Many Democrats Drop Out of Sight After Defeat in Primaries

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

If you haven’t had a chance to meet Scott Stringer, the candidate who is all but guaranteed to be the next president of Manhattan, there is still a shot you’ll see him campaigning at your subway stop in the next few weeks. If you haven’t met the Democratic nominee for mayor, Fernando Ferrer, he’ll be at the Apollo Theater for a debate tomorrow night and at senior centers and parades between now and the general election on November 8.


There are, however, a number of Democrats who have suddenly disappeared from the public stage after months of filling mailboxes with campaign literature, leaving unsolicited voice-mail messages for voters, and showing up at block parties. They are the ones who lost in last month’s Democratic primaries, which are often tantamount to general elections in this city.


“The problem is, we don’t have a very good parking lot for defeated candidates,” a professor of political science at New York University and an adviser to Mayor Bloomberg, Mitchell Moss, said. “Might have been and would have been don’t count. Look at Al Gore, look at John Kerry.”


With term limits now in place, candidates who once could stay comfortably in City Council jobs for their political careers are now forced out after two four-year terms. That has prompted many to try for a higher rung on the electoral ladder. The list of defeated candidates from last month’s primary is a case in point.


The speaker of the City Council, Gifford Miller, and the president of Manhattan, C. Virginia Fields, who both ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic mayoral primary, will be out of elected office at the end of the year. The same goes for three City Council members who ran for Ms. Fields’s old job, Bill Perkins, Margarita Lopez, and Eva Moskowitz.


Ms. Moskowitz, the only candidate for borough president who gave up her seat to run, talked about what all the losing candidates are now faced with: what to do next. Ms. Moskowitz has represented the Upper East Side in the council for the last six years and made a name for herself as head of the Education Committee.


“I’ve got three children who missed their mommy for the vortex of the campaign, but I don’t know,” she said during a telephone interview Monday. “I’m thinking about how to make a contribution and continue to forward the public interest, but I’ve got to re ally think it through.


“If you want to call me back in a month, I’ll probably have a better idea,” she said.


Ms. Moskowitz mentioned several ideas, including education policy work, but also said she might opt to focus on another area. Political analysts have long guessed that Ms. Moskowitz had her eye on higher office and the job she was running for, the president of Manhattan, is viewed as a stepping-stone to Gracie Mansion.


“I was not brought up to be defeated and then call it quits and sort walk off with my marbles,” she said.


Ms. Moskowitz said she was “open” to running for office again, but would explore other ways to improve public policy and decide later.


Mr. Miller has been quiet about his plans. In his few television appearances since losing the primary, he’s said he will campaign for Mr. Ferrer, focus on finishing up his work in the council, and spend time with his wife and two young sons.


Complicating matters, Mr. Miller, 35, who was once viewed as a rising political star in the party, came out of the primary bruised. After raising more money and garnering more endorsements than any of his opponents, he finished dead last. He also had many good-government groups questioning whether he abused government resources by sending out a campaign-style $1.6 million mailing and whether his campaign violated spending regulations.


He is midway through law school and will likely receive offers from lobbying firms and nonprofit groups.


Ms. Fields, who has already had a full career as a council member and borough president, has not said what she’ll do. During last year’s presidential election, she endorsed Senator Kerry early, and many said she would have been considered for an appointment in his administration had he been elected.


A political consultant, Bob Liff, said it would be foolish to count out Mr. Miller or other failed candidates. He pointed to Mayor Dinkins, who ran for president of Manhattan three times before winning and then getting elected mayor. Governor Cuomo lost races for lieutenant governor in 1974 and mayor in 1977, only to be elected governor in 1982.


“There are second acts in America and especially in politics,” he said. “These are talented people. They are not going to go away and hide.”


Mr. Perkins said he’s received some offers and that people have been “encouraging” him to “gear up for another election.” In the borough president race, he narrowly beat Assemblyman Keith Wright in Mr. Wright’s district. Mr. Wright is up for re-election next year. Mr. Perkins said it was too early to talk about future elections.


With little turnover on the state and congressional levels, finding the right opportunity in the public sector could be difficult. Mr. Miller got his start in politics working for Rep. Carolyn Maloney, but unless she steps down, which is not expected anytime soon, his chances of even running for a congressional seat are slim.


“You’re like the prince of England waiting for the queen to die,” Mr. Moss said. “Gifford isn’t Prince Charles, who can afford to wait 50 years for the queen mother to pass on.”


As long as Republicans control Albany, Washington, and New York City, Mr. Moss said, there will probably be Democrats missing out on jobs they could otherwise get.


Then again, they can look to next year’s statewide elections.


The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use