Gotham Gazette

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Council Countdown

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The City Council chambers (photo: Emil Cohen/City Council)


Welcome to Council Countdown.

Gotham Gazette, City Limits, City & State, and The Queens Eagle are teaming up to cover the dozens of competitive New York City Council races that are part of the 2021 city election cycle heading toward June primaries and the fall general election. From late April into June, the four publications will report on more than 40 competitive City Council races to help voters know the dynamics of those elections and about the candidates running in them.

Almost all of the Council's 51 seats are held by Democrats, so the Democratic primary is often tantamount to the election in this heavily blue city, making Democratic voters' choice in June especially important. Many races have between five and twelve candidates running, large fields worthy of study and scrutiny, especially given that ranked-choice voting is being used for party primaries for the first time in New York City. All 51 Council seats are on the ballot this year, with roughly two-thirds of them "open" due to term limits. Some incumbents are facing tough reelection challenges.

See below for the stories in the Council Countdown series, updated as new pieces are published by the four outlets.


City Council District 1, Manhattan

Gotham Gazette:  

Crowded City Council Race in Lower Manhattan District Devastated by Covid
by Emma Seiwell of Gotham Gazette
6/4/2021


City Council District 2, Manhattan

Gotham Gazette:  

Carlina Rivera to Face Sole Challenger for Lower Manhattan Seat
by Ese Olumhense of City Limits
6/3/2021


City Council District 3, Manhattan

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Race heats up to fill Corey Johnson’s council seat
by Nuha Dolby of City & State
5/21/2021


City Council District 5, Manhattan

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First-time candidates and government veterans face off for New York’s UES
by Annie McDonough of City & State
4/26/2021


City Council District 6, Manhattan

Gotham Gazette:  

As Brewer Attempts 'Unusual' Return to City Council, Upper West Side Primary Heats Up
by Allison Smith of Gotham Gazette
4/29/2021


City Council District 7, Manhattan

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It’s crowded in the race for the City Council District 7 seat
by Jasmine Sheena of City & State
5/5/2021


City Council District 8, Manhattan & the Bronx

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Four Candidates Vie For City’s 8th District, One Seeks Re-election
by Daniel Parra of City Limits
4/26/2021


City Council District 9, Manhattan

Gotham Gazette:  

Bill Perkins, despite barely running, may win again
by Jeff Coltin of City & State
6/21/2021


City Council District 10, Manhattan

Gotham Gazette:  

Eight Candidates Compete for Upper Manhattan Council District Battered By Pandemic
by Ese Olumhense of City Limits
6/17/2021


City Council District 11, the Bronx

West Bronx Council Race: Will Higher Turnout Drown Out a Famous Name?  

West Bronx Council Race: Will Higher Turnout Drown Out a Famous Name?
by Jarrett Murphy of City Limits
5/3/2021


City Council District 12, the Bronx

Gotham Gazette:  

One of the Council’s Newest Members Faces a Veteran Challenger and a New Voice
by Jarrett Murphy of City Limits
5/17/2021


City Council District 13, the Bronx

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Five Candidates Face Off for Newly-Open Council Seat in East Bronx’s District 13
by Jeanmarie Evelly of City Limits
4/28/2021


City Council District 14, the Bronx

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14th City Council Race Has Attracted Big Bucks and Dueling Endorsements
by Daniel Parra of City Limits
5/12/2021


City Council District 15, the Bronx

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In Second Election of the Year, Bronx Council District Has 9 Candidates in 2 Primaries
by Jarrett Murphy of City Limits
4/30/2021


City Council District 17, the Bronx

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Underdog Hopes Third Time’s the Charm in Bronx Primary Against Council Land-Use Chair
by Jarrett Murphy of City Limits
5/10/2021


City Council District 18, the Bronx

Gotham Gazette:  

Crowded Field in Bronx Race to Fill Ruben Díaz Sr’s Council Seat
by Daniel Parra of City Limits
5/24/2021


City Council District 19, Queens

Gotham Gazette:  

10 candidates line up for New York City Council District 19
by Rachel Gow of City & State
6/21/2021


City Council District 20, Queens

Gotham Gazette:  

Free-for-All in Flushing as Voters Choose Next City Council Member
by Carmen Vintro of Gotham Gazette
6/18/2021


City Council District 21, Queens

Gotham Gazette:  

In Queens, Council Member at the Epicenter Looks to Hold Seat Against Insurgent from the Left
by Kira Silbergeld & Laura Glesby of Gotham Gazette
6/15/2021


