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The2021 Rochester mayoral election was held on November 2, 2021.[1] IncumbentDemocratic mayorLovely Warren ran for reelection to a third term in office but was defeated in the Democratic primary by city councilmanMalik Evans.[2]
In 2017, incumbent mayorLovely Warren was investigated by theNew York State Board of Elections for purported campaign finance violations related to twoPACs created for her 2017 mayoral bid. It was alleged that Warren attempted to use the two PACs to subvertcontribution limits. In October 2020,Monroe CountyDistrict AttorneySandra Doorley announced that a Monroe Countygrand jury voted to indict Warren and two officials who worked on her 2017 reelection campaign on charges related to these accusations.[2] Warren described the investigation as a "politicalwitch hunt" and plead not guilty to the charges.[3]
Warren had previously faced controversy after the March 2020killing of Daniel Prude at the hands of Rochester police and her failure to publicly comment on the investigation into it.[2] On March 12, 2021, a probe by the city council determined that Mayor Warren and then-RochesterChief of PoliceLa'Ron Singletary concealed critical details about Prude's death from the public and lied about their knowledge of the case.[4]
On May 19, 2021, Warren's husband Timothy Granison was stopped on the road by New Yorkstate troopers, who found a large quantity ofcocaine in his car. Police then searched Warren and her husband's home, finding anunregisteredhandgun. Granison was charged with threefelonies: criminalpossession of acontrolled substance, criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, and criminal possession of an unregistered firearm. He pleadednot guilty to all three charges and was released on his ownrecognizance. Granison was one of seven people who were arrested as part of a larger investigation by theRochester Police Department into the presence and proliferation of illegal drugs within the city. Warren, who isseparated from her husband, maintained her innocence and claimed that the investigation was politically motivated. As evidence of this she commented that her husband's trial was set for June 21, one day before the Democratic primary, even though that date was actually requested by her husband's lawyer.[5][6]
Evans declared his candidacy onMartin Luther King Jr. Day 2021. Upon his entry into the race, Warren's campaign released the following statement:
We've prepared for this moment. All over the country unfortunately it's been our brothers that have been first in line to take on sisters. The powers that be playbook hasn't changed since the days of slavery. We know our ancestors are looking down upon us and asking when will our people learn. The Warren Campaign is committed to breaking these generational curses. We will run on our record of service and our record of results. We're confident thatHe who delivered us two victories before will deliver us another victory.[7]
Warren was the only candidate to seek the endorsement of the Rochester Democratic Committee, and received it on February 8, winning 63% of the committee members' votes. Although Evans chose not to participate in the endorsement process, saying he wished to "avoid the divisiveness of internal Democratic Party politics," he still received 31% of the votes.[8]
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Lovely Warren | Malik Evans | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[14] | June 1–8, 2021 | 412 (LV) | ± 7.6% | 35% | 48% | 17% |
| WROC-TV/Emerson College[15] | May 21–22, 2021 | 1000 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 39% | 49% | 12% |
The Democratic primary was held on June 22.[1][8] Malik Evans defeated the incumbent mayor in a landslide victory.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Malik Evans | 12,438 | 66.1% | |
| Democratic | Lovely Warren (incumbent) | 6,373 | 33.9% | |
| Total votes | 18,811 | 100.0% | ||
As no other parties other than the Democratic and Working Families Party (who endorsed Evans) filed to run Evansran unopposed in the general election.[17]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Malik Evans | 13,993 | 82.11% | ||
| Working Families | Malik Evans | 2,813 | 16.51% | ||
| Total | Malik Evans | 16,806 | 98.62% | ||
| Write-in | 236 | 1.38% | |||
| Total votes | 17,042 | 100.00% | |||
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Official websites for mayoral candidates