Campaigns & Elections
2025 New York City Council general election results for races to watch
There are a few key races that will help determine the shape of the council next year.
Republican New York City Council Member Kristy Marmorato is facing a tough general election challenge in the Bronx. Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit
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): 51.59%
Kristy Marmorato (R, C): 46.20%
Joel Rivera (The Unity): 2.08%
97.98% of scanners reported
Following Republican Kristy Marmorato’s upset win in 2023 that made her the first Republican to hold office in the Bronx in two decades, New York City Council District 13 has flipped back to blue as Democratic nominee Shirley Aldebol won one of the closest races on election night. It was also the only City Council seat that changed parties.
More than an hour after the polls closed, it became clear that Aldebol was the winner, albeit narrowly, with the Bronx native securing 51.5% of the vote to Marmorato’s 46.2%, when over 95% of scanners were reported. The race was one of the few competitive City Council races during the general election.
While Marmorato appeared to have the upper hand in recent months and holding greater name recognition, Aldebol gained traction during her campaign, as Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s progressive populism swept the city on election night. Read more here.
– Tsehai Alfred
District 30
Central Queens, including Maspeth, Middle Village and Glendale
Phil Wong (D): 53.95%
Alicia Vaichunas (R, C): 43.75%
97.98% of scanners reported
The apparently unbeatable Phil Wong has done it again. After a surprise primary victory over Democratic machine-backed Dermot Smyth, he defeated Republican Alicia Vaichunas by about 10 points in New York City Council District 30, covering a portion of Central Queens.
It’s a surprising margin, even to him.
“I expected to win, but maybe not by this much,” he said.
Vaichunas, meanwhile, is taking no prisoners. She gave a tearful and bitter concession speech in which she vowed to step away from public life and spoke out against her former boss publicly for the first time.
“I had somebody’s back for eight years who put knives in my back,” she said.
The crowd called out: “Say his name!”
“Council Member Robert Holden,” Vaichunas said. “He’s not the man that you all think he is. … I will tell you guys right now, he walks through this door and my security will do that. I don’t want him in here.” Read more here.
– Celia Bernhardt
District 47
Southern Brooklyn, including Bay Ridge, Coney Island and Sea Gate
Kayla Santosuosso (D, WFP): 59.31%
George Sarantopoulos (R, C): 40.47%
97.98% of scanners reported
The energy, and temperature, at the Salty Dog Bar & Grill in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, were both high as supporters, volunteers, family and friends of New York City Council District 47 Democratic nominee Kayla Santosuosso celebrated her historic win on election night.
People were jam-packed into the narrow venue, cheering every time her name came up on the televisions showing NY1’s election coverage. The energy exploded when she walked in, side by side with her current boss and soon-to-be predecessor, New York City Council Member Justin Brannan, and friend state Sen. Andrew Gounardes.
“I don’t care if you voted for me or not, whatever you believe or whatever your party registration says. In this time of political chaos and division, I want to be a council member for everyone,” she said in her victory speech. “No one has a monopoly on good ideas for our district, and I want to work with anyone who’s rooting for life to keep getting a little easier and a little more rewarding around here.” Read more here.
– Amanda Salazar