City Council District 22, Queens

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The race for Queens Council District 22, the next phase of Astoria's political evolution
by David Brand of the Queens Eagle
4/26/2021


City Council District 23, Queens

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Seven candidates compete for Grodenchik’s seat in the pseudo-burbs of Eastern Queens
by David Brand of the Queens Eagle
5/3/2021


City Council District 25, Queens

Gotham Gazette:  

Diverse Field of Candidates Vies to Replace Trailblazing Council Member in Queens
by Carmen Vintro of Gotham Gazette
6/10/2021


City Council District 27, Queens

Gotham Gazette:  

Rival Resumés as a Dozen Seek Victory in Daneek’s District
by Jarrett Murphy of City Limits
5/28/2021


City Council District 28, Queens

Gotham Gazette:  

Council Member Seeking Reelection and the Speakership Faces Exonerated Ex-Rep Pursuing Redemption
by Samar Khurshid of Gotham Gazette
5/14/2021


City Council District 29, Queens

Gotham Gazette:  

Health Care Needs and a New Jail Loom Large in Queens City Council Race
by Carmen Vintro of Gotham Gazette
6/21/2021


City Council District 30, Queens

Gotham Gazette:  

In Queens, Council Member Who Unseated Incumbent Tries to Hold On Versus Progressive Challenger
by Samar Khurshid of Gotham Gazette
5/21/2021


City Council District 31, Queens

Gotham Gazette:  

Brooks-Powers Looks to Defend New Council Seat in Southeast Queens
by David Brand of City Limits
6/11/2021


City Council District 32, Queens

Gotham Gazette:  

Five Democrats Look to Flip Queens’ Last GOP Council Seat Blue
by David Brand of City Limits
6/8/2021


City Council District 33, Brooklyn

Gotham Gazette:  

Crowded Field Competes to Represent Brooklyn Waterfront in City Council
by Laura Glesby of Gotham Gazette
6/13/2021


City Council District 34, Brooklyn & Queens

Gotham Gazette:  

Close Ally Has Inside Track in Race to Replace North Brooklyn City Council Member
by Carmen Vintro of Gotham Gazette
6/4/2021


City Council District 35, Brooklyn

Gotham Gazette:  

Competitive Central Brooklyn Council Race Splits City's Left
by Amanda Salazar of Gotham Gazette
4/26/2021


City Council District 36, Brooklyn

Gotham Gazette:  

In Competitive Central Brooklyn City Council Race, Candidates Focus on Housing, Education and Public Safety
by Amanda Salazar of Gotham Gazette
5/11/2021


City Council District 37, Brooklyn

Gotham Gazette:  

City Council District 37 race readies for a rematch
by Rebecca C. Lewis of City & State
5/21/2021


City Council District 38, Brooklyn

Gotham Gazette:  

Future of Immigrant Communities the Focus of Brooklyn City Council Race
by Amanda Salazar of Gotham Gazette
6/9/2021


City Council District 39, Brooklyn

Gotham Gazette: In Brooklyn Political Launching Pad, Another Highly Competitive Council Race  

In Brooklyn Political Launching Pad, Another Highly Competitive Council Race
by Laura Glesby & Kira Silbergeld of Gotham Gazette
6/20/2021


City Council District 40, Brooklyn

Gotham Gazette: Candidates with Varied Resumés Compete for Central Brooklyn City Council Seat  

Candidates with Varied Resumés Compete for Central Brooklyn City Council Seat
by Megan Kelly of Gotham Gazette
6/22/2021


City Council District 42, East New York

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Can the Barrons swap seats again in City Council District 42 in East New York?
by Sydney Kashiwagi of City & State
5/12/2021


City Council District 45, Brooklyn

Gotham Gazette:  

In Brooklyn, Incumbent Council Member Looks to Hold Off Veteran Challenger and Win First Full Term
by Amanda Salazar of Gotham Gazette
5/25/2021


City Council District 46, Brooklyn

Gotham Gazette:  

Mercedes Narcisse makes second run at Council District 46
by Annie McDonough of City & State
6/9/2021


City Council District 47, Brooklyn

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Could Ari Kagan finally win an election?
by Amanda Luz Henning Santiago of City & State
4/27/2021


City Council District 49, Staten Island

Gotham Gazette:  

A crowded field of candidates aims to represent the North Shore
by Kay Dervishi of City & State
5/27/2021


City Council District 50, Staten Island

It’s Insider Vs. Outsiders in Republican Council Primary on Staten Island
by Jarrett Murphy of City Limits
5/18/2021




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