STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Sal Albanese, a Democrat challenging Mayor Bill de Blasio in the September primary, has raised and spent enough campaign money to qualify for a debate later this month.

Albanese, a Staten Island resident for the last year and a half and former Brooklyn councilman who also ran for mayor in 2013, reached the threshold required for candidates who want to participate in the debates.

To qualify, candidates must have raised and spent $174,225 by Aug. 11, parameters set by the city Campaign Finance Board, or CFB.

The first Democratic primary debate will be Aug. 23, with leading contenders going on to a second debate Sept. 6.

"I never doubted that we'd raise enough money to be on the debate stage," Albanese said in a statement. "Each month, as our message gets out, we are raising more awareness and more money. Everywhere we go, people are unenthused and even angry about Mayor de Blasio's performance. He is uninterested in the job, and is a part-time mayor, at best. I am looking forward to the debate. I hope to show New Yorkers that it is possible to have a mayor who actually wants the job, will show up for it on time, every day, who will stop the legalized corruption that's filled City Hall and who will work tirelessly for the everyday New Yorker."

In the last week, de Blasio has been blasted for reportedly taking mid-day naps in City Hall, after returning from his daily workout at a Park Slope gym.

This has provided fodder for Albanese, and Republican opponent Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, who attempted to hand the mayor a Red Bull as a stunt on Tuesday.

De Blasio had initially stalled on agreeing to debate opponents who didn't automatically qualify for them, but last week announced he would face challengers regardless of whether they met the CFB requirements.

The mayor also collected $2.5 million in public money through the matching funds program, after collecting about $4.5 million in contributions.

Activist Bob Gangi is also seeking to challenge de Blasio in the Democratic primary, but he hasn't raised and spent enough money to qualify for the debates.

A spokesman for de Blasio's campaign said, "Mayor de Blasio expanded Pre-K for every 4-year-old and will do the same for every 3-year-old. Crime is at record lows, jobs are at a record high, New York City is building affordable housing at a record pace, and rents were frozen for more than 2 million tenants. That is the mayor's record, and we are happy to compare it against anyone."