Municipal Elections in New York City: A Recap of the Results and Voters’ Perspectives

At 9:00 pm this Tuesday, November 7 were officially closed voting stations installed throughout New York City, which were part of the elections general municipal elections, where the focus of the day was to elect the members who will legislate in the Council of the Big Apple starting in January 2024.

Although 51 current members of the legislative body They were seeking re-election, elections were held in only 34 districts, since 17 of the political leaders who make up the municipal chamber had no challenger, among them 3 Republicans: David Carr and Joe Borelli of Staten Island and Joann Ariola of Queens and democrats like the councilors, Carlina Rivera and Carmen de la Rosa, from Manhattan and Jennifer Gutiérrez, from Brooklyn.

And although data from the Electoral Board show that in New York there are almost 5 million active voters registered to exercise the right to vote, judging by voting stations in Latino communities, such as Long Island City, Astoria and Jackson Heights and districts of the Bronx, abstentionism seemed to dominate the elections.

Queens neighbors like Jorge Martinezwho was passing very early in front of a voting station in Astoria, not only assured that he had not planned to vote but also claimed to have “no idea” that this Tuesday there was municipal elections.

“I really only vote for president, but I didn’t even know that this year there were elections here in the city,” said the Colombian, who acknowledged that there is a lack of greater commitment from the Hispanic community to make itself felt at the polls. “I think that we Latinos still need more education to give value to voting, But I also think that there is a bit of frustration and hopelessness among those of us who can vote when we see that one votes and things remain the same, expensive rents, things rising in price and a lot of insecurity.”

And leaving a voting station, Ecuadorian Mónica Carrera, 57 years old, not only confirmed that at the venue he attended in Long Island City not only “there was not a soul” Instead, she said she voted because a friend reminded her that it was an election.

“This time I saw fewer people than before. I think people didn’t know or many are too lazy to go out and vote. Even I myself have come because they invited me,” said the immigrant, who declared herself a democrat.
In Jackson Heights, where there was a race between the Democrat Shekar Krishnan and Republican Zhile Cao, voters like Carmen San Miguel On the contrary, they expressed their excitement about going to the polls, warning that thanks to votes like theirs, that New York municipal district has voices from the community that fight for the residents of District 25 within the Municipal Council.

“Many people say that it is not worth voting“But in reality it is a commitment that we should develop more because only then can we stop complaining that things are bad and put leaders up there who can make changes,” commented the Costa Rican. “I saw a little more people than in other elections, but there are still very few voters. The truth is that we need to give more value to voting, but I also see discouraged people, especially with the arrival of so many new immigrants, who have even thought about voting for the Republicans.”

And precisely that has been one of the issues that Republican candidates have used to appeal to voters in districts governed by Democrats, which is why even leaders of the Municipal Council, such as Councilwoman Carmen de la Rosa, frontally assured that these elections should serve to put a stop to the advance of former President Trump’s co-partisans.

“We have to make sure that those districts where Republicans intend to remove Democratic leaders vote strongly because we cannot allow Republican politicians who do not care about our communities to reach the Municipal Council,” said the politician of Dominican origin, warning that because in 2025 there will be municipal elections again, these elections will serve to measure the pulse of the electorate.

In the Districts 22 and 26, where current councilors Tiffany Cabán and Julie Won, They were measured against contenders for their seat, polling station personnel assured on condition of anonymity that a greater influx of voters was recorded in some parts of the day.

“At this table we have already had more than 138 people, when there are times when one only sees about 8 or 10 voters. I think people are more interested in this district because it can be a close competition,” said one of the volunteers at the post.

And in the fight that the Republicans launched in these elections in order to remove a handful of Democrats from the Municipal Council map to increase their presence in the legislative body, which currently has six voices, one of the districts where a tight fight was on the 19th. Councilwoman Vickie Paladino was challenged by Democrat and political leader Tony Avella, who strongly attacked the Republican, pointing out that she was a white supremacist.

“I am surprised that we have a white supremacist representing us. Clearly it is. Their entire staff has issues with postings to white supremacist groups. Her own son has been a member of the Proud Boys. We have a photo of her with the founder of the Proud Boys smiling at her and shaking hands with her,” said the Democratic candidate hoping to unseat her, whom the councilwoman criticized for what he called “dirty tactics.”

In another municipal district where analysts were looking closely at the race is in District 13, where Democrat Marjorie Velázquez, of Latin origin, faced Republican Kristy Marmorato, who hoped to once again raise red flags in that part of the Big Apple, which has not seen a Republican representative for more than two decades.

In District 47, in Brooklyn, Councilman Justin Brannan faced off against Republican Ari Kagan. In the District Attorney races, only Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz faced an opponent, while Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark and Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon faced an opponent. , they had no contenders.

Municipal Elections in the Big Apple 2023.

At the time of going to press, when the polling stations were just closing, the City Electoral Board had not yet issued a report on the number of voters who attended the election. What was known is that in the early voting process that closed the previous weekend, 85,957 New Yorkers voted, of which 25,540 did so in Manhattan, 23,968 in Brooklyn, 22,183 in Queens, 9,134 in the Bronx and 5,132 in Staten Island.

The voter Fanny Morales, who came to cast his vote before 5:00 in the afternoon, called for those elected in the elections to focus more on vulnerable communities and older adults.

“I know that the problems and needs of New York are not going to be fixed overnight, but first, God, I hope that those who win today, when they take office next year, do more for those of us who are most affected,” said the Colombian grandmother.

Electoral overview of the municipal elections in data

51 seats make up the NYC City Council 34 of the current councilors had a challenger in these elections 17 councilors had no opponent 10 of the 15 Latino councilors faced Republican rivals 45 of the current councilors are Democrats 6 councilors are Republicans

2023-11-08 02:14:47
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