Former Bronx Assemblymember Michael Blake, who was floating the idea of running for Mayor months ago, officially announced his candidacy against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and several other challengers in next year’s race.
Blake made the announcement to a crowd of supporters at the Sankofa Haus in the Bronx over the Thanksgiving holiday.
“Thank you for believing in me, for being here today, and for believing in a bigger vision than all of us. Thank you to my family in blood and those who joined in love; you are the reason I give God the glory,” said Blake.
Blake joins the string of prospective mayoral candidates who have already filed their intentions to run for mayor with the New York City Campaign Finance Board (NYCCFB). Other formidable candidates include City Comptroller Brad Lander, Assemblymember Zohran K. Mamdani, Senator Zellnor Myrie, former City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, and Senator Jessica Ramos.
Many of the aforementioned candidates, including Blake, have said that Adams’s federal indictment on bribery and fraud charges this year was a prime example that the city needed new leadership. Blake had told the AmNews that prayer had inspired his decision to run.
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.
“I’m a kid from the Bronx, New York,” said Blake. “In my first year in the assembly, there were many days where I couldn’t afford my own bills and I slept on a couch and didn’t tell people about that. Too embarrassed to say that I needed help while I was trying to seek and provide help to my constituents. I understand pain like you, but I also see our promise in you. It’s a promise that our future can and always will be brighter than our past.” 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. Blake also ran for the 15th Congressional District in 2020. He lost in the primary and the seat went to current Congressmember Ritchie Torres.
He’s promised to prioritize the city’s jobs and economic freedom, passing universal child care and reimagining public safety, education, housing justice, and healthcare.