The 2025 New York City Council elections were held on November 4, 2025, with primary elections occurring on June 24, 2025. Party nominees were chosen using ranked-choice voting.
Outgoing incumbents Term-limited Eight council members (all Democrats) were prevented from seeking a third consecutive term due to term limits that were renewed by voters in a ballot referendum in 2010. Democrats 4th: Keith Powers was term-limited and ran for Manhattan borough president. 8th: Diana Ayala was term-limited. 17th: Rafael Salamanca was term-limited and ran for Bronx borough president. 21st: Francisco Moya was term-limited. 28th: Adrienne Adams was term-limited and ran for mayor. 30th: Robert Holden was term-limited. 47th: Justin Brannan was term-limited and ran for comptroller.
Resigned before election During the 2023–2025 council session, three incumbents (two Democrats, one Republican) resigned before the election. Democrats 2nd: Carlina Rivera was term-limited and resigned on August 20, 2025, to lead the New York State Association for Affordable Housing. Democrat Harvey Epstein was elected to succeed her in the regularly scheduled general election. 44th: Kalman Yeger resigned on December 31, 2024, after being elected to the New York State Assembly in 2024. Democrat Simcha Felder won a special election to fill his unexpired term on April 29, 2025. Republican 51st: Joe Borelli resigned on January 31, 2025, to work in the private sector. Republican Frank Morano won a special election to fill his unexpired term on April 29, 2025.
Defeated in general election One Republican incumbent was defeated in the general election. Republican 13th: Kristy Marmorato lost re-election to Democrat Shirley Aldebol.
Special elections Two special elections were held during the 2025 election cycle; special elections to the council are officially non-partisan and use ranked-choice voting.
District 44 (special) A special election to the 44th district was held on March 25 to fill the vacancy caused by Democrat Kalman Yeger's resignation to join the New York State Assembly.
Declared Simcha Felder, state senator from the 22nd district (2013–present) (Democratic) Heshy Tischler, activist and perennial candidate (Republican)
Withdrawn Moshe Friedman
Endorsements
Results
District 51 (special) A special election to the 51st district was held on April 29 to fill the vacancy caused by Republican Joe Borelli's resignation to join the private sector.
Declared Griffin Fossella, son of Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella (Republican) Clifford Hagen, special education teacher and environmentalist (Democratic) Frank Morano, radio talk show host at WABC (Republican)
Endorsements
Results
List of districts Manhattan District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 (Bronx crossover) • District 9 • District 10__NOTOC__
Bronx District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18__NOTOC__
Queens District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 (Bronx crossover) • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32__NOTOC__
Brooklyn District 33 • District 34 (Queens crossover) • District 35 • District 36 • District 37 • District 38 • District 39 • District 40 • District 41 • District 42 • District 43 • District 44 • District 45 • District 46 • District 47 • District 48__NOTOC__
Staten Island District 49 • District 50 (Brooklyn crossover) • District 51__NOTOC__
District 1
Democratic primary Incumbent Christopher Marte faced a collection of spirited primary challengers in the 2025 cycle, with YIMBY groups eager to unseat the councilman after he had been the only Manhattan councilor to oppose the 2024 City of Yes rezoning proposal. Marte was challenged by three members of Manhattan Community Board 1; lawyer Jess Coleman, NYPD counterterrorism official Elizabeth Lewinsohn, and Metropolitan Transport Authority official Eric Yu.
Marte ran for re-election with the support of numerous progressive groups that he had not previously won the endorsement of; the Working Families Party gave him their support in a move that surprised many, as the incumbent's opposition to housing development and congestion pricing had been criticised by progressives. Marte defended his anti-development record on the campaign trail, campaigning on his support for preserving the Elizabeth Street Garden and broader green space, and claiming that his opponents were backed by elitist real estate interests. Coleman was supported by several pro-development groups such as Open New York, and ran on the argument that Marte's opposition to new housing projects was driving up rents and damaging local business. Lewinsohn was supported by Marte's predecessor, Margaret Chin, and campaigned mostly on crime, arguing for increased NYPD funding. Unlike the other three candidates Lewinsohn did not participate in New York City's public election financing system, self-funding her campaign and substantially outraising all of her competitors.
Declared Jess Coleman, lawyer & member of Manhattan Community Board 1 (2021–present) Elizabeth Lewinsohn, former community head of the NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau & member of Manhattan Community Board 1 (2012–present) Christopher Marte, incumbent Councilmember Eric Yu, Director of Expense Analysis for Service Delivery for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority & member of Manhattan Community Board 1 (2021–present)
Endorsements
Results
Republican primary Declared Helen Qiu, pastor and nominee for this district in 2023
General election Results
District 2
Democratic primary Declared Sarah Batchu, member of Manhattan Community Board 3 (2022–present) Harvey Epstein, State Assemblymember for the 74th district (2018–present) Andrea Gordillo, chair of Manhattan Community Board 3 (2023–present) Allison Ryan, candidate for this district in 2023 and Neighborhood Party nominee in 2021 Anthony Weiner, former U.S. representative from New York's 9th congressional district (1999–2011), former New York City Councilmember from the 48th district (1992–1998), and candidate for Mayor of New York City in 2005 and 2013
Campaign Incumbent councilwoman Carlina Rivera was term-limited in the 2025, leaving an open race to replace her. The race was highly competitive, with a number of high-profile candidates running.
