Zellnor Myrie’s Fight for the Primary Ballot: Can He Gather Enough Signatures for NYC Mayor?

CAROLINE MCCARTHY, HOST:

This Mayoral race is already crowded but there’s always room for one more candidate, so long as they get at least 3,750 signatures by April 3rd from voters. That’s what’s needed to run in the primary. Zellnor Myrie is hoping to do that, and is still getting the necessary signatures. Zhuoya Ma talked with Myrie and New Yorkers about the upcoming election.

MA: Last night, Zellnor Myrie was on the Upper West Side, at the 96th Street subway station, asking New Yorkers to help get him on the ballot for Mayor.

MYRIE: Good evening. Are you guys registered to vote in New York City? Good evening, good evening. Hello, are you registered to vote in New York City? 

MA: For the past seven years, Myrie has served as a state senator representing Brooklyn, and he says he would bring that experience to the new job.

MYRIE: I focused on making our district more safe and our district more affordable. I want to bring that same level of energy, that same level of urgency, to the entire city. 

MA: A Quinnipiac poll released yesterday has former Governor Andrew Cuomo leading with 30 percent of the votes in the primary. His nearest competitor is Eric Adams with just 10 percent. Zellnor Myrie follows behind, but he says the city is at a crossroads and that if elected, he would commit to building more housing and ensuring public safety by providing more youth jobs.

MYRIE: The decisions that we make over the next couple of weeks and months are going to have a generational impact. What we do now will matter for many children and many families, both that are here and that want to start their lives here.

MA: Alina Larson is a volunteer helping Myrie to gather signatures. 

LARSON: How many signatures have you got today? Um, I'm going to say 15. So, you know, not bad.

MA: Larson is a journalist, but she put her career on hold to support candidates she believes in–and for now, that’s  Zellnor Myrie.

LARSON: He is a lawyer, so I find that he's extremely thoughtful about the policies that he's put forth. Climate, education, affordability, health care, all those things are his values, and so that's why I support him.

MA: Nearby, at the turnstiles [turn-styles], Joan Strasbaugh asks passers-by for their signature, pitching Myrie as warm, friendly, and smart. 

STRASBAUGH: And if you go online, you can see he's passionate about serving his constituents. And I don't think any other candidate is so committed to the people of New York.

MA: Zhuoya Ma, Columbia radio news. 

Mayor candidate Zellnor Myrie, credit by Zhuoya Ma.

Designating petition form and political flyer of Zellnor Myrie, credit by Zhuoya Ma.

Volunteers helping mayor candidate Zellnor Myrie, credit by Zhuoya Ma.