March Political Madness 2026 - Home

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March Political Madness 2026

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New York’s political leaders will face each other in a March Madness style basketball tournament. There will be games, contests, giveaways and refreshments. Join us for a chance to cheer on your favorite political leaders!

If you are looking for access to New York’s political leaders and hoping to learn about what they do outside of politics or are looking to show off your basketball skills, we are offering a great opportunity to get it plus prizes for our winners.

A portion of the proceeds are going to a charity that focuses on changing the lives of youth all over the world.

Interested in sponsoring or stepping onto the court? Contact Lissa Blake  lblake@cityandstateny.com 

Attend the Event

Friday, March 6, 2026

Friday, March 6, 2026

3:00 pm 

3:00 pm 

The John Thompson, Jr. Court @ Nike

855 Sixth Avenue, NYC 

(31st Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues)

The John Thompson, Jr. Court @ Nike

855 Sixth Avenue, NYC 

(31st Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues)

Dress Attire: 

Sponsorship & Ticket Information:

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Emcee

Tara L. Martin

City & State Advisory Board Member
Founder & CEO, TLM Strategic Advisors

Tara L. Martin

City & State Advisory Board Member

Founder & CEO, TLM Strategic Advisors

Coaches

Michael A. Benjamin

Former Assemblymember
New York State Assembly

Michael A. Benjamin

Former Assemblymember

New York State Assembly

Larinda Hooks

Assemblymember
New York State Assembly

Larinda Hooks

Assemblymember

New York State Assembly

Michael Mallon

Deputy Borough President
Office of the Queens Borough President

Michael Mallon

Deputy Borough President

Office of the Queens Borough President

Stefani Zinerman

Assembly Member
New York State Assembly

Stefani Zinerman

Assembly Member

New York State Assembly

Assistant Coaches

Stanley Richards

Commissioner
New York City Department of Correction

Stanley Richards

Commissioner

New York City Department of Correction

Yudelka Tapia

Assemblymember
New York State Assembly

Yudelka Tapia

Assemblymember

New York State Assembly

Players

George Alvarez

Assemblymember
New York State Assembly

George Alvarez

Assemblymember

New York State Assembly

Jamaal Bailey

Senator
New York State

Jamaal Bailey

Senator

New York State

George Beamon

Basketball Player
NBA G-League and Overseas

George Beamon

Basketball Player

NBA G-League and Overseas

Shehab Chowdhury

Assistant Director
Mayor's Office of Equity & Racial Justice

Shehab Chowdhury

Assistant Director

Mayor's Office of Equity & Racial Justice

Jeff Coltin

Editor-in-Chief
City & State NY

Jeff Coltin

Editor-in-Chief

City & State NY

Brian Cunningham

Assemblymember
New York State Assembly District 43

Brian Cunningham

Assemblymember

New York State Assembly District 43

Alexandro Damiron

Executive Vice President of Operations & Chief of Staff
SOMOS Innovation

Alexandro Damiron

Executive Vice President of Operations & Chief of Staff

SOMOS Innovation

Sahalie Donaldson

City Hall Reporter
City & State NY

Sahalie Donaldson

City Hall Reporter

City & State NY

Richard Fife

Founder
RJF Communications

Richard Fife

Founder

RJF Communications

Joseph Garba

Senior Manager, Government Relations
StubHub

Joseph Garba

Senior Manager, Government Relations

StubHub

Shekar Krishnan

Councilmember
NYC Council Member

Shekar Krishnan

Councilmember

NYC Council Member

Annie McDonough

Senior City Hall Reporter
City & State NY

Annie McDonough

Senior City Hall Reporter

City & State NY

Zellnor Myrie

Senator
New York State

Zellnor Myrie

Senator

New York State

Kyle Nurse

Assistant Mechanical Engineer
NYC Department of Environmental Protection

Kyle Nurse

Assistant Mechanical Engineer

NYC Department of Environmental Protection

Gary Pretlow

Assembly Member
New York State Assembly

Gary Pretlow

Assembly Member

New York State Assembly

Kevin Riley

Member
New York City Council

Kevin Riley

Member

New York City Council

Justin Sanchez

Council Member
District 17

Justin Sanchez

Council Member

District 17

Michael Sedillo

Executive Director
Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services

Michael Sedillo

Executive Director

Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services

Helen Skipper

Vice Chair
New York City Board of Correction

Helen Skipper

Vice Chair

New York City Board of Correction

Jordan Stockdale

Deputy Comptroller for Policy
NYC Comptroller's Office

Jordan Stockdale

Deputy Comptroller for Policy

NYC Comptroller's Office

Al Taylor

Assemblymember
New York State Assembly

Al Taylor

Assemblymember

New York State Assembly

Ahmed Tigani

Commissioner
New York City Department of Buildings

Ahmed Tigani

Commissioner

New York City Department of Buildings

Rolly Wemba

Maintenance Manager
Liberty Coca-Cola

Rolly Wemba

Maintenance Manager

Liberty Coca-Cola

Jessica Woolford

Director of External Affairs
Mayor's Office of Climate & Environmental Justice

Jessica Woolford

Director of External Affairs

Mayor's Office of Climate & Environmental Justice

Nicole Wright

Deputy Chief of Staff
New York State Assembly

Nicole Wright

Deputy Chief of Staff

New York State Assembly

John Zaccaro, Jr.

Assembly Member
New York State Assembly

John Zaccaro, Jr.

Assembly Member

New York State Assembly

Underwriters

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