Race for NYC mayor: Teachers' Union endorses Scott Stringer

Monday, April 19, 2021

Teachers' Union endorses Scott Stringer for NYC mayor

The powerful NYC Teachers' Union has announced it is officially endorsing Scott Stringer for mayor.

LOWER MANHATTAN (WABC) -- A large and diverse group is running for mayor of New York City and a new poll shows Andrew Yang is on top followed by two veteran elected officials: Eric Adams and Scott Stringer.

The powerful NYC Teachers' Union just announced it was endorsing Stringer.

The Delegate Assembly of the United Federation of Teachers, the union's highest decision-making body, made the announcement Monday.

Despite Yang's double-digit lead with eight weeks to go until Primary Election Day, current Mayor Bill de Blasio said the race could still change.

"At this point in 2013 I was in fourth place so I just think this has been a very late-developing election," de Blasio said. "People have rightfully, understandably been very focused on COVID and they're now just starting to put their attention into the mayoral race."

Adams, who is running second in most polls, believes those polls are wrong and predicted Monday that voters will move more his way because, as he says, he's a blue-collar New Yorker, just like most New Yorkers.

"I am you! I am you! You are finally having a candidate that's you," Adams said. "You are finally feeling something that's not masquerade or created-but authentic."

Dave Evans reports on New York City mayoral candidate and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

Last Wednesday, Stringer also got the endorsement of the Working Families Party.

The liberal, left-wing party has backed candidates like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders in the presidential race.

"Look, I was excited because a lot of people wanted to be the choice of the Working Families Party," Stringer said.

For Stringer, the endorsement means troops on the ground and some attention while not many New Yorkers are thinking about the mayor's race yet.

Usually endorsements don't matter that much, but this year it's different.

There are so many candidates running and also New Yorkers will have ranked choice voting; so instead of voting for just one candidate, voters will rank them one through five -- and because of all of that -- this year endorsements may make a big difference.

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