor of New York City. He declined to say who or what entities he was speaking with.
“Prayer is conversation with the Lord. It’s really [about] what is best for the city and can I be a vessel to help in some way, and at the end of the day, if that answer is yes, then it’s on the people to decide,” said Blake about his faith and political motivations. “But first and foremost, you pray for the city, and you pray for the people. You don’t pray for yourself.”
A native Bronxite, Blake was a sports journalist before he entered politics. He became a fierce campaign manager and former President Barack Obama’s Iowa Caucus Constituency vote director in 2008. After Obama took office, Blake served as White House associate director of public engagement, deputy associate director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, national deputy operation vote director for Obama in 2012, and vice chair at large of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from 2017 to 2021.
Locally, Blake served in the Bronx state assembly, representing the 79th District, from 2015 to 2022. He replaced former Assemblymember Eric Stevenson; ironically, Stevenson was found guilty of federal corruption and bribery charges in 2014.
In the past, Blake ran for New York City public advocate, but lost the general special election in 2019 to incumbent Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. Should Adams resign and Williams become the interim mayor and run in the special election to remain mayor, it would present an interesting opportunity for a rematch between Blake and Williams.
Blake also ran for the 15th Congressional District in 2020. He lost in the primary and the seat went to current Congressmember Ritchie Torres.
Blake said he’s been busy with Kairos recently and laser-focused on mobilizing local and national voters for Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz as president and vice president.
Eventually, he said, he wants to address issues such as affordable housing and inflation with his platform, but hasn’t dived into fundraising or formed an official campaign yet.