Rafael Espinal Drops Out Of Brooklyn Borough Presidency Race

BED-STUY, NY — The race for Brooklyn Borough President just lost one of its candidates.

North Brooklyn City Councilman Rafael Espinal on Thursday announced his withdrawal from the contest. He issued a statement thanking his supporters but stating he decided to drop out after months of consideration.

“Given my record and ability to work with all Brooklynites, I truly believe that I could have put together a strong and winning campaign,” he wrote. “Right now is just not the time for me.”

Espinal’s withdrawal leaves three Brooklyn Borough presidency candidates who have filed campaigns who filed with the city's Campaign Finance Board: City Council members Robert Cornegy and Antonio Reynoso, and activist Bishop Lamor Miller Whitehead.

Current Borough President Eric Adams is waging a campaign to succeed Bill de Blasio as New York City mayor and currently leads other candidates in fundraising totals, the New York Post reported.
Hizzoner is term-limited and will leave the office after the 2021 election.

Espinal represents Brooklyn’s 37th District, which includes part of Bed-Stuy, in the City Council. He gained attention for his successful pushes for a Nightlife Mayor position and repealing the city’s anti-dancing, Footloose-like Cabaret law.

Parlaying that attention into a successful campaign ultimately proved a different matter. Espinal announced his candidacy in September, with a pledge to focus on progressive issues like climate change, the affordability crisis and education reforms.

He hoped to raise $250,000 by January. Espinal’s campaign reported $11,649 in contribution as of Jan. 16, according to New York City Campaign Finance Board records.