The candidate widely considered the frontrunner was state assemblyman Harvey Epstein, who was jointly favoured by most of the Democratic establishment and by progressive groups. Epstein had previously served on the New York City Rent Guidelines Board, and had close ties to many tenant's rights organisations that backed his campaign. Epstein's campaign received widespread attention in late 2024 when it was the subject of a sketch on the popular comedy show Saturday Night Live, with comedian John Mulaney playing the assemblyman while commenting on his misfortune in sharing a first and last name with the prominent sex offenders Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein.
Also running were Sarah Batchu, a member of Manhattan Community Board 3 and a former staffer for Bill de Blasio, who based her campaign around a need for generational change, and Andrea Gordillo, the chair of Community Board 3 who campaigned on the need to support artists. Allie Ryan, who had unsuccessfully attempted to primary Rivera in 2023, ran again, and campaigned largely against e-bikes.
The candidate that received the most national media attention was however Anthony Weiner, a formerly high-profile congressman who had been forced to resign over numerous sexting scandals, and who had spent 18 months in prison after being convicted of sexting a 15-year old girl in 2016. Weiner campaigned as a staunch centrist, advocating against e-bikes and fare evasion, and in favor of more police hires. Josh Tyrangiel, writing in The Atlantic, deemed Weiner's centrism to be highly out-of-step with the progressive 2nd district, and noted that Weiner showed little interest in tailoring his messaging to skeptical audiences. Combined with his past scandals, Tyrangiel thus considered Weiner highly unlikely to win the election.
Endorsements
Results
Republican primary Declared Jason Murillo, radio show host & music producer
Events
+ Debates & Forums Venue Date Format Andrea Gordillo Allison Ryan Anthony Weiner Harvey Epstein Jason Murillo Sarah Batchu East Village Subreddit May 28, 2025 AMA ✓ ✓ ✗ ✓ ✗ ✓
✓ – Participated — – Did not attend ✗ – Was not invited
General election Results
District 3
Democratic primary Erik Bottcher, the incumbent councilman, ran for re-election. He faced primary opposition from Jacqueline Lara, a tenant activist who campaigned against Bottcher's support for the redevelopment of New York City Housing Authority public housing estates in Chelsea, arguing that this would effectively evict many public housing tenants. Bottcher campaigned on building bike lanes and affordable housing, and expanding New York City's mental health support services.
Declared Erik Bottcher, incumbent Councilmember Jacqueline Lara, housing advocate
Endorsements
Results
Independents Declared Dominick Romeo
General election Results
District 4
Democratic primary Declared Vanessa Aronson, teacher and candidate for this district in 2017 Faith Bondy, attorney Luke Florczak, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Virginia Maloney, project manager and daughter of former U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney Rachel Storch, COO of the Fifth Avenue Synagogue and former Missouri state representative from the 64th district (2005–2011) Ben Wetzler, former Democratic district leader from the 76th assembly district and great-nephew of former state assemblymember George M. Michaels
Withdrawn Kyle Athayde, member of Manhattan Community Board 6
Endorsements
Results
General election Results
District 5
Democratic primary Incumbent councilwoman Julie Menin entered the 2025 cycle as one of the highest-profile members of the council and its second most prolific fundraiser, and was widely touted as the next council Speaker following the term-limiting of Adrienne Adams. Menin campaigned on increased school funding and improved sanitation, having worked to decrease New York City's rat population. She faced a primary challenge from teacher Collin Thompson, who campaigned on liberalizing permitting requirements and shifting responsibility for making mental health checks from the New York City Police Department to a dedicated mental health unit.
Declared Julie Menin, incumbent Councilmember Collin Thompson, educator
Endorsements
Results
Republican primary Declared Alina Bonsell
General election Results
District 6
Democratic primary Declared Gale Brewer, incumbent Councilmember
Endorsements
General election Results
District 7
Democratic primary Declared Shaun Abreu, incumbent Councilmember Tiffany Khan, businesswoman Edafe Okporo, migrant advocate
Withdrawn Gordon Springs
Endorsements
Results
Republican primary Declared Manual Williams, businessman
General election Results
District 8
Democratic primary Declared Clarisa Alayeto, chair of Bronx Community Board 1 (2023–present) Federico Colon, former chief of staff to Councilmember Adam Clayton Powell IV Rosa Diaz, secretary of Manhattan Community Board 11 Elsie Encarnacion, chief of staff to Councilmember Diana Ayala Wilfredo López, former legislative director and counsel for councilmember Ben Kallos and candidate for New York's 68th State Assembly district in 2022 Nicholas Reyes, community engagement manager, State Democrats Committee Member AD 68, former member of Manhattan Community Board 11 Raymond Santana, criminal justice advocate and member of the Exonerated Five
Withdrawn