Mayor Malik Evans is outspending his Democratic primary opponents by more than 3:1 heading into the final leg of the campaign, newly filed campaign finance reports show.
The incumbent mayor took in $240,000 and paid out $280,000 over the past four months, records show.
Evans’ challengers, City Councilmember Mary Lupien and local businessman Shashi Sinha, reported far lesser amounts. Lupien took in $86,000 and spent $56,000. Sinha took in nearly $26,000 and spent $88,000.
The candidates’ only scheduled debate is Wednesday. The Voice of the Voter: 2025 Democratic Mayoral Primary Candidate Debate will air live at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV, WXXI News (105.9FM), and will be streaming on WXXINews.org and WXXI News YouTube.
The primary is June 24. Early voting begins June 14.
Evans spent $75,000 on radio and online advertising during the reporting period, spanning Jan. 12 to May 19. Sinha spent $11,300 on the same. Lupien spent $18,000 on internal and digital ads.
Other spending went to lawn signs and mailers, campaign literature, consultants and fundraising expenses.
Evans has $336,000 on hand heading into the final weeks of the primary to Lupien’s $31,600, and Sinha’s $298,725. Sinha previously loaned his campaign $350,000.
Evans’ biggest individual donor during the reporting period was Gail Morelle of Irondequoit, vice president of Christa Construction and the sister of Congressman Joe Morelle. Sinha’s biggest donor was Joe Klein of Rochester, the retired president of Klein Steel and a longtime education advocate; Lupien’s big donor was Matthew Gutchess of Cortland, who is president of Gutchess Lumber
The candidates’ last pre-primary filing is due June 13.
Voice of the Voter is a collaboration among WXXI Public Media, Democrat and Chronicle, 13WHAM News and WDKX 103.9 that is committed to bringing citizens’ concerns to the forefront in political issues.
