The 2021 New York City Council elections were held on November 2, 2021. The primary elections were held on June 22, 2021. There were several special elections for seats vacated in 2020 and early 2021; these special elections were the first to use ranked-choice voting in city council elections after it was approved by a ballot question in 2019 and the second to use ranked-choice voting since New York City repealed PR-STV in 1945. Due to redistricting after the 2020 Census, candidates also ran for two-year terms instead of four-year terms for the first time, stemming from the New York City Charter overhaul in 1989. Four-year terms will resume in the 2025 election after another two-year election in 2023.
Incumbents not seeking re-election
Term-limited incumbents 28 council members (26 Democrats and 2 Republicans) are prevented from seeking a third (fourth for pre-2010 council members) consecutive term due to term limits that were renewed by voters in a ballot referendum in 2010.
District Incumbent Party 1 Margaret Chin D 3 Corey Johnson D 5 Ben Kallos D 6 Helen Rosenthal D 7 Mark Levine D 10 Ydanis Rodríguez D 14 Fernando Cabrera D 16 Vanessa Gibson D 19 Paul Vallone D 20 Peter Koo D 25 Danny Dromm D 26 Jimmy Van Bramer D 27 Daneek Miller D 29 Karen Koslowitz D 32 Eric Ulrich R 33 Stephen Levin D 34 Antonio Reynoso D 35 Laurie Cumbo D 36 Robert Cornegy D 38 Carlos Menchaca D 39 Brad Lander D 40 Mathieu Eugene D 42 Inez Barron D 46 Alan Maisel D 47 Mark Treyger D 49 Debi Rose D 50 Steven Matteo R
Retiring incumbents District Incumbent Party 13 Mark Gjonaj D 18 Rubén Díaz Sr. D 23 Barry Grodenchik D
Incumbents defeated in primary District Incumbent Party 9 Bill Perkins D 37 Darma Diaz D 41 Alicka Ampry-Samuel D
Resigned before election During the 2017–2021 council session, 8 incumbents have resigned before the election for various reasons.
District Incumbent Party Reason 11 Andrew Cohen D Elected judge of the New York Supreme Court 12th Judicial District in 2020 12 Andy King D Expelled from the Council 15 Ritchie Torres D Elected to New York's in 2020 22 Costa Constantinides D Resigned to take a position as CEO of Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens 24 Rory Lancman D Appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo as his Special Counsel for Ratepayer Protection 31 Donovan Richards D Elected Queens Borough President in 2020 37 Rafael Espinal D Resigned to take job with the Freelancers Union 45 Jumaane Williams D Elected New York City Public Advocate in 2019 48 Chaim Deutsch D Resigned after pleading guilty to tax fraud in federal court
Manhattan
District 1 The 1st district covers the very bottom of Manhattan, including the Financial District, Tribeca, and Soho. Incumbent Democrat Margaret Chin was term-limited and could not run for a fourth consecutive term. Christopher Marte was seen as the most progressive candidate in the race, while Jenny Low was noted for the major endorsements she had received and Gigi Li had outgoing councilwoman Chin's support. Marte's campaign was bolstered by anger within the district at Chin's ties to real-estate developers, as well as by name recognition Marte had gained while attempting to primary Chin in the previous council election.
Democratic primary
Candidates Susan Damplo, attorney Sean Hayes, attorney and law professor Tiffany Johnson-Winbush, former member of Manhattan Community Board 1 Susan Lee, author and non-profit executive Gigi Li, Chief of Staff to Margaret Chin Jenny Low, political staffer Maud Maron, attorney Christopher Marte, activist Denny Salas, activist
Withdrawn Lester Chang Yubao Dai Dennis Mikhalsky
Endorsements
State legislators Catalina Cruz, New York State Assemblymember for the 39th district
Local officials Diana Ayala, New York City Councilwoman from the 8th district Margaret Chin, New York City Councilwoman from the 1st district Debi Rose, New York City Councilwoman from the 49th district Helen Rosenthal, New York City Councilwoman from the 6th district
Individuals Melissa Mark-Viverito, former Speaker of the New York City Council Andrew Yang, entrepreneur, former Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship, former candidate for the 2020 United States presidential election, candidate for 2021 New York City mayoral election
Federal legislators Carolyn Maloney, U.S. Representative from New York's 12th congressional district Grace Meng, U.S. Representative from New York's 4th congressional district Jerry Nadler, U.S. Representative from New York's 10th congressional district Nydia Velázquez, U.S. Representative from New York's 7th congressional district
State legislators John Liu, New York State Senator for the 11th district Yuh-Line Niou, NY State Assemblymember
Local officials Carlina Rivera, New York City Councilmember for the 2nd District
Labor unions Communications Workers of America, District 1 District Council 37 SEIU 32BJ United Federation of Teachers
Organizations District Council 37 Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club New York League of Conservation Voters Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City
Newspapers and publications The Indypendent (second choice)
Organizations Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York
Local officials Kathryn E. Freed, former New York City councilmember Labor unions Professional Staff Congress, CUNY Sheet Metal Workers' International Association Local 28 Organizations Freelancers Union Run for Something Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City (second choice) Newspapers and publications The Indypendent (first choice)
Results
Republican primary Jacqueline Toboroff
Endorsements
Organizations New York Young Republican Club
General election
District 2 The 2nd district covers parts of the Lower East Side in Manhattan. Incumbent Democrat Carlina Rivera was running for reelection.
