N.Y. City Council Sees Historic Changes, and Republicans Gain Ground
The New York Times
Concerns over public safety and pandemic restrictions helped some Republicans win seats on the New York City Council, which will also be one of the city’s most diverse councils ever.
Election Day was expected to be something of a historic moment for the New York City Council: The city’s legislative body was poised to welcome its first South Asian members, its first Muslim woman and its first out L.G.B.T.Q. Black women, and for the first time, have more women than men.
Most of that did happen on Tuesday, but not exactly in the way that was anticipated. At least two of the women newly elected to the Council were Republicans — part of a trend that saw the party unexpectedly gain seats for the first time since 2009.
Though Democrats cruised to victories in the vast majority of races, Republicans defended the three City Council seats they held, including one that Democrats sought to flip. They also picked up a fourth and remained competitive in three other races that, with some ballots yet to be counted, remained too close to call on Wednesday night.
