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By Sahalie Donaldson

WITH A NEW YEAR underway, New York City Council members are gearing up for another primary season just two years after the previous one, thanks to a redistricting process that shuffled the district lines. Many council members will first face a primary on June 27 and then the general election on Nov. 7. And while the majority of the 51 members are unlikely to face much in the way of competitive challengers, a smaller number are poised to potentially face dramatic contests this summer. And it’s possible other opportunities will open in the months ahead if incumbents decide not to run for reelection. Eighty candidates have registered with the New York City Campaign Finance Board as of Dec. 29. Here are a few of the big primary races to watch, with more on Districts 9 and 43 in this feature.

BROOKLYN’S DISTRICT 47, REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

New York City Council Member Ari Kagan drew no shortage of ire from his colleagues when he announced in early December that he’d be switching to the Republican Party, claiming that Democrats have moved too far left. While the most dramatic showdown probably won’t come until November when Kagan and fellow Brooklyn Council Member Justin Brannan could go head to head, Kagan still may face at least one serious challenger in the Republican primary. Michael Ragusa, a former New York City Fire Department emergency medical technician and civil servant endorsed by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, is also running for the southern Brooklyn district.

STATEN ISLAND’S DISTRICT 49, DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

While defending her North Shore seat for the first time, Council Member Kamillah Hanks, chair of the Public Safety Committee, will once again go up against Amoy Barnes two years after defeating her and a slate of other candidates. Barnes, a community advocate, came in second of the nine

candidates with 43.1% in the final round of ranked choice voting to Hanks’ 56.9%. With Hanks having made progress on many of the goals she set, such as her focus on the revitalization of the North Shore waterfront, she’ll probably hold on to the seat. Still, a rematch between the two longtime community advocates is likely to prove interesting.

MANHATTAN’S DISTRICT 9, DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

Council Member Kristin Richardson Jordan looks to defend her seat against a tough and crowded primary field – including Assembly Members Al Taylor and Inez Dickens along with Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Five. Richardson Jordan’s opposition to the One45 development will play a central role in the race. For more, turn to page 10.

BROOKLYN’S DISTRICT 43, DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

Lacking an incumbent running for reelection, this newly crafted majority-Asian seat will likely be a wide open race with many candidates. The seat linking parts of Sunset Park, Dyker Heights and Bensonhurst will be a showcase for the community’s increasing voting power.

For more, turn to page 13.

GENERAL ELECTION RACES TO WATCH

nan could face another tough race in the general election in District 43. A competitive rematch will likely also play out in District 19 in northeastern Queens, between Council Member Vickie Paladino and Tony Avella, a former Democratic state senator and council member. First-year Council Member Marjorie Velázquez could also be vulnerable in the Bronx’s District 13 given the growing Republican presence in the area. While the district still has a large Democratic voter enrollment advantage, Republican New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa triumphed there in 2021, and the Republican gubernatorial candidate Rep. Lee Zeldin seized 47% of the vote in November.