New York ( CNN ) -- The New York Times on Saturday endorsed Christine Quinn , a Democrat , and Joseph Lhota , a Republican , ahead of the primary elections to determine who will run to succeed New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg . The endorsements by the renowned newspaper could have substantial influence on the September 10 primary elections for each party . Quinn , the City Council speaker and one of seven Democrats in the primary race , `` offers the judgment and record of achievement anyone should want in a mayor , '' the newspaper said . `` She has shepherded through important laws protecting New Yorkers ' health , safety and civil rights , including measures banning public smoking , protecting tenants and small businesses , and battling slumlords . She sponsored the sweeping 2007 legislation that made the city 's exemplary campaign-finance laws even stronger , '' the Times endorsement said . The newspaper gave credit to two other Democratic candidates , Bill de Blasio , the public advocate , and former comptroller William Thompson Jr. , but said the editorial board had already been set to endorse Quinn even before what they believed was her impressive performance in a debate Wednesday . `` We are honored to have the endorsement of the New York Times . The endorsement makes clear that Christine Quinn has n't just talked about being a progressive , she has a long record of fighting for New York 's progressive values and she has delivered results every step of the way , '' said Mike Morey , spokesman for the campaign . According to the latest NBC 4 NY/Wall Street Journal/Marist survey released on August 16 , de Blasio and Quinn are currently tied in the polls . If no candidate obtains the required 40 % of the vote , the top two will hold a runoff on Oct. 1 . The crowded Democratic field includes former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner . The Times called Republican candidate Joe Lhota , once right-hand man to Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and former chairman of the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority , `` the best qualified of the three men seeking the Republican nomination for mayor . '' `` Few people know better than Mr. Lhota how city government works . He was an expert budget director for Mr. Giuliani , and then became deputy mayor for operations , '' the Times said . `` In 2011 and 2012 , he ran the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , which , under his leadership , recovered amazingly quickly from the damage done by Hurricane Sandy , '' the paper said . CNN 's Greg Botelho contributed to this report .
New York Times announced mayoral endorsements . Primaries are June 10 . General election winner will replace incumbent .