Illustration: Margalit Cutler
Metropolis comptroller Brad Lander by no means doubted that this previous Tuesday would swing his means. “I imply, you don’t take something with no consideration,” he says, “however I simply thought, with that degree of turnout, there was no means it wasn’t going to be an excellent evening.” He was proper. Lander had been campaigning for Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for the reason that two cross-endorsed one another in June’s Democratic major, and within the days main as much as this week’s election, there have been few corners of town the place Lander didn’t canvas. By some means, he nonetheless discovered time to eat actually, rather well: Between Get Out the Vote (GOTV) occasions, ballot visits, many interviews at 30 Rock, and one stroll throughout the Brooklyn Bridge at daybreak, he snuck in a dinner at Lucali and bagels from Shelsky’s, relishing within the chaos of election season. “Truthfully,” he says, “I thrive on it.”
Saturday, November 1
I’ve an early interview at MSNBC this morning, so after my regular cup of drip espresso with oat creamer, I hustle out the door to Shelsky’s. In my view, there are two nice bagels and lox in New York: Russ & Daughters and Shelsky’s. Shelsky’s is three blocks from my home, in order that’s going to push it over the sting. I received requested so many instances over the course of the mayoral election what my bagel order was, and, once I’m alone, it’s an all the things bagel with scallion cream cheese, lox, and a slice of tomato. However my dad objective goes half and half with my daughter, Rosa, on each the lox bagel and an all the things bagel with egg and cheese, which is what we do right this moment. Honestly, I would rely the truth that my 22-year-old daughter remains to be keen to share meals with me as my biggest accomplishment of all.
I eat the bagel within the automobile on the way in which to the interview, after which I’ve a little bit of time earlier than a go to to Zohran’s marketing campaign workplace, so I cease by Schnipper’s for some soup. I really like an excellent soup, and Schnipper’s is one in every of my favourite locations. Curry crab and corn bisque is one in every of their soups of the day, and it’s nice. All citywide elected officers journey with a safety element, and my officer, Syd, is usually skeptical of my culinary enthusiasms — however even he authorized.
I cease by the marketing campaign workplace and head out with some staffers to John Jay School, a close-by ballot web site. For essentially the most half, everybody coming to a ballot web site already is aware of who they’re voting for; most individuals wish to discuss concerning the poll propositions.
From there, I’m going to a Get Out the Vote block occasion and current a proclamation for Darryl White, who labored for the Legal professional Common’s workplace and is retiring after a terrific profession in metropolis authorities. They’re making scorching canines and hamburgers on a Weber kettle grill with charcoal — by no means a fuel grill — so I’ve a scorching canine with mustard.
Afterward, I’m going see the brand new Bruce Springsteen biopic with Rosa, her boyfriend Aditya, and my spouse, Meg. I’ve a Coke and we share means an excessive amount of popcorn.
Again dwelling, I keep up far too late watching sport seven of what has been an unbelievable World Sequence (although I’m unhappy for the Blue Jays). I snack on some sushi that Aditya, ordered — avocado and sun-dried tomato. Not my regular, nevertheless it’s tremendous. My spouse does Halloween up like loopy — large spiders, every kind of themed meals. It’s principally passed by now, however I additionally sneak half of a leftover pumpkin blondie.
Sunday, November 2
I’m up early for the marathon. I seize some bagels for the folks coming over to observe at our home, however I don’t truly handle to eat any as a result of I wish to cease by the P.S. 124 bake sale across the nook.
P.S. 124 is likely one of the faculties alongside the marathon route, and it’s the one college in my neighborhood that has enrolled plenty of asylum seekers and immigrant youngsters, since there’s a shelter subsequent door. I really like that college. I seize a blueberry muffin, which I can’t say is something particular, nevertheless it’s extra about civic spirit.
Over on thirteenth and Fourth, I watch the marathoners. I’m hoping to catch a glimpse of my press secretary, Chloe, who’s operating, however the app crashes. Nonetheless: It’s unbelievable. I work my means downtown, throwing out some Hi theres and Have you ever voted?s.
Over on Fifth Avenue, I meet Aditya, Rosa, and her two mates for lunch at Masalawala. That is one in every of my favourite eating places within the metropolis proper now. We order large and get my favourite, the Biyebarir barbeque with spicy mustard, together with Kosha mangsho, chingri malai, cholar dal, luchi, ghee bhat, mango pickle, and jhuri alu bhaja. It’s all introduced on one large metal-rimmed plate. For dessert, we get yogurt ice cream and rasmalai. Spectacular.
After that, I head to the three p.m. Zohran canvas launch at Grand Military Plaza. I’m principally there to hype up the troops as everybody will get their turf. At this level, it’s much less about persuading anybody to vote for Zohran and extra about going to voters who’ve stated they’re both voting for him or suppose they’re more likely to and ensuring they really do it. Collectively, we find yourself knocking on 200,000 doorways this present day.
Then I cease by the Israelis for Peace rally in Union Sq.. These have occurred principally each week since October 7, and I attempt to cease by a minimum of as soon as a month. It’s type of the one place that I’ve felt comfy crying out about each the genocide in Gaza and, till not too long ago, the desperation for the Israeli hostages to come back dwelling; the one place the place it felt like Palestinian lives and Israeli lives have been valued, and we’re offended concerning the people who don’t worth them.
