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Brooklyn Midterm Election Results: Dems Make a Comeback, Flipping Seats in Southern Brooklyn

Four state legislative races went Democrats’ way as the party reclaimed ground in neighborhoods where Republicans had made recent inroads. Chris McCreight and Joey Cohen-Saban unseated Republican incumbents, while Joyce Xiaoqiong Xie and Larry He also declared victories.
BK Reader Staff
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Primary voting stations, September 2018.Photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office via flickr

The results are in, and Brooklyn delivered a political message with this year's midterm elections that Democrats — and especially Republicans who thought they had found a foothold in southern Brooklyn — cannot afford to ignore.

In one of the night’s biggest local turnarounds, Democrats swept four competitive state legislative races, reclaiming seats in areas where Republicans had made significant inroads.

Chris McCreight unseated Republican Alec Brook-Krasny in Assembly District 46, while Joey Cohen-Saban defeated Republican Michael Novakhov in District 45, reversing his narrow 2024 loss. Democrat Joyce Xiaoqiong Xie also moved ahead in District 49, and Larry He declared victory over Republican state Sen. Steve Chan in the 17th District. Cohen-Saban offered a gracious message that was also a challenge to his own party:

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Joyce Xiaoqiong Xie campaigning in Southern Brooklyn. Photo: Facebook

“I did not win a seat for half of this district. I won a seat for all of it, and my door to all those folks is open starting tomorrow morning," Cohen-Saban said in his acceptance speech. Cohen-Saban also appeared on the Fight Antisemitism Party ballot line

The night also underscored the growing influence of the progressive movement. Mayor Zohran Mamdani-backed candidates Claire Valdez and Brad Lander won congressional seats in Brooklyn districts, while Democratic incumbent Hakeem Jeffries held his seat.

But the Republican story was not entirely one of retreat: Nicole Malliotakis retained New York’s 11th Congressional District, demonstrating that southern Brooklyn remains politically competitive. 

Here's a first look at local election results in Brooklyn and the State of New York:

Statewide Winners

Governor and Lieutenant Governor Winners: Kathy C. Hochul (Democrat), (incumbent) and Adrienne Adams 

State Comptroller Winner: Thomas P. DiNapoli (Democrat), (incumbent)

Attorney General Winner: Letitia A. James (Democrat), (incumbent)

 

Congressional Winners in Brooklyn

Congressional winners will represent New York State in the Federal Government, serving the House of Representatives. 

NY-7 – Bushwick, Clinton Hill, Downtown Brooklyn, East New York, Williamsburg, Fort Greene, Greenpoint and parts of Queens

NY-8: Parts of Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Bed-Stuy, Brownsville, East New York, Canarsie, Bergen Beach, Mill Basin, Gerritsen Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend, Manhattan Beach, Coney Island, Brighton Beach and Sea Gate

NY-9: Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts-Gardens, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Kensington and Sheepshead Bay

NY-10: Dumbo, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Red Hook, Gowanus, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Sunset Park, parts of Borough Park and Bay Ridge and lower Manhattan

NY-11: Bay Ridge, Fort Hamilton, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach, Bensonhurst and Staten Island

 

State Senate Winners

State senate winners will serve the upper chamber of the US State legislature, responsible for drafting and voting on laws specific to New York State.

SD-17: Sunset Park, Borough Park, Dyker Heights, Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Gravesend

  • Winner: Larry He (Democrat), (flipped seat)

SD-18: Williamsburg, Bushwick, Cypress Hills and East New York

SD-19: Canarsie, Cypress Hills, East New York, Brownsville, Lindenwood, Ocean Hill and Starrett City

SD-20: Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Windsor Terrace.

SD-21: Flatbush, East Flatbush, Flatlands, Georgetown, Bergen Beach, Mill Basin and East Midwood

SD-22: Midwood, Borough Park, Madison, Homecrest, Gravesend, Sheepshead Bay and Marine Park

SD-23: Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach, Coney Island and Sea Gate

SD-25: Downtown Brooklyn, Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Brownsville

SD-26: Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, Park Slope, Red Hook, Sunset Park, Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights

SD-59: Greenpoint and Williamsburg

 

State Assembly Winners

State assembly members will serve the  lower chamber of the state legislature, responsible for introducing laws, voting on bills, and working with local residents to resolve problems with state and city agencies.

