Jumaane Williams Tuesday secured re-election as the city’s public advocate, quashing a challenge from Jenifer Rajkumar, a moderate state lawmaker known for her strong affiliation with Mayor Adams.
Williams, the heavy favorite going into the race, had secured more than 70 percent of the vote with 75 percent of the votes cast, according to results compiled by the Associated Press.
The Working Families Party, which also backed Williams, issued a congratulatory statement shortly after polls closed.
“Our Public Advocate, Jumaane Williams, is courageous,” the statement read. “He is principled; he is a champion of his native Brooklyn, and of our entire city, and tonight, he defeated the corrupt and compromised interests of past administrations to secure re-election.”
Williams has centered his messaging around the threats President Trump poses to the city, especially in his immigration polities, and the affordability crisis.
Rajkumar’s campiagn featured attacks against the incumbent, including a highly criticized racially charged cartoon.
She initially mounted a run for the city’s comptroller. She launched that campaign in August and was not a competitive candidate for the role, and she switched to run for public advocate in late January.
The public advocate serves as a city government ombudsman and is a non-voting member of the City Council, with the ability to introduce legislation. The role is also first in the line of succession to the mayor.
Williams has been a very strong critic of the mayor, while Rajkumar has a reputation for her frequent appearances alongside Adams.
Marty Dolan, a retired insurance executive, was also in the race.
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