Rubén Díaz Sr. and Ruben Diaz Jr. back competing candidates in Bronx City Council race

Like father, like son? Not so in the Diaz dynasty. A competitive New York City Council race in the Bronx has once again highlighted the political divide between former Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and his father, former New York City Council Member Rubén Díaz Sr.

The father and son have both turned their eyes and their wallets towards the District 13 race where Democratic incumbent Marjorie Velázquez and Republican X-ray technician Kristy Marmorato are going head to head in the Nov. 7 general election. Both men even donated the exact same amount of money in October: $175. The difference? Díaz Sr. donated to Marmorato, who has close ties to the Bronx Republican Party and has been endorsed by several prominent individuals with close ties to former President Donald Trump. Diaz Jr. donated  to Velázquez, according to campaign finance records.

The two men’s diverging political views are hardly a secret. Díaz Sr. has a long track record of spouting controversial rhetoric, and his son has been open about the challenges of balancing familial loyalty with a desire not to alienate people who’ve been hurt by his father’s comments.