Diana Ayala files to run against Eddie Gibbs for his Assembly seat

Former New York City Council Member Diana Ayala has filed to run for Assembly District 68 in East Harlem. She’s challenging Assembly Member Eddie Gibbs, who has stirred controversy on more than one occasion since taking office.

Gibbs made history in 2022 when he became the first formerly incarcerated member of the state Legislature, winning a special election to replace former Assembly Member Robert Rodriguez upon his confirmation as New York secretary of state. Gibbs’ victory was also notable as he became the first Black member to represent the heavily Latino district in at least 50 years.

Ayala has been considering a challenge to Gibbs since at least December as her time in the City Council came to an end. She is a close ally of former Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, whom Ayala replaced in the City Council and who has been a frequent critic of Gibbs. Gibbs, meanwhile, was mentored by Manhattan Democratic Party boss Keith Wright.

Ayala represented East Harlem and the South Bronx in the City Council for eight years. She served as deputy speaker under former Speaker Adrienne Adams for the last four years of her tenure after briefly running for speaker herself. Ayala also formerly worked for Mark-Viverito before running for her seat and has a long history of serving the community.

Gibbs’ tenure has been marred with controversy. In 2023, he sued the Manhattan Democratic Party after he lost a close district leader race, arguing the election was illegitimate. The meeting where the vote took place became tense and chaotic when he argued with Mark-Viverito, who had been running it. A judge eventually threw out the lawsuit.

In 2024, police in New York City arrested Gibbs for disorderly conduct after he interfered with a traffic stop near his district office – though he was never charged. The same year, Gibbs caught heat for controversial, derogatory comments he made about Rep. Jerry Nadler.

Late last year, the Assembly censured Gibbs for using inappropriate language on the floor of the chamber when he discussed his mother’s sexual attraction to the late Rep. Charlie Rangel. He responded with an angry Facebook post condemning the censure and criticizing Assembly leadership for not taking action after he alleged another member “physically assaulted” him during a floor debate. Gibbs ended the post with “FU ALBANY.”

In a different Facebook post from last month shared with City & State, Gibbs praised Ayala, whom he called his “baby mother.” He said that while they are on “different teams,” few cared more about East Harlem than the pair. In an apparent reference to her rumored run, Gibbs implied he and Ayala maintained a strong relationship even as people “gather in a half circle and bochinche,” using Spanish slang for “gossip.” He added that both he and Ayala would be “grooming the next set of leaders” in the community.

Ayala was not immediately available to comment on her decision to run for Assembly, and Gibbs did not immediately return a request for comment. Gibbs previously told Gothamist that this would be his last year running for reelection after expressing fear for his safety in the Assembly due to the actions of fellow members.

Ayala is the third person to launch a campaign for the East Harlem district. District Leader William Smith, who previously challenged Gibbs in 2024, announced he would run again this year. And U.S. Army and National Guard veteran Tameeka Garcia-Taylor has also launched a campaign for the seat.