Republicans Make Inroads Across Brooklyn, Win First State Senate Seat in 24 Years
Republicans made inroads across the five boroughs Tuesday, with more ballots cast for Donald Trump than any Republican presidential candidate in more than two decades.
That red tide was high enough in Southern Brooklyn for former NYPD sergeant Steve Chan to oust Democrat incumbent Iwen Chu, giving Republicans their first State senate seat in the borough since Marty Golden — another police officer turned politician — was voted out in 2018.
Chan’s Victory
Chan’s win came as Asian-American voters in the district have shifted to the right, motivated in part by opposition to a forthcoming Bensonhurst homeless shelter.
The Impact of Opposition to the Homeless Shelter
Opposition to the forthcoming homeless shelter exploded into the headlines in July when local Democratic City Councilwoman Susan Zhuang, who has aligned herself with Republicans in the conservative district, bit a police officer. Protests have continued daily since.
Voter Sentiment
The shelter is slated to house long-term homeless New Yorkers rather than newly arriving migrants from the Southern Border, more than 200,000 of whom have arrived in New York City shelters since 2022. Still, the two issues were intertwined for many voters.
Party Reaction
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, said she was confident Democrats could reclaim Chu’s seat in the future. Justin Brannan, the Democratic City Councilmember who represents Bay Ridge, said Tuesday’s results represent years of setbacks for members of the party who’ve been organizing to try to keep South Brooklyn in Democratic control.
Additional Election Results
In the borough’s two other competitive local races, Republican Assemblymembers Alec Brook-Krasny and Michael Novakhov both appeared to hold the seats they’d flipped red in 2022. But Novakhov was up by just 270 votes as of Wednesday afternoon and his Democratic challenger Joey Saban said he was waiting for the absentee ballots to be counted before conceding.
Conclusion
In a surprise upset, the Republican Party made significant gains in Brooklyn, winning a State Senate seat and multiple Assembly seats. The results were driven in part by opposition to a forthcoming homeless shelter in Bensonhurst, which had galvanized community activists and voters. As the parties look to rebuild and regroup, one thing is clear: Tuesday’s results mark a shift in the political landscape of Brooklyn.
FAQs
Q: What prompted the shift in Asian-American voters in the district to the right?
A: Opposition to the forthcoming Bensonhurst homeless shelter and concerns about the impact it would have on the community.
Q: Why did voters oppose the homeless shelter?
A: Many voters were concerned about the location of the shelter, which would be built near schools and daycares, and the influx of new migrants from the Southern Border.
Q: What does this mean for the future of Democratic control in Brooklyn?
A: The results may indicate a shift in power, as Democrats struggle to maintain control in the conservative district.
Q: How did the parties respond to the results?
A: The Brooklyn Democratic Party expressed confidence in reclaiming the seat in the future, while the Republican Party celebrated the gains they made.
