Former U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner has ended his attempt to return to politics after losing the Democratic primary for a Manhattan City Council seat.
His bid began late last year when he filed for District 2, hoping to stage a comeback in lower Manhattan. Despite openly using his past and urging voters to give him another chance, he failed to gain enough support from residents.
Early election results placed Weiner behind three other Democrats: state Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, non-profit leader Sarah Batchu, and community board chair Andrea Gordillo. His fourth-place finish in the five-person field triggers the ranked-choice voting process, which begins on July 1, eliminating lower-ranking candidates and redistributing their votes toward the final winner.
Weiner’s political trajectory took a sharp turn starting in 2011, when revelations surfaced of lewd behavior, culminating in a 2017 conviction for electronically sending explicit material to a minor. The incident resulted in federal charges, a prison sentence, and a permanent listing on the sex-offender registry. After serving a 21‑month sentence, he stepped away from politics before launching his latest bid.
During the campaign, Weiner often addressed his past. He told the Associated Press that he wasn’t looking for forgiveness, but for a fresh start, claiming ownership of his mistakes and noting that he had “served his time.” He also emphasized his passion for addressing local issues, such as crime and public safety, in the district he once represented.
Despite his efforts—door-knocking, TV appearances, and attempts to engage voters—Weiner couldn’t break through in a district that leans heavily toward fresh leadership. The upcoming rounds of ranked-choice counting will determine which of the top three Democratic candidates wins, as the final outcome remains pending until at least July 1.
