WNYC/Gothamist Announces 2025 New York City Mayoral and NJ Gubernatorial Election Season Coverage Plans
WNYC’s Brian Lehrer to Co-Moderate Mayoral Debate on Wednesday, October 22;
WNYC/Gothamist Political Reporters Brigid Bergin and Liz Kim lead NYC races coverage
(September 15, 2025 – New York, NY) – WNYC/Gothamist—home to New York City’s largest non-profit, multiplatform local newsroom—today announced its coverage plans for the 2025 New York City mayoral election, New Jersey gubernatorial election, and other key city-wide and NJ races.
Through on-the-ground reporting, candidate debates, live events, radio series, community engagement, and more, WNYC/Gothamist will deliver rigorous coverage of this consequential election season to audiences on-air, online, across social channels, and in the community.
Mayoral, Comptroller and Public Advocate Debates
WNYC will play a key role in multiple debates for city-wide roles:
- Thursday, October 9: WNYC’s Morning Edition host Michael Hill will be a questioner in the NYC public advocate debate.
- Wednesday, October 15: WNYC’s Senior Politics Reporter Brigid Brigid will co-moderate the NYC comptroller debate.
- Wednesday, October 22: WNYC will co-sponsor the final mayoral debate with NY1. WNYC’s Brian Lehrer will co-moderate the debate with NY1’s Errol Louis.
All debates will air live on WNYC 93.9 FM, AM 820, and wnyc.org at 7pm.
The Brian Lehrer Show’s “30 Issues in 30 Days”
Beginning Monday, September 22, The Brian Lehrer Show presents “30 Issues in 30 Days,” its signature election series that looks beyond the polls and personalities to focus squarely on the issues at stake. “30 Issues” will explore issues and policy proposals specific to NYC (e.g. freezing the rent, free buses); NJ (e.g. climate and energy policy), and region-wide issues (e.g. NYC and NJ’s sanctuary status and anti-Semitism).
Live Events
FRONT LINES OF DEFENSE: Democracy and Journalism in 2025
Monday, September 15, 7pm at The Greene Space at WNYC
On International Democracy Day, WNYC Senior Political Reporter Brigid Bergin moderates an essential conversation on press freedom and the role democracy reporting plays in holding officials accountable, keeping citizens informed, and protecting democratic freedoms. Panelists: George Chidi of The Guardian, Brandon Tensley of Capital B, and Elizabeth Estrada of Spotlight PA. The event will be livestreamed at thegreenespace.org.
“WORD FROM THE CURB”: All Things Considered Live from The Bronx
Thursday, September 30 at 4-6:30pm in Throggs Neck, The Bronx
Throughout this election season, WNYC has been bringing its evening drive-time local news show All Things Considered to local communities to engage New Yorkers in the news of the day. Next stop: The Bronx. Host Sean Carlson will lead conversations live on-air with guests and an in-person audience about the key issues driving this mayoral race and how they are specifically affecting Bronx residents: affordability, public safety, mass transit, and more. Additional information here.
Special Reporting Series
New Yorkers are embracing progressives again – what’s behind the shift?
Starting the week of Oct. 6
Four years ago, following two terms of progressive Mayor Bill de Blasio, New Yorkers elected a tough-on-crime former police officer Eric Adams to the top spot. One year ago, more New Yorkers voted for Donald Trump in 2024 than in the 2016 and 2020 elections. Now, the polls are showing that the city is on the cusp of electing democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani for mayor.
What does this pendulum swing tell us about New York City voter sentiment and the effects of past and present policy?
In the weeks leading up to Election Day, political reporters Brigid Bergin and Liz Kim, along with other WNYC/Gothamist reporters, will dive deep into the issues that drove voters to the polls in the primary and look ahead to what it means for the next four years. The series will cover childcare, public safety, voter turnout and new voters, and housing and affordability. Reporting will appear on Gothamist.com, on the NYC Now podcast, and on air on WNYC and wnyc.org.
Election Night Coverage
On Tuesday, November 4, Brian Lehrer, WNYC All Things Considered host Sean Carlson, and WNYC / Gothamist reporters Brigid Bergin and Liz Kim will lead special election night coverage beginning at 8pm. WNYC 93.9 FM / AM 820 / wnyc.org
ABOUT WNYC
With an urban vibrancy and a global perspective, WNYC is New York’s public radio station, broadcasting and streaming award-winning journalism, groundbreaking audio programming, and essential talk radio to the city and beyond. WNYC offers its listeners a unique range of local, national, and international programming, including programming from NPR, American Public Media, and the BBC World Service, along with a roster of WNYC-produced local programs that champion the stories and spirit of New York City and the surrounding region, including The Brian Lehrer Show and All Of It. From its state-of-the-art studios, WNYC is reshaping audio for a new generation of listeners, producing some of the most beloved nationally-syndicated public radio programs including Radiolab, On the Media, and The New Yorker Radio Hour. WNYC broadcasts on 93.9 FM and AM 820 to listeners in New York and the tri-state area, and is available to audiences everywhere at WNYC.org, the WNYC app, and through major digital radio services, all made possible through the generous support of our members, donors, and sponsors.