Democrats pick Thomas DiNapoli as he seeks fifth full term as state comptroller

SYRACUSE — New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli on Friday was nominated by Democrats as their designee for the 2026 race.

DiNapoli, 71 of Great Neck Plaza, was appointed to the position of comptroller in 2007 and then elected by voters to four consecutive four-year terms.

He is being challenged by three Democrats: former congressional candidate Adem T. Bunkeddeko, former Kansas state lawmaker Raj Goyle and Drew Warshaw, a former executive of an affordable housing nonprofit.

"Even though I grew up in a good, Long Island Republican family, we’re going to win on Long Island by the way, ... I chose to be a Democrat," DiNapoli said in accepting the nomination. "Now is the moment to fight the Trump agenda that is undermining our democracy by denying election results, attacking the press and brutalizing our immigrant communities. We have to fight against that every step of the way."

L. Joy Williams, president of the State NAACP Conference, said in nominating DiNapoli that he "shows up for us every single day."

"He has treated accountability not as a personal attack but as a part of his job," Williams said. "That’s the kind of leadership we need. Someone who takes their job of serving the people seriously" 

Hundreds of Democrats from around the state gathered in Syracuse for a one-day convention to debate and vote on their designees or governor, lieutenant governor, state attorney general and comptroller. The party has a more than 2-to-1 enrollment advantage in New York State.

DiNapoli won his first election in 1972 and served on the Mineola Board of Education. Before becoming comptroller, he served in the state Assembly for 20 years.

On Friday, he touted efforts to invest in women and minority owned firms and holding companies accountable to be better corporate citizens.

"Today my enthusiasm, my energy, my commitment, my optimism are as strong as ever," DiNapoli said.

Warshaw, 44 of Manhattan, was the only other candidate to be nominated, but did not receive enough votes to be on the ballot and plans to petition. DiNapoli received 90% of the vote, while Warshaw received 10%.

Candidates who don’t receive 25% of the delegates' vote must file a petition with 15,000 signatures to get on the ballot.

Warshaw most recently was the chief operating officer and then co-chief executive officer of Enterprise Community Partners for five years before stepping down to run for comptroller.

Goyle and Bunkeddeko did not receive a nomination, but also said they plan to petition.

Before running, Bunkeddeko, 38 of Brooklyn, was an executive of Coro New York, a nonprofit focused on building New York City leadership. He unsuccessfully ran for Congress twice.

Goyle, 50 of Manhattan, who served in the Kansas State Legislature, is the founder of Phone Free NY, a group focused on raising awareness on the dangers imposed by cellphones. Goyle did not attend the convention, instead hosting an event in New York City calling for DiNapoli to divest from contractors that work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Republican Joseph Hernandez, a former New York City mayoral candidate and Biotech entrepreneur, is seeking his party's nomination to run for comptroller.