BY STEPHEN WITT
New York City Public Advocate
Jumaane D. Williams
made it offi cial Tuesday: He’s
running for governor.
The Nov. 16 announcement
came after a seven-week exploratory
phase, during which
Williams visited and spoke
with areas throughout the
Empire State to drum up support,
including Long Island,
the Mid-Hudson, Rochester,
and Buffalo.
“In this moment, I believe
we need bold, principled progressive
leadership in Albany
to move our state forward
with justice and equity, no
matter the political winds,”
Williams said. “I’m honored
to announce my candidacy to
be the next Governor of New
York, humbled by this opportunity
to empower the people
and renew New York, and excited
to share my vision of
structural change with communities
all across the state I
love.”
Having been re-elected
public advocate earlier this
month, Williams has built
a reputation as one of New
York City’s most progressive
elected offi cials. Now, the candidate
says he wants to take
that leadership statewide.
“There is a movement
building in New York. A courageous
progressive movement
that challenges the powerful
– and helps restore that
power to the people. A movement
I’m proud to be a part of.
Because without courageous
progressive leadership, the
way things have always been
will stand in the way of what
they can be,” he added.
In a video released with
his announcement, Williams
spoke about his time growing
up in Brooklyn with Tourette
Syndrome and ADHD, his
time as an organizer, and how
he has incorporated that work
into a decade of service as an
elected offi cial.
Williams, 45, and a graduate
of Brooklyn Tech High
School and Brooklyn College,
started his elected political
career as a City Councilman
from 2010-2019.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, N 10 OV. 19-25, 2021 BTR
Since becoming Public Advocate
in 2019, Williams said
he has passed more legislation
than any of his predecessors
throughout their tenure, ranging
from protecting affordable
housing and promoting racial
equity in development to codifying
the right to record police
activity.
In 2018, while still in the
City Council, he mounted a
progressive insurgent primary
campaign for lieutenant
governor against now Governor
Kathy Hochul, and nearly
beat her with 47% of the vote
– most of it within New York
City.
In announcing his run, Williams
immediately claimed
the mantle of the progressive
left in an increasingly crowded
Democratic Primary fi eld that
includes Hochul and Attorney
General Letitia James.
Outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio
and U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi
(D-Long Island/Queens) are
also believed to be eyeing a run
for governor.
A spokesperson for James’
campaign welcomed Williams
in the race.
“Throughout his career,
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
has been an important
leader on issues from police
reform to housing and we welcome
him to the race. Attorney
General James is running a
change-making campaign for
governor and as we’ve seen in
just a short time there has been
a groundswell of support from
New Yorkers, labor unions,
elected offi cials and others
around her historic candidacy
for governor,” said the spokesperson
The primary is slated for
June 28, 2022. The winner advances
to the general election
on Nov. 8, 2022.
Jumaane Williams makes
run for governor offi cial
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams File Photo