NYC’s #1 Source for Political & Election News
What races and ballot measures
will Bronx voters decide on Nov. 2
Seven of the eight Bronx seats on the New York New York City Council listed on the Nov. 2, 2021, ballot are contested races. Photo courtesy Getty
In addition to selecting the
110th Mayor of New York City — a
race with many third-party or alternative
candidates but centered
around Democratic nominee Eric
Adams and Republican challenger
Curtis Sliwa — Bronxites
will also be tasked with voting on
the borough’s next president and
various City Council races and a
state Assembly special election
this November.
Additionally, the offi ce of New
York City public advocate and
comptroller are also on the Nov.
2 ballot.
Unlike the June primaries,
ranked-choice voting will not be
used in this year’s general election.
Voters will choose one candidate
for each seat on their ballot.
Polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Early voting will take place from
Saturday, Oct. 23, to Sunday, Oct.
31.
The deadline to request an
absentee ballot online or by mail
from the city’s Board of Elections
was on Oct. 18, but New Yorkers
can request an absentee ballot in
person up until Nov. 1. Absentee
ballot holders must mail in their
ballots by Nov. 2, which is also the
last day to have the absentee ballot
postmarked.
Races to Watch:
Borough President
At the top of the ballot for
Bronxites, is the race for who
will succeed three-term Bronx
borough president Rubén Díaz
Jr., a Democrat, who has been in
the post since 1997. Three candidates
will vie for the seat including
Democrats Vanessa L. Gibson,
Republican Janelle King and
Sammy Ravelo, a Conservative.
Seven of the eight Bronx
seats on the New York City
Council seats on the Nov. 2 ballot
are contested races.
District 11
In the 11th Council District,
which encompasses the sections
of Bedford Park, Kingsbridge,
Riverdale, Norwood, Van Cortlandt
Village, Wakefi eld, Woodlawn,
incumbent second-generation
Democrat Eric Dinowitz will
be opposed by Republican challenger
Kevin Pazmino.
District 13
With one-term Democratic
Councilman Mark Gjonaj not
seeking reelection, the Council
District 13 seat — which represents
the Allerton, City Island,
Morris Park, Pelham Bay,
Throggs Neck, Van Nest, Westchester
Square sections, to name
a few — will be decided between
Democrat frontrunner Marjorie
Velazquez and Republican Aleksander
Mici.
District 14
In the 14th Council District,
the race for the seat had one of the
busiest primaries over the summer,
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, O 16 CT. 22-28, 2021 BTR
as six candidates made a bid
for term-limited incumbent Fernando
Cabrera’s seat. The district
that houses the Morris Heights,
University Heights, Fordham,
Kingsbridge sections will be decided
between Republican Shameen
Chappell and Democrat Pierina
Ana Sanchez.
District 15
After winning a special election
in March, District 15 Councilman
Oswald Feliz seeks election
to his fi rst full term against
Republican-Conservative opponent
Ariel Rivera-Diaz. The District
15 seat includes the Bedford
Park, Fordham, Mount Hope,
Bathgate, Belmont, East Tremont,
West Farms, Van Nest, Allerton,
Olinville sections.
District 16
The District 16 seat will also
see a new face, with incumbent
Vanessa L. Gibson forgoing reelection
to enter a bid to be the
Bronx borough president. Republican
Kajara R. Boyd and Democrat
Althea V. Stevens will vie
for the council seat that represents
the Claremont, Concourse,
Concourse Village, Highbridge,
Morris Heights, Mount Eden and
Morrisania sections.
District 17
Democrat Rafael Salamanca
Jr., will make a bid for reelection
in the 17th Council District —
an area that includes Concourse
Village, Crotona Park East, East
Tremont, Hunts Point, Longwood,
Melrose, Morrisania, Port
Morris and West Farms. Salamanca
is opposed by Republican
Jose A. Colon and Lattina D.
Brown, a member of the Progressive
Black Women Lead Party.
District 18
District 18, a seat currently
held by moderate Democrat Ruben
Diaz Sr., who is not seeking
reelection, includes challengers
Amanda Farias, a Democrat, and
Republican Lamont L. Paul vying
for the district’s seat, which encompasses
the Soundview, Castle
Hill, Parkchester, Clason Point
and Harding Park sections.
State Assembly
There will also be a special
election to fi ll a vacancy 86th
Assembly District, which includes
the University and Morris
Heights, Mount Eden, Kingsbridge,
Tremont and Fordham
sections. The post, once fi lled by
four-term Democrat Victor Pichardo,
who left his post in August
to spend time with his family.
Yudelka Tapia, who serves as
a district leader for the same Assembly
district, is running unopposed
in the special election for
the seat.
Barring any major changes
to the race, with Tapia’s election,
the borough’s Assembly delegation
will join its counterpart in
the City Council as having a female
majority body.
Judicial District:
Six candidates, including 5
Democrats and 1 Republican, will
be up for voter consideration for
fi ve spots on the Bronx’s 12th Judicial
District bench. The candidates
include George R. Villegas,
Anthony G. Marecki, Patsy D.
Gouldborne, Paul L. Alpert, Marissa
Soto and Marissa Soto, all
Democrats. The lone Republican
candidate is Anthony G. Marecki.
Ballot Measures:
Candidates aren’t the only
ballot matter worthy of consideration
from voters in two weeks,
as voters will be presented with
a few ballot measures to stamp
their approval on. The proposals
include:
-A measure to freeze the
number of state senators at 63.
-Establish the right for clean
air and water and a healthful environment.
-A measure eliminating the
state’s 10-day advance voter registration
requirement.
-A measure to authorize noexcuse
absentee balloting.
-A measure to allow New
York City Civil courts to hear
and decide claims for up to
$50,000 instead of the current jurisdictional
limit of $25,000.
-Robbie Sequeira
PoliticsNY.com PoliticsNYnews PoliticsNYnews PoliticsNYnews
/PoliticsNY.com