AD-41: Flatlands, Flatbush, Sheepshead Bay, Midwood and Canarsie

AD-42: Ditmas Park, Flatbush, East Flatbush and Midwood

AD-43: Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Flatbush

AD-44: Prospect Heights, Park Slope, South Slope, Windsor Terrace, Ditmas Park, Borough Park and Kensington

AD-45: Sheepshead Bay, Midwood, Manhattan Beach, Gravesend and Brighton Beach.

AD-46: Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Fort Hamilton, Bath Beach, Sea Gate, Coney Island and Brighton Beach

AD-47: Bensonhurst, Gravesend, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights and Midwood

AD-48: Borough Park, Kensington, and Midwood

AD-49: Sunset Park, Dyker Heights, Borough Park and Bensonhurst

AD-50: Greenpoint and Williamsburg

AD-51: Red Hook, Sunset Park and Bay Ridge

AD-52: Brooklyn Navy Yard, Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, Park Slope and Prospect Heights

AD-53: Williamsburg and Bushwick

AD-54: Bushwick, Cypress Hills and East New York

AD-55: Brownsville, Ocean Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights and East New York

AD-56: Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights

AD-57: Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights

AD-58: East Flatbush, Canarsie, Brownsville and Crown Heights

AD-59: Canarsie, Flatlands, Georgetown, Mill Basin, Marine Park, Bergen Beach and Gerrittsen Beach

AD-60: East New York, Starrett City and Brownsville

AD-64: Part of Bay Ridge and Staten Island

 

State Supreme Court Winners 

Justice of the Supreme Court:

Winners:

  • Betsey Jean Jacques
  • Hemalee J. Patel
  • Sherveal Mimes
  • Lola Waterman

Judge of the Civil Court – Kings County

Winners: 

These four candidates ran uncontested, as only their four names appeared on the ballot for four open seats.

 

Judge of the Civil Court – Municipal Districts 

2nd Municipal District Winner 

3rd Municipal District Winner 

4th Municipal District Winners 

6th Municipal District Winners 

7th Municipal District Winner: 

8th Municipal District

Voters will choose one candidate for one open seat

 

Ballot Proposals

New York City residents voted on five ballot proposals aimed at speeding up local government operations. More information on each proposal can be found at nycvotes.org.

1. Speed up Process for Granting a Revocable Consent to Use Public Space

This proposed amendment aims to simplify the process to use public space for uses such as ramps, planters and cafes. It would remove mandatory hearings and Council disapproval of sidewalk cafes, while maintaining community and council input.

Result: YES — the process to use public space will be sped up, removing mandatory hearings and Council disaproval of sidewalk cafes.

2. Reduce City Contractor Paperwork; Require Regular Meetings of Procurement Policy Board

This proposed amendment aims to reduce paperwork for City’s contractors by authorizing the Procurement Policy Board to simplify the contractor questionnaire. It would require quarterly meetings of the Procurement Policy Board and remove mandatory hearing for required client services reports.

Result: YES — authority of the Procurement Policy Board will be amended, including simplifying the questionnaire.

3. Speed up Street Safety Projects, Disposition of Unused City Property, Office Leasing

This proposed amendment aims to simplify review of street safety projects to reduce construction timelines. Fast track disposition of unused City property with approval from City Planning Commission. Expedite leasing offices used for City workforce.

Result: YES — street project approvals will be simplified

4. Simplify Building Permitting and Move Waterfront Permitting to Department of Buildings

This proposed amendment aims to create a centralized construction permits hub to simplify permitting. Move waterfront permitting from Department of Small Business Services to Department of Buildings. Allow construction approval by additional Department of Buildings officials.

Result: YES — the result authorizes a centralized permitting hub, moving waterfront permitting to the Department of Buildings and allowing additional Department of Buildings officials to issue approvals.

5. Set Contribution Targets for Rainy Day Fund to Promote Sufficient Budgetary Reserves

This proposed amendment would set a target amount of money to hold in reserve funds, including a rainy day fund, to address unexpected financial hardships in future years, and require development of methodology to calculate contributions.

Result: YES — the mayor will be required to develop methodology for calculating deposits to the rainy day fund, with deposits subject to approval in the City budget.

 

*Final numbers on the election results will be added to this story as they come in.

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