Former adviser to Adams plays crucial role in super PAC supporting Cuomo with record financial contributions.

The super PAC supporting Andrew Cuomo’s mayoral campaign, Fix the City, has established a significant financial advantage that is challenging for his opponents to match. A pivotal figure in the organization is Meaghan Brown, who assumed the role of chief operating officer shortly after her departure from Mayor Eric Adams’ administration earlier this year. Under Brown’s leadership, Fix the City has executed a robust fundraising and spending strategy, raising nearly million to support Cuomo’s candidacy since its inception in late February.

Brown’s professional trajectory includes serving as the chief operating officer of Adams’ transition committee and later as the chief of external affairs in his administration. In these capacities, she acted as a crucial liaison between City Hall and key private sector stakeholders, particularly in real estate and finance.

Recent disclosures reveal that executives from these industries have significantly bolstered Fix the City’s fundraising efforts, contributing more than half of the PAC’s total intake to date. This influx of cash positions Fix the City as the largest super PAC fundraising for a single election cycle in New York’s history. As of recent reports, the PAC had already expended over .5 million on advertisements and direct mail initiatives promoting Cuomo’s bid while targeting top rival Zohran Mamdani.

The impact of Fix the City’s spending is profound, effectively outspending what candidates can individually allocate under the city’s campaign finance cap of .9 million. This places Cuomo in an exceptionally favorable position as he continues to lead in polls leading up to the June primary.

Legal stipulations allow the PAC to operate without imposed limits on fundraising and expenditures, provided it does not coordinate operations directly with Cuomo’s campaign. This vast financial backing raises concerns among ethics advocates, who caution that unrestricted PAC contributions undermine the democratic process. John Kaehny, an executive director at a local watchdog organization, expressed concerns regarding the implications of such financial dynamics, noting the significant influence of PACs following a Supreme Court ruling that has facilitated unlimited contributions to political candidates.

In contrast to Cuomo’s extensive financial support, other candidates, including Mamdani, have not garnered comparable resources, making it clear that Fix the City is a dominant force in this election cycle. While Mamdani’s affiliated PAC has raised a mere 0,000, Cuomo’s financial machine is poised to surge ahead as the campaign heats up.

In light of the recent financial transactions, the scrutiny surrounding Cuomo’s campaign has intensified, particularly as the city’s election oversight body has withheld nearly million in public matching funds due to potential infractions regarding coordinated spending. Despite these challenges, the financial heft provided by Fix the City appears to overshadow the constraints placed on Cuomo’s official campaign.

This trend of super PAC involvement in local political races raises critical questions about the nature of campaign financing and its impact on electoral outcomes. As the race progresses, all eyes will be on how this influx of funds shapes the dynamics of the New York City mayoral election.

Published by Media News Source.