Leading Eric Adams challenger will miss first matching funds payment

A former labor union operative, Hirsh worked in City Hall under Bill de Blasio and was a senior adviser to Maya Wiley’s mayoral campaign in 2021. Political insiders and Adams’ challengers are awaiting word from the New York City Campaign Finance Board on whether to grant Adams matching funds, given his federal indictment that alleges a straw donor scheme. Lander will be eligible for the matching funds payment at the board’s Jan. 15 meeting, at which point he expects to be approved for as much as $3.5 million, according to a campaign official. “We’re thrilled to build on our fundraising lead by receiving matching funds in the next few weeks as the race begins to take off,” Rebecca Rodriguez, Lander’s senior adviser, said in a statement. CFB Board Chair Frederick Schaffer said in September that the board will “review all relevant information, including but not limited to the indictment, in order to uphold our city’s campaign finance rules and protect taxpayer dollars.” After saying he was done seeking campaign contributions because he had hit his target, Adams resumed campaign fundraising on a trip to Puerto Rico this week, POLITICO first reported — apparently anticipating he may not receive matching funds.