Democratic primary
Candidates Erin Hussein, labor unionist Carlina Rivera, incumbent Councillor Withdrawn Juan Pagan
Endorsements
Labor unions Professional Staff Congress, CUNY United Federation of Teachers
Organizations EMILY's List New York League of Conservation Voters Our Revolution Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City Working Families Party
Newspapers and publications The Indypendent
Democratic primary
General election
District 3 The 3rd district covers parts of the West Side of Manhattan, including Chelsea, West Midtown, and Greenwich Village. Incumbent Democrat and current Council Speaker Corey Johnson was term-limited and could not run for a third consecutive term.
Democratic primary
Endorsements
Organizations Democracy for America
Federal legislators Ritchie Torres, House of Representatives Member from Bronx County (2021–present) State legislators Deborah Glick, New York State Assemblymember for the 66th district (1994–present) Labor unions New York City Central Labor Council Professional Staff Congress, CUNY Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City United Federation of Teachers Organizations Citizens Union New York League of Conservation Voters
Organizations Our Revolution
General election
District 4 The 4th district covers parts of the Lower East Side, East Midtown, and parts of the Upper East Side in Manhattan. The incumbent was Democrat Keith Powers, who won re-election defeating Republican David Casavis.
Democratic primary Incumbent Councilman Keith Powers won the Democratic nomination unopposed.
Withdrawn Jordana Lusk
General election
Endorsements
Labor unions United Federation of Teachers
Organizations Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City
District 5 The 5th district covers parts of the Upper East Side in Manhattan. Incumbent Democrat Ben Kallos was term-limited and could not run for a third consecutive term. He ran for Manhattan Borough President.
Democratic primary
Withdrawn Joshua Kravitz
Endorsements
Organizations Our Revolution (co-endorsed with Lamorte) Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City (first choice)
Organizations Our Revolution (co-endorsed with Freeland)
Local officials Diana Ayala, New York City Councilmember for the 8th district Mark Green, former New York City Public Advocate Melissa Mark-Viverito, former Speaker of the New York City Council Keith Powers, New York City Councilmember for the 4th district Carlina Rivera, New York City Councilmember for the 2nd District
Labor unions Communications Workers of America District 1 District Council 37 Professional Staff Congress, CUNY SEIU 32BJ United Federation of Teachers
Organizations Citizens Union New York League of Conservation Voters Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City (second choice)
Individuals Robert De Niro, actor and director
State legislators Liz Krueger, New York State Senator for New York's 28th State Senate district (co-endorsed along with Tricia Shimamura) Jessica Ramos, New York State Senator for New York's 13th State Senate district
Organizations Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City (third choice)
Federal legislators Carolyn Maloney, U.S. Representative for New York's 12th congressional district
State legislators Liz Krueger, New York State Senator for New York's 28th State Senate district (co-endorsed along with Kim Moscaritolo)
Organizations Run for Something
Organizations Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City (fourth choice)
General election
District 6 The 6th district covers most of the Upper West Side in Manhattan. Incumbent Democrat Helen Rosenthal was term-limited and could not run for a third consecutive term. She filed to run for New York City Comptroller but dropped out of the race. Sara Lind and Jeffrey Omura had an alliance during the campaign, with Lind's campaign asking voters to rank Omura second and Omura's campaign asking voters to rank Lind second. Gale Brewer, who was the Manhattan Borough President at the time and held this seat from 2002 to 2013, won the Democratic nomination.
Democratic primary Candidates Gale Brewer, Manhattan Borough President Maria Danzilo, attorney David Gold, non-profit executive Sara Lind, attorney Jeffrey Omura, actor and labor unionist Zack Weiner, screenwriter and film producer Withdrawn Seth Rosen (endorsed Sara Lind) David Zelman
Endorsements
Federal officials Adriano Espaillat, U.S. Representative from NY-13 Jerry Nadler, U.S. Representative from NY-10 State officials Richard N. Gottfried, State Assemblymember from the 75th district Linda Rosenthal, State Assemblymember from the 67th district José M. Serrano, State Senator from the 29th district Labor unions Communications Workers of America District 1 District Council 37 New York City Central Labor Council Professional Staff Congress, CUNY SEIU 32BJ United Federation of Teachers Organizations Citizens Union (first choice) New York League of Conservation Voters Our Revolution Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City Newspapers and publications New York Amsterdam News
Individuals Melissa Mark-Viverito, former speaker of the New York City Council Jeffrey Omura, actor and labor unionist (second choice)
Organizations Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club Run for Something
Organizations Citizens Union (second choice)
Results
General election
District 7 The 7th district covers West Harlem and Hamilton Heights in Manhattan. Incumbent Democrat Mark Levine was term-limited and could not run for a third consecutive term. Levine was running for Manhattan Borough President. Shaun Abreu was considered the frontrunner in the race, while five of his opponents – Maria Ordoñez, Stacy Lynch, Marti Allen-Cummings, Dan Cohen, and Corey Ortega – formed a ranked-choice coalition to oppose him.
Democratic primary
Withdrawn Alberto Aguilar III Jeanette Toomer
Endorsements
Federal legislators Ritchie Torres, United States Representative for New York's 15th congressional district
Local officials Mark Levine, New York City Councilmember for the 7th district
Labor unions Communications Workers of America, District 1 Council of School Supervisors & Administrators District Council 37