Election Day has concluded in New York City, where incumbent Democrats secured statewide victories, all five ballot proposals passed, and early voting surged by nearly 60% compared to the 2022 governor’s race, according to the city’s Board of Elections.
The ballots are finally counted, and New York’s political power remains firmly under Democratic control. Voters headed to the polls to settle matchups across the five boroughs and beyond. Incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul successfully clinched her second term, while state Attorney General Letitia James and state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli both won reelection to retain their respective offices.
How Did Early Voting Turnout Shape the Race?
Over the course of the nine-day early voting period, 690,526 city residents cast their ballots.
That figure represents a nearly 60% increase in early voting turnout compared to the last gubernatorial contest in 2022, according to the city’s Board of Elections.
Why Did All Five Ballot Proposals Pass in NYC?
In the five boroughs, residents also decided the fate of five local ballot questions. These proposals were crafted by Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Charter Commission on Government Efficiency, also known as COGE. When the dust settled, New Yorkers voted in favor of every single proposal.
Question 1 streamlined revocable consents for public spaces and outdoor dining by eliminating mandatory hearings and City Council approval while maintaining community input. Question 2 targeted city contractors by authorizing the Procurement Policy Board to simplify questionnaires and mandate quarterly meetings. Question 3 expedited road safety projects, office leasing, and the disposal of unused city property subject to City Planning Commission approval. Question 4 established a centralized construction permitting system and transferred waterfront permit authority from Small Business Services to the Department of Buildings. Finally, Question 5 set contribution targets for the emergency reserve fund to safeguard the city’s budgetary health.
Who Won the Congressional Showdowns Across the Boroughs?
Voters also weighed in on crucial U.S. House, state Assembly, and state Senate seats. In Queens, incumbent Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks defended District 5, capturing 80.5% of the vote against Republican George Marsh with over 91% of expected votes tallied by 1:15 a.m., according to the Associated Press. Meeks has served in Congress since 2013. In District 6, incumbent Democratic Rep. Grace Meng secured 68.6% of the vote over Republican challenger Joseph Chou.
Tom DiNapoli, Kathy Hochul, Adrienne Adams and Letitia James celebrated onstage at an election night party in New York City after winning their statewide races. pic.twitter.com/7nYhLfKZMU
Brooklyn and Queens saw Democratic candidate Claire Valdez win the race for District 7 to replace retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez, pulling in 83% of the vote over Republican Melvin Rivera. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries won reelection in Brooklyn’s District 8 with 79.2% of the vote against Republican Lewis Mizrahi. Jeffries is expected to become the first Black speaker of the House after Democrats took the chamber back nationally.
In Brooklyn’s District 9, incumbent Democratic Rep. Yvette Clarke took 82.1% of the vote against Republican Joel Azumah. District 10 in Brooklyn and Manhattan elected Democratic candidate Brad Lander—who defeated incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman in the June primary—with 83.2% over Republican Jennifer Moore. Down in Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, incumbent Rep. Nicole Malliotakis held her ground in District 11, defeating Democrat Mike DeCillis with 56.1% of the vote.
Manhattan and the Bronx wrapped up the congressional map with clear margins. In District 12, Democratic candidate Micah Lasher secured 77.2% of the vote to succeed retiring Rep. Jerrold Nadler. In District 13, Darializa Avila Chevalier claimed victory with 87.5% of the vote after defeating incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the primary. Incumbent Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won District 14 in the Bronx and Queens with 78.2% of the vote, while Rep. Ritchie Torres took District 15 in the Bronx with 76.8%. Finally, in District 16, Rep. George Latimer captured 82.1% of the vote across the Bronx and Westchester County.
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