By Jill Colvin 5/24 11:50am

Day 2

Anthony Weiner speaks at his first forum appearance Thursday night. (Photo: Jill Colvin)

Anthony Weiner Makes His Case to Skeptical Bronx Voters

After a frenzied meet-and-greet with commuters in Harlem, ex-Congressman Anthony Weiner made his first appearance–that we know about–at a mayoral forum last night in the Riverdale section of The Bronx, where he tried to make a case to voters about why they should consider electing him again.

“For me, it’s good to be anywhere,” Mr. Weiner told members of the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club–one of the few clubs he said endorsed him back in 2005–a day after formally jumping into the race with a video posted on his campaign website. Read More

By Jill Colvin 5/24 9:50am

Hiding

Anthony Weiner speaking on the Upper West Side.

Anthony Weiner’s Secret Campaign Stop

Ex-Congressman Anthony Weiner was met with a media circus Thursday as he hit the campaign trail. Except, that is, when he didn’t tell the press where he was going.

After being trailed by dozens of reporters, photographers and cameramen who interfered with his attempts to interact with voters and then caused a scene at his first publicized forum, Mr. Weiner decided to ditch his entourage, making at least one covert stop. Read More

By Jill Colvin 5/22 2:52pm

Rollout

Anthony Weiner. (Photo: Twitter)

Anthony Weiner Says He Can Win Gracie Mansion

Despite the crotch shots circulating the internet and the botched cover-up that forced him to resign from Congress in shame, ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner says he believes he can win the mayor’s race.

“Yes,” he told Politicker Wednesday afternoon when asked whether he honestly thinks he can become the city’s next mayor. The comments came in a phone interview hours after Mr. Weiner formally jumped into the race with a video posted on his new mayoral website. Read More

By Jill Colvin 5/22 12:16am

he's In

Video

Anthony Weiner's launches his campaign. (http://www.anthonyweiner.com)

He’s In: Anthony Weiner Launches Run For Mayor With Video

He’s in. After weeks of speculation, disgraced ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner has officially thrown his hat into the mayor’s race, announcing he’s running with a new video posted on his revamped campaign website at midnight on Wednesday.

“Look, I made some big mistakes. And I know I let a lot of people down. But I’ve also learned some tough lessons,” he says in the video, which opens with a family scene of the former councilman and his wife, Huma Abedin, having breakfast in their kitchen with their young son.

“I’m running for mayor ’cause I’ve been fighting for the middle class and those struggling to make it my entire life. And I hope I get a second chance to work for you,”  he says into the camera in the 2-minute, slickly-shot reel. Read More

By Jill Colvin 5/17 4:14pm

Top Dog

Jimmy McMillan. (Photo: David Shankbone/WikiCommons)

Ridiculous Candidate Gets Ridiculous Endorsement: Jimmy McMillan Crowned Papaya King

In what has to be the best endorsement of the mayor’s race so far, Jimmy McMillan from The Rent is Too Damn High Party has earned a nod from none other than Papaya King.

The cheapo hot dog eatery not only plans to promote Mr. McMillan and his mutton chops in its stores, but has invited him to treat its new location on St. Mark’s Place–which will be celebrating its grand opening tomorrow–as an “unofficial” campaign headquarters. It’s also planning to  introduce a new specialty hot dog, “The Jimmy McMillan,” in his honor. Read More

By Jill Colvin 5/17 1:49pm

girl power

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. (Photo: Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)

Christine Quinn Launching ‘Women for Reynoso’ to Block Vito Lopez from Winning Council Seat

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is throwing her weight–and campaign resources–behind City Council candidate Antonio Reynoso in an effort to keep disgraced Assemblyman Vito Lopez from wining a seat on the council.

Ms. Quinn’s campaign announced the launch of a “Women for Reynoso” campaign Friday, which will “rally women throughout New York in support of Antonio Reynoso and to make sure that Vito Lopez’s career in government comes to an end.” Read More

By Jill Colvin 5/16 2:35pm

And Stay out!

Vito Lopez. (Photo: NYS Assembly)

Nauseated Christine Quinn Repeats Call For Vito Lopez Resignation, Holds Fire on Silver

Describing his conduct as “nauseating,” City Council Speaker Christine Quinn again called on disgraced Assemblyman Vito Lopez to resign from office, but held her fire when it came to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

A day after the release of a scathing report detailing Mr. Lopez’s alleged sexual harassment of numerous young female staffers, Ms. Quinn said Mr. Lopez had no business serving in elected office–much less running for the City Council–and urged New Yorkers to do anything they can to keep him out of City Hall. Read More

By Ross Barkan 4/16 4:43pm

Political Party(ing)

Governor Cuomo And District Attorney Make Announcement On Corruption Crimes

Cuomo Proposes Electoral Reforms in Wake of Corruption Scandals

Two weeks ago, Democratic State Sen. Malcolm Smith was arrested and charged with trying to bribe his way into the Republican mayoral primary, prompting cries for reform from both ends of the political spectrum. Today, Governor Andrew Cuomo rolled out a series of proposals that he hopes will address many of these concerns.

“You’ve heard the expression pay to play, this is pay to run,” Mr. Cuomo said at a press conference announcing the measures. “The allegations that the minor parties basically, on occasion, have used campaign contributions to determine who gets the line and it’s almost that the line goes to the highest bidder.” Read More