Michael Blake, a longshot candidate for NYC mayor, files lawsuit against the Campaign Finance Board to participate in the second debate.

Michael Blake, a candidate in the New York City mayoral race, has initiated legal action against the city’s Campaign Finance Board (CFB) after being excluded from the upcoming second mayoral debate scheduled for this week. Blake contends that the board has unjustly barred him from participating, claiming he has met the financial criteria necessary to qualify for a spot on the debate stage.

The CFB announced at the end of May that Blake would not take part in the debate due to his failure to meet established fundraising thresholds. According to the board, Blake needed to raise 0,000 in matchable campaign contributions, including at least 1,000 donations of or more. However, Blake’s campaign asserts in its lawsuit, filed Monday in Manhattan Supreme Court, that he has actually gathered 5,313 from 1,592 matchable donors. The candidate argues that systemic errors within the CFB’s reporting led to the erroneous conclusion that he did not meet the requirements.

Blake, a former assemblymember from the Bronx, is seeking to have the CFB rectify its records regarding over 100 contributions that he claims were incorrectly omitted from his fundraising totals. He argues that the errors committed by the CFB should not preclude him from participating in the debate, emphasizing the need for accurate and fair evaluation of his campaign’s finances.

His visibility and support have surged following a strong performance in a recent debate, alongside notable political shifts such as Jessica Ramos’ endorsement of Andrew Cuomo, which has further altered the dynamics of the race. This newfound support has led some political analysts to begin listing Blake among viable candidates in potential ranked-choice voting scenarios.

Candidates are required to fulfill specific conditions to secure a place in the second debate, including achieving certain financial benchmarks or polling performance metrics. The CFB’s requirements call for candidates to either raise a minimum of 0,000 in matchable donations, spend a combined total of ,379,600, or attain at least 5% support in polls.

Blake and his campaign team are requesting additional time to correct or resubmit any missing documentation to ensure that all contributions are properly counted. The candidate believes that the CFB should have the ability to amend their records to reflect the true state of his campaign’s fundraising efforts. A spokesperson for the CFB has declined to comment on the ongoing lawsuit.

The legal dispute has initiated broader discussions regarding the fairness and transparency of the CFB’s processes. As the date of the debate approaches, its implications for the mayoral race remain significant.