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Minorities Are The New Majority In City Council
By
Ben Muessig
Published Nov 4, 2009
Modified Nov 4, 2009
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By
Ben Muessig
Published Nov 4, 2009
Modified Nov 4, 2009
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For the first time ever, black, Latino, and Asian politicians will outnumber white politicians in the City Council. In last night's election, minority candidates secured 28 seats while white candidates won 23, according to the Daily News. Currently in the Council, white politicians outnumber minorities 26 to 25.
In historic wins last night, Margaret Chin became the first-ever Asian-American to represent Manhattan's Chinatown, while two Queens men became the first gay candidates to win a city office outside of Manhattan. Democrats Daniel Dromm in Jackson Heights and Jimmy Van Bramer in Sunnyside both won easily, effectively doubling the size of the council's gay and lesbian caucus.
Election night also saw Democratic Queens Councilman John Liu cruise to victory as comptroller — becoming the first Asian-American elected to citywide office in the process. Though the News wasn't studying the religious affiliations of the Council winners, incoming Republican Councilman Dan Halloran will be the body's first Theodish member, despite his rival's attempts to turn his pre-Christian religious beliefs into a last-minute campaign issue in his Queens district.
Tagged
2009 NYC Election
City Council
minority
race
Ben Muessig
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