Why our NYC Elections Matter at the National Level
And how you can be a small kingmaker in this election
Tomorrow is the last day to register and log points in the Primary Bootcamp.
Along the lines of a fitness bootcamp, the NYC Primary Bootcamp is meant to get New Yorkers in shape to not just vote in the primary, but take one more step in their community and political engagement. There are different categories of actions that Bootcamp participants can complete, earn points, and win prizes. Anyone who hits 70 points gets a beautiful print by a local artist and an invitation to join the Bootcamp Awards Party on July 12.
It’s not too late to register or to log the actions you’ve taken over the last couple months. Here’s how:
Sign up for the Bootcamp if you haven't already
Log your points (full list of actions here)
Check your points (Unreviewed Points here | Reviewed Points here)
Reflections from my first Substack Live: Yes, our local election has national implications
Yesterday,
hosted a Substack Live with me and to discuss the NYC Primary and why we should all pay more attention to local politics. David is an expert moderator, keeping Ross and I on topic and asking smart questions. Ross shared about his experience running for office in 2018 and covering the current primary. Here’s the full recording, and David’s post here:
I have one more reflection that I was simmering on afterward. David asked:
Does this election have national implications or do we New Yorkers just think NYC is more important than anywhere else?
My take: Yes, this election has national implications- because blue cities need to prove they can govern. As a liberal and a Democrat, I want to see more Democrats elected in 2026 and 2028, across the country. For that to happen, our party has to be seen not just as the one that values inclusivity and diversity- but also as the one that delivers results.
I lived in San Francisco from 2015 to 2020, a city that was constantly getting jabbed by Fox News: “Look how high San Francisco’s taxes are. And there’s still human feces on the sidewalk.” “Look at how much a one-bedroom costs in San Francisco. And there are needles next to playgrounds.” As painful as those talking points were, they weren’t wrong. And while San Francisco and New York are very different cities, both are deeply blue places that have to prove that progressive values can translate into effective governance.
Democrats need to show that higher taxes can mean better services. That it’s possible to build a city that is both inclusive in its values and affordable in practice. That when we say housing is a human right, we actually build enough of it to make that true. Blue cities must find ways to bring the cost of living down- because if we keep losing residents, we’ll keep losing political power, including seats in Congress. What happens in New York matters far beyond New York.
Vote if you haven’t already. And do this next action to influence the election.
How to become a small kingmaker in this election
It’s worth 70 Bootcamp points to share your voter guide (or really any voter guide).
Sharing your voter guide is hands-down my favorite Bootcamp action. Why? Because it’s both incredibly helpful and surprisingly powerful. It’s helpful because most people don’t know what a Borough President does, let alone who’s running or how to evaluate them. But they know you and they trust you. When you take a few minutes to send a message like, “Don’t forget to vote. Here’s how to find your polling place. In case you’re undecided, here’s who I’m voting for and why,” you’re giving people something they actually need: a recommendation from someone they trust. That’s way more powerful than a campaign website or a phone call from a campaign volunteer. Because your community knows you and your values. It just takes a couple minutes to send an email or post on social media, and it has a huge impact.
In most elections, there are institutional players who act as kingmakers: political clubs, labor unions, advocacy groups. They vet candidates, make endorsements, and help shape who ends up in power. But what if each of us took on a bit of that role ourselves? What if we all became small kingmakers, sharing what matters to us with our communities? It’s not just about convincing others- it’s about sharing your values. Don’t allow only institutional voices to dominate the conversation. By putting your voter guide out there, you’re helping shape the political narrative. The more times someone hears a name or sees a message, the more they believe it. That message should be yours.
You don’t have to come up with your own voter guide from scratch, you can just forward along my voter guide with your own commentary or share another guide that you like better.
If you use this template email (pasted below), you’re accomplishing 70 Bootcamp points in one action.
Step 1. Use this template email to send out any voter guide.
Step 2. Register for the Bootcamp if you haven’t already (link here).
Step 3. Log your points (link here).
Step 4. Check your points (Unreviewed Points here | Reviewed Points here)
Or just BCC me on your email and I’ll log the points for you! Sachi.in.nyc@gmail.com
Subj: Voting resources for the upcoming June Primary Election
Hi there,
I’m sending you some resources ahead of our June 24 Primary Election because I know it can be hard to keep up with local politics. There’s so much going on in the nation and world, not to mention our busy day-to-day lives. I’ve been participating in this June Primary Bootcamp, and one of my goals is to support my community to vote in the Primary.
This is your friendly reminder to register to vote and come up with a plan for how you're going to vote. Here’s how:
If you’re still undecided on any local races, here’s how I’m voting, and I’m happy to share more about why I think these folks are the best candidates:
Mayor: XX
Comptroller: XX
Borough President: XX
City Council: XX
Whichever way you do it, VOTE and encourage your neighbors, friends, and family to vote, too!
Your Name
Bootcamp Leaderboard
It’s not too late to register for the June Primary Bootcamp, log the civic actions you’ve taken over the past two months, and win prizes- including a beautiful print and an invite to the Bootcamp Awards Party on July 12. If you’ve researched candidates, reminded friends to vote, posted your voter guide or “I Voted” selfie- those all count! Just sign up and log them. Huge shoutout to the current top 5 point-earners (for today): Lenny, Natalie, Eden, Peggy, and Felix! Your dedication to local democracy is setting the pace for all of us. Let’s finish strong!