I’ve to sprint to Bushwick afterward to make it to a Working Households rally. Roberta’s is close by, so my political director and I sit outdoors and share an unique pie, and we every have a Peroni. The rally is enjoyable, everybody’s excited — it’s actually extra of a celebration, truthfully.
Then I’ve to return to Manhattan for one more MSNBC interview, this time with Jen Psaki. It’s my second journey to 30 Rock in 48 hours. I’ve by no means been on Jen’s present earlier than. She’s in D.C., so that they stick me in a kind of tiny cubicles.
It’s fairly late by the point I get dwelling, however I do seize a mini-Krackel from our bowl of leftover Halloween sweet. These particularly at all times make me consider my grandma — she at all times had some round.
Monday, November 3
I’m strolling over the Brooklyn Bridge at 6 a.m. with the Zohran crew, so I solely have time for espresso.
Luckily, Josh Binderman, the Jewish outreach coordinator for Zohran’s marketing campaign, has made pumpkin-cardamom muffins. “Cardamom” was Zohran’s rapper title again within the day, and I don’t suppose that’s a coincidence. Truthfully, they’re scrumptious. We muster throughout the bridge, and it’s unbelievable to observe the group swell.
Then I bounce on the prepare. I’ve to hustle from Metropolis Corridor over to the Higher East Aspect for a presser with Governor Kathy Hochul. We’re doing a canvas, principally to speak concerning the affordable-housing poll props. At this level, Zohran nonetheless hadn’t come out with a public place on these, and we’re getting plenty of questions on it from the press. I’m like, “Effectively, how about this? Zohran will reveal his votes on the poll propositions when Chuck Schumer reveals who he’s voting for.” Kathy virtually hit me.
I’ve to hustle again downtown for a sequence of conferences on what’s coming subsequent. I can’t say an excessive amount of about these! I shuffle between WeWorks and take one assembly at Le Ache Quotidien close to Metropolis Corridor. They’ve a brand new tarragon-chicken salad, so I strive that out, together with a glowing lemonade.
I’m showing on The Shut, so I’ve to go over to the Bloomberg workplaces. They’ve a sprawling unfold of fruit and chips, however all I’ve is a seltzer.
Again dwelling, I do a fast GOTV Zoom with Ben Chou, who’s operating for Metropolis Council in opposition to Vickie Paladino, earlier than grabbing a drink with a buddy at a bar close to my home referred to as Commonwealth.
I stroll over to Lucali after that. Aditya is a pizza aficionado, and he stood on line earlier right this moment to seize us a 9 p.m. reservation. We cut up the spicy fusilli, a half-cheese and half-mushroom pie, and a calzone. It’s all incredible.
Tuesday, November 4
After I’m on the poll, I’m usually at a ballot web site by 6 a.m. In the present day, although, I determine I’ve time to go to the gymnasium, so I cease by a 6:30 a.m. class at Jukebox.
Again dwelling, I’ve what is perhaps my most controversial weight-reduction plan entry: glowing iced espresso. If I ever go into enterprise, I believe this might be my private product. You may make it one in every of two methods: The easiest way is to “brew” it. You get cold-brew luggage or pods and steep it in a single day in a pitcher with seltzer. You might additionally simply combine cold-brew focus with seltzer. Both means, it’s a revelation.
I even have a smoothie — bananas, strawberries, blueberries, yogurt — earlier than going out to vote at my native ballot web site. I vote simply as New Yorkers did on Props 1 via 6, although I do trip on that final one till the final minute. In some methods, it comes all the way down to the very fact of getting this large, two-page, double-sided poll in entrance of me and fascinated about what that may be if it additionally had presidential and congressional candidates on it, with some ranked-choice and a few not. An excessive amount of.
I’ve some issues to debate with Yuh-Line Niou, a former assemblymember and buddy, so we now have lunch at Pi Bakerie on Cedar Road. She is aware of the proprietor, and I ask him what I ought to order. He suggests their conventional beef stew, and Yuh-Line will get the lemon-orzo soup, which I even have a chunk of. I prime it off with a freddo espresso.
After some extra canvassing, I’m going again as much as 30 Rock for an look on NBC Now. Being within the room with Steve Kornacki whereas he does his Steve Kornacki factor and breaks down the election may be very, very cool.
I notice I’m going to be very hungry at Zohran’s election occasion if I don’t eat something, so I pop by Ray’s and seize two slices of cheese pizza earlier than heading over.
I arrive at round 8:45 p.m. and spend plenty of time doing interviews. I can’t even inform who I’m speaking to half the time, there are such a lot of folks. Sooner or later, my daughter places a drink in my hand. There’s NY1 and Mehdi Hasan and PIX11 and so many European journalists.
It’s fairly early that NY1 calls the race for Zohran, and there’s simply huge enthusiasm. The room begins filling up — so many individuals that I’ve been working with for a very long time, my two youngsters, some workers, lots of people who have been Zohran supporters from the start however have been grateful to me for cross-endorsing him. We received shirts made that say “Good Fucking Riddance” within the fashion of Zohran’s marketing campaign emblem. It’s a beautiful power.
I get dwelling just a little after midnight and finish the evening on the taco truck on my block, Tacos El Brother — one hen, one shredded pork. I settle in at my kitchen desk and skim the outcomes from different races throughout the nation.
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