Politics in New York usually feels like a contact sport, but 2021 was something else entirely. It was a year of "wait, what just happened?" moments. If you’ve been searching for who is running for NYC governor 2021, you've probably noticed that the timeline is a bit of a mess. That’s because, technically, the big election didn't happen in 2021—it was set for 2022. But the race? Oh, the race was very much alive and chaotic by the fall of 2021.
It all started with the fall of the Cuomo dynasty. Andrew Cuomo, a man who seemed destined to hold the governorship until he decided otherwise, resigned in August 2021. He was staring down a mountain of sexual harassment allegations and a likely impeachment. Suddenly, the power vacuum was real. Kathy Hochul, then the Lieutenant Governor, stepped into the role on August 24, 2021, and almost immediately signaled she wasn't just a seat-warmer. She wanted the job for real.
The Power Vacuum and the Early Entrants
By late 2021, the field was getting crowded. It wasn't just about New York City; it was about the whole state, though the city's heavyweights were definitely making moves.
One of the biggest shocks came from Letitia "Tish" James. As the Attorney General, she was the one who oversaw the investigation that essentially ended Cuomo’s career. People expected her to be the frontrunner. She officially entered the race in October 2021. But then, in a move that caught everyone off guard, she dropped out just two months later in December. She said she had "unfinished business" as AG, specifically pointing toward her investigations into Donald Trump.
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Then you had Jumaane Williams. He’s the NYC Public Advocate and a darling of the progressive left. He jumped in around November 2021, positioning himself as the outsider who would actually shake things up. Around that same time, Tom Suozzi, a Congressman from Long Island, threw his hat in the ring. He was looking to capture the moderate lane, basically arguing that the state was drifting too far left.
Who Is Running For NYC Governor 2021: The Republican Side
While the Democrats were busy with their internal drama, the Republicans were already coalescing around a few key names. Lee Zeldin, a Congressman from Long Island, was the heavy favorite for the GOP early on. He started his campaign way back in April 2021, even before Cuomo resigned. He saw the writing on the wall.
Other names were floating around, too. You had Andrew Giuliani—yes, Rudy’s son—who brought a lot of name recognition but also a lot of baggage. Then there was Rob Astorino, the former Westchester County Executive who had run before and had a decent base of support. Harry Wilson, a businessman, eventually joined the fray as well, hoping his "fix-it" outsider image would resonate with voters tired of career politicians.
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The Shift in Momentum
The 2021 landscape was weird because it was dominated by COVID-19 recovery and a sudden, sharp focus on crime. Kathy Hochul spent the end of 2021 trying to prove she could govern. She was everywhere—signing bills, holding pressers, and notably, raising a massive amount of money. By November 2021, she had already banked about $10 million. In New York politics, money is gravity. It pulls endorsements and makes opponents think twice.
- Kathy Hochul: The incumbent by succession, focused on stability.
- Jumaane Williams: The progressive voice, pushing for radical housing and healthcare reform.
- Tom Suozzi: The moderate Democrat, focusing on taxes and public safety.
- Lee Zeldin: The Republican frontrunner, centering his campaign on "firing" the Albany establishment.
Honestly, the biggest story of late 2021 was how quickly the "anyone but Cuomo" energy turned into a battle over what the post-Cuomo era should actually look like. Was it going to be a continuation of the status quo under Hochul, or a sharp turn toward progressivism with Williams?
The NYC Connection
People often search for "NYC Governor," but remember, the Governor is for the whole state. However, the Mayor’s race in NYC was also happening in 2021. Eric Adams won that, and his relationship with whoever became Governor was the talk of the town. Hochul was smart—she spent a lot of time in 2021 mending fences with NYC leaders that Cuomo had spent years fighting.
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Basically, if you were looking at who is running for NYC governor 2021 back then, you were looking at a list of people trying to define a "New" New York. It was a race defined by 14-day resignation notices, bombshell reports, and a lot of political maneuvering behind the scenes in Albany and Brooklyn.
What to Do Next
If you're trying to piece together this specific era of New York history, here is how to get the full picture:
- Check the 2022 Primary Results: Since the actual voting happened in June 2022, looking at those numbers shows you who actually survived the 2021 "pre-season."
- Look up the AG Reports: To understand why the race even started, read the executive summary of the Letitia James report on Andrew Cuomo. It explains the "why" behind the chaos.
- Monitor Campaign Finance: Search the NY State Board of Elections for the January 2022 filings. This shows who won the money war in late 2021, which usually predicts the winner.
The 2021 "campaign" was really a test of endurance and fundraising. It set the stage for one of the closest gubernatorial races New York had seen in decades.