2025 New York City Council general election results for races to watch

While there aren’t as many competitive New York City Council races as there were two years ago, this year’s cycle has had no shortage of interesting threads to follow: from doctored fake news stories to the strong pipeline of former staffers becoming council members to candidates preparing for their next run to a fight over electioneering and the looming battle to become the next speaker. With the vast majority of general election races unlikely to be competitive, here are three of the top races to watch that will help shape the ideological bent of the next council.

The Democratic candidates not listed here who are likely to win their races include: Christopher Marte (District 1), Harvey Epstein (District 2), Erik Bottcher (District 3), Virginia Maloney (District 4), Julie Menin (District 5), Shaun Abreu (District 7), Elsie Encarnacion (District 8), Carmen De La Rosa (District 10), Eric Dinowitz (District 11), Kevin Riley (District 12), Oswald Feliz (District 15), Althea Stevens (District 16), Justin Sanchez (District 17), Amanda Farías (District 18), Sandra Ung (District 20), Shanel Thomas-Henry (District 21), Linda Lee (District 23), Shekar Krishnan (District 25), Julie Won (District 26), Lynn Schulman (District 29), Crystal Hudson (District 35), Alexa Avilés (District 38), Shahana Hanif (District 39), Darlene Mealy (District 41), Chris Banks (District 42), Simcha Felder (District 44), Farah Louis (District 45), Mercedes Narcisse (District 46), Kamillah Hanks (District 49).

The unopposed Democratic candidates include: Gale Brewer (District 6), Yusef Salaam (District 9), Pierina Sanchez (District 14), Tiffany Cabán (District 22), James Gennaro (District 24), Nantasha Williams (District 27), Ty Hankerson (District 28), Selvena Brooks-Powers (District 31), Lincoln Restler (District 33), Jennifer Gutiérrez (District 34), Chi Ossé (District 36), Sandy Nurse (District 37), Rita Joseph (District 40), Susan Zhuang (District 43).

The Republican candidates not listed here who are likely to win their races include: Vickie Paladino (District 19), David Carr (District 50), Frank Morano (District 51).

The incumbent unopposed Republican candidates include: Joann Ariola (District 32), Inna Vernikov (District 48).

District 13

Southeast Bronx, including Throggs Neck, Pelham Bay and Morris Park

Shirley Aldebol (D, WFP): 50.10%

Kristy Marmorato (R, C): 47.88%

Joel Rivera (The Unity): 1.90%

73.73% of scanners reported

After flipping her Bronx district nearly two years ago, Republican Kristy Marmorato is fighting to hold her seat in the New York City Council, as Democratic challenger Shirley Aldebol rides progressive Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani’s populist wave.

Aldebol decisively won the Democratic nomination for the district in a crowded race in June. She’s a Bronx native with deep union ties, but like Marmorato, she is a first-time politician.

Marmorato narrowly defeated her Democratic challenger last time around with an emphasis on public safety and blocking new developments. Following through on her 2023 campaign, the moderate Republican has continued to oppose controversial housing and development projects, but she has failed to actually stop them.

But District 13 became about 10 points redder during the 2024 presidential election, compared to 2020, and Marmorato holds advantages over Aldebol in fundraising and name recognition.

– Tsehai Alfred

District 30

Central Queens, including Maspeth, Middle Village and Glendale

Phil Wong (D): 54.17%

Alicia Vaichunas (R, C): 43.35%

76.42% of scanners reported

Republican Alicia Vaichunas and Democrat Phil Wong – both staffers of term-limited New York City Council Member Bob Holden, a conservative Democrat – are vying to replace him.

There’s little political daylight between the two, and they both have Holden’s endorsement. Vaichunas and Wong have long been unusually friendly for being opponents in this race. But that relationship has recently soured, with Vaichunas more willing to go on the attack. 

This area of Queens has a large swath of conservative values, despite a significant Democratic voter enrollment advantage. Voters backed Holden to victory in 2017 on the Republican Party line, after he lost the Democratic primary, emphasizing his opposition to homeless shelters in the district.

– Celia Bernhardt

District 47

Southern Brooklyn, including Bay Ridge, Coney Island and Sea Gate

Kayla Santosuosso (D, WFP): 58.73%

George Sarantopoulos (R, C): 41.07%

71.13% of scanners reported

Democrat Kayla Santosuosso is up against Republican George Sarantopoulos for her boss Justin Brannan’s term-limited seat in southern Brooklyn. Santosuosso is Brannan’s chief counsel, president of the Bay Ridge Democrats and a restaurateur; Sarantopoulos is a landlord, ATM owner and former GOP campaign staffer. District 47 was redistricted in 2023 to create a mashup of Brannan’s Bay Ridge and former Council Member Ari Kagan’s Coney Island. Bay Ridge hasn’t been represented by a Republican in the City Council in 20 years, but overlapping Assembly and state Senate districts have turned red in recent years, giving either candidate a reasonable shot to win.

– Amanda Salazar