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
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Crowded City Council Race in Lower Manhattan District Devastated by Covid |
City Council District 2, Manhattan
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Carlina Rivera to Face Sole Challenger for Lower Manhattan Seat |
City Council District 3, Manhattan
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Race heats up to fill Corey Johnson’s council seat |
City Council District 5, Manhattan
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First-time candidates and government veterans face off for New York’s UES |
City Council District 6, Manhattan
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As Brewer Attempts 'Unusual' Return to City Council, Upper West Side Primary Heats Up |
City Council District 7, Manhattan
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It’s crowded in the race for the City Council District 7 seat |
City Council District 8, Manhattan & the Bronx
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Four Candidates Vie For City’s 8th District, One Seeks Re-election |
City Council District 9, Manhattan
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Bill Perkins, despite barely running, may win again |
City Council District 10, Manhattan
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Eight Candidates Compete for Upper Manhattan Council District Battered By Pandemic |
City Council District 11, the Bronx
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West Bronx Council Race: Will Higher Turnout Drown Out a Famous Name? |
City Council District 12, the Bronx
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One of the Council’s Newest Members Faces a Veteran Challenger and a New Voice |
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 |
City Council District 14, the Bronx
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14th City Council Race Has Attracted Big Bucks and Dueling Endorsements |
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 |
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 |
City Council District 18, the Bronx
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Crowded Field in Bronx Race to Fill Ruben Díaz Sr’s Council Seat |
City Council District 19, Queens
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10 candidates line up for New York City Council District 19 |
City Council District 20, Queens
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Free-for-All in Flushing as Voters Choose Next City Council Member |
City Council District 21, Queens
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In Queens, Council Member at the Epicenter Looks to Hold Seat Against Insurgent from the Left |
City Council District 22, Queens
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The race for Queens Council District 22, the next phase of Astoria's political evolution |
City Council District 23, Queens
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Seven candidates compete for Grodenchik’s seat in the pseudo-burbs of Eastern Queens |
City Council District 25, Queens
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Diverse Field of Candidates Vies to Replace Trailblazing Council Member in Queens |
City Council District 27, Queens
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Rival Resumés as a Dozen Seek Victory in Daneek’s District |
City Council District 28, Queens
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Council Member Seeking Reelection and the Speakership Faces Exonerated Ex-Rep Pursuing Redemption |
City Council District 29, Queens
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Health Care Needs and a New Jail Loom Large in Queens City Council Race |
City Council District 30, Queens
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In Queens, Council Member Who Unseated Incumbent Tries to Hold On Versus Progressive Challenger |
City Council District 31, Queens
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Brooks-Powers Looks to Defend New Council Seat in Southeast Queens |
City Council District 32, Queens
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Five Democrats Look to Flip Queens’ Last GOP Council Seat Blue |
City Council District 33, Brooklyn
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Crowded Field Competes to Represent Brooklyn Waterfront in City Council |
City Council District 34, Brooklyn & Queens
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Close Ally Has Inside Track in Race to Replace North Brooklyn City Council Member |
City Council District 35, Brooklyn
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Competitive Central Brooklyn Council Race Splits City's Left |
City Council District 36, Brooklyn
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In Competitive Central Brooklyn City Council Race, Candidates Focus on Housing, Education and Public Safety |
City Council District 37, Brooklyn
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City Council District 37 race readies for a rematch |
City Council District 38, Brooklyn
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Future of Immigrant Communities the Focus of Brooklyn City Council Race |
City Council District 39, Brooklyn
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In Brooklyn Political Launching Pad, Another Highly Competitive Council Race |
City Council District 40, Brooklyn
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Candidates with Varied Resumés Compete for Central Brooklyn City Council Seat |
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? |
City Council District 45, Brooklyn
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In Brooklyn, Incumbent Council Member Looks to Hold Off Veteran Challenger and Win First Full Term |
City Council District 46, Brooklyn
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Mercedes Narcisse makes second run at Council District 46 |
City Council District 47, Brooklyn
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Could Ari Kagan finally win an election? |
City Council District 49, Staten Island
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A crowded field of candidates aims to represent the North Shore |
City Council District 50, Staten Island
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It’s Insider Vs. Outsiders in Republican Council Primary on Staten Island |
