Brannan’s victory, although celebrated by the major labor unions and elected officials that backed him, came after Brannan was criticized by Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn. Bichotte Hermelyn called out Brannan in October for a lack of migrant shelters in Bay Ridge, and she released a statement last week about allegations of bullying and harassment against Brannan by a former coworker.
“We’re certainly not going to forget those who tried to bring us down in some of the toughest moments of this campaign,” Brannan said in his victory speech at The Brooklyn Firefly restaurant in Bay Ridge.
Brooklyn Democrats celebrated another victory in contentious District 43, as Susan Zhuang, Chief of Staff to State Assemblyman William Colton, beat out Republican Ying Tan to represent the newly created district. The new district includes parts of Sunset Park, Borough Park, Bath Beach, Bensonhurst and Gravesend, and was created to reflect the Asian majority of residents in the area.
“I congratulate Susan Zhuang, who made history by being elected as the first Asian-American Democratic City Council Member from Brooklyn,” Bichotte Hermelyn said.
Republican councilwoman Inna Vernikov won in South Brooklyn’s 48th District, after facing challenges from both the left and the right. Vernikov won with 67.5% of the votes as of 11:20am Wednesday, beating out Democrat Amber Adler and Republican Igor Kazatsker.
Vernikov came into controversy last month after the pro-Israel councilmember was arrested for carrying a gun in her waistband while attending a pro-Palestinian rally on Brooklyn College campus.
Below is a comprehensive outline of the Brooklyn City Council Race results.
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