With the mayoral election tucked away and the Democratic political class back from their annual post-election pow-wow in Puerto Rico, New York's political insiders have started jockeying for key leadership positions for city, state and national positions.
In the near-term, the new City Council will choose a speaker, with Brooklyn's own Council Member Crystal Hudson (Fort Green, Crown Heights) in the running for the position. But besides the focus on who will obtain leading roles in Zohran Mamdani's new administration, there's already a lot of political manoeuvring ahead of the November 2026 election, which will determine the state's next governor, state House and Senate members, and the U.S. House Representative.
Key Headlines:
--On Nov. 7, U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik launched her gubernatorial bid to unseat Governor Kathy Hochul.
Stefanik (R-N.Y.), has emerged as an influential and polarizing figure in the Republican Party, rising from freshman congresswoman to a leadership role as she eyes replacing Hochul in 2026.
Born July 2, 1984, in Albany, Stefanik grew up in a small-business family in upstate New York. She graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree, after fulfilling a life-long ambition to enter public service, according to her congressional website.
Stefanik launched her congressional bid in 2013 for New York’s 21st District, a largely rural and suburban region stretching from the North Country down toward Utica. At age 30, when she was elected in 2014, she became the youngest woman ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Early in her House tenure, Stefanik cultivated a reputation as a moderate — until she shifted sharply under the influence of the 2016 election cycle. Her realignment toward the wing of the party aligned with former President Donald Trump marked a turning point in her political identity.
In May 2021, Stefanik was chosen to replace Liz Cheney as chair of the House Republican Conference, making her one of the highest-ranking women in congressional Republican leadership. Another high-profile moment came in March 2025, when President Trump withdrew her nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, citing concerns about the Republican majority in the House, according to the Associated Press.
Stefanik will try to push New York state to the right, as she is aligned with the “America First” conservative wing and Trump policies.
She may not be the only Republican making a run, however, as Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is considering throwing his hat in the ring, according to Spectrum News New York 1.
This portion is an AI-powered collaborative article with BK Reader.
Here are additional headlines for Brooklyn voters:
--Mamdani resurrects former de Blasio first deputy mayor as his own (Zohran Mamdani via X)
--Over 50,000 people apply for new City Hall positions (Pix 11)
--Council Member Chi Ossé plans to primary U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries, despite Mamdani's objections (New York Times)
--Hochul considers Brooklyn DA, Assemblyman for running mate (Gothamist)
--Council Member Crystal Hudson is accused of taking donations from real estate firms she once pledged not to take (New York Daily News)
--Polls show young voters supporting Council Member Alex Aviles vs Congressman Dan Goldman (City & State)
