November 10, 2024
Former Congressman Anthony Weiner is weighing another run for public office, this time for a seat on the New York City Council. On his weekly radio show on 77WABC, Weiner said Saturday that he’s “thinking about” and “wrestling with” the decision to enter the race for Lower Manhattan’s District 2 seat, currently held by term-limited Council Member Carlina Rivera. Citing crime, homelessness, and housing shortages as major motivators, he said, “I love doing this job on the radio, but I want to be of service.”
The District 2 Democratic primary is already competitive, featuring Assembly Member Harvey Epstein, Manhattan Community Board 3 Chair Andrea Gordillo, and Community Board 3 Vice Chair Sarah Batchu, all of whom have raised substantial funds. Batchu leads with approximately $60,000, while Epstein and Gordillo have each raised over $50,000 for their campaigns.
Weiner, who served on the New York City Council from 1992 to 1998 before succeeding Sen. Chuck Schumer in Congress, has had a tumultuous career. In 2011, he resigned from Congress after a sexting scandal, and a 2013 bid for New York City Mayor was derailed by a similar controversy. In 2017, Weiner served a 21-month prison sentence for sexting a minor, which also unearthed emails that affected the 2016 presidential race through his then-wife and Clinton aide, Huma Abedin.
Weiner acknowledged his challenging history but expressed frustration with the Democratic Party’s approach to pressing issues, saying, “The things in my past, the things about my addiction… it’s a lot, it’s a lot.” He added, “We seem like we come into knife fights carrying library books all the time,” underscoring his view that Democrats need a stronger stance on New York City’s issues.
The announcement has already garnered mixed reactions from Weiner’s competitors. Epstein said, “Anyone who wants to run should run for sure. That is the Democratic process.” Gordillo, however, criticized the potential comeback, saying, “Families in Lower Manhattan deserve better than failed New York and Washington politicians using our moment of need for their own political comeback,” and emphasized the need for “fierce, progressive leadership” to address local issues.
Although Weiner has yet to open a campaign account, his potential entry adds intrigue to an already competitive race for District 2.
Sources:
- 77WABC Radio. (2024). “Anthony Weiner considers NYC Council run on air.”
- New York Post. (2024). “District 2 Council race heats up as Weiner weighs comeback.”
- The New York Times. (2017). “The fallout from Weiner’s scandals and political impact.”
