You probably remember the chaos. It’s hard to forget the summer of 2021 in New York City. We were just starting to peel off the masks, the city was vibrating with this weird, nervous energy, and suddenly, everyone was talking about "ranking" their favorite politicians like they were drafting a fantasy football team.
Actually, I should clear something up right away. People often search for the "2020 NYC mayoral election," but that's a bit of a Mandela Effect moment. The race really heated up in 2020—that’s when the big names like Eric Adams, Maya Wiley, and Andrew Yang officially jumped in—but the actual voting didn't happen until 2021. It was the first time we used Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for a mayor's race, and honestly, it was a mess and a miracle all at once.
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The Wild Card: Andrew Yang and the Early Hype
Remember when Andrew Yang seemed like a lock?
Early on, his "Math" hats were everywhere. He had the name recognition from his presidential run, and for a few months, it felt like he was going to cruise into Gracie Mansion. But New York politics is a different beast. The city’s press corps is relentless, and the "tourist" label started to stick.
While Yang was doing photo-ops at Nathan’s Famous, Eric Adams was quietly building a massive coalition. Adams, a former NYPD captain and Brooklyn Borough President, leaned hard into a "Blue Collar" identity. He talked about crime when other progressives were wary of the topic. He talked about his own experience being beaten by police as a teenager, which gave him this unique lane: he wanted to fix the cops, but he didn't want to defund them.
That One Night at the Board of Elections
If you want to talk about why this election was historic, you have to talk about the "test ballot" fiasco.
About a week after the primary, the Board of Elections (BOE) released a new set of numbers. Suddenly, there were 135,000 extra votes that nobody could account for. For a few hours, the city went into a total tailspin. People were screaming about fraud on Twitter, and the candidates were rightfully furious.
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It turned out to be a massive human error. The BOE had accidentally left test data in the system when they ran the real numbers. They cleared it up, but the damage to public trust was real.
The Final Showdown: Adams vs. Garcia
When the dust finally settled, it came down to Eric Adams and Kathryn Garcia. Garcia was the "super-manager"—the former Sanitation Commissioner who knew how to make the gears of the city turn. She didn't have the flash, but she had the endorsements of the New York Times and Daily News.
The margin was razor-thin.
- Eric Adams: 404,513 votes (50.4%)
- Kathryn Garcia: 397,316 votes (49.6%)
Basically, 7,000 votes decided the fate of the largest city in America. That is wild. It’s the equivalent of a few blocks in Brooklyn deciding the whole thing. It proved that in a Ranked Choice system, your second and third choices actually matter. If a few more Maya Wiley supporters had ranked Garcia second instead of leaving their ballots blank, Garcia might be mayor today.
Why We Are Still Feeling the Aftershocks
You can’t look at the current state of NYC without looking back at that 2021 cycle. It set the stage for everything we see now—from the debates over subway safety to the massive shift in how the city handles the migrant crisis.
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The 2021 race was also a transition of power. Bill de Blasio was out after eight years, and the city was desperate for a new direction. Adams won because he promised "swagger" and safety. He appealed to the outer-borough homeowners—the people in southeast Queens and the North Shore of Staten Island who felt ignored by the Manhattan elite.
Lessons for the Next One
So, what did we actually learn?
First, never trust the early polls. Yang’s collapse was a masterclass in how fast a "frontrunner" can vanish once the scrutiny starts. Second, the "ground game" still wins. Adams spent years in the churches and community centers of Brooklyn, and that base didn't budge.
Third, and maybe most importantly: Rank your ballots. A lot of people in 2021 only picked one person. They "bullet voted." But in a race this close, that’s basically throwing away your influence. If your favorite candidate gets eliminated, your vote just stops working.
What You Should Do Now
If you're a New Yorker—or just someone who cares about how big cities are run—don't wait until the next election to get involved.
- Check your registration status. Use the NYC Board of Elections portal to make sure you're still active.
- Look up your City Council member. The 2021 election also brought in the most diverse City Council in history. They have a huge say in your local park, your trash collection, and your rent.
- Understand RCV. Practice with it. It’s not going anywhere, and as we saw with the 7,000-vote gap, it’s the most powerful tool you have.
New York is always changing, but the 2021 race was a definitive "before and after" moment for the city’s soul. It wasn't just about picking a mayor; it was about deciding what kind of city we wanted to be after the world stopped.