While most New Yorkers focused on the mayoral race, Bronx residents had their own nail biter on Election Day: Can a Democrat win back a seat in District 13 in northeastern Bronx?
Democrat Shirley Aldebol won the city council seat with 17,345 votes or 51.6% of voters. Kristy Marmorato, the Republican incumbent, was the runner-up with 15,532 votes, or 46.2% of voters.
“I guess everybody was a little surprised at how much momentum Shirley got, and that’s great,” Rebecca Green, a Pelham Bay resident. “It’s important to me to have somebody progressive who mirrors the diversity of the city.”
Aldebol, who was one of six candidates in District 13’s Democratic primary, is a longtime labor leader endorsed by several labor organizations. She also raised significantly more private and public funds than Marmorato, according to figures available from the Campaign Finance Board.
Marmorato won the seat in a surprise win in 2023, making her the first female Republican elected in the Bronx.
“As for me, I’ve spent my life fighting for the community — and that’s not about to change,” Marmorato said in a post across her campaign social media accounts. “Stay tuned because the best is yet to come.”
The district, which includes several neighborhoods like Morris Park, Pelham Bay, Van Nest, and Throggs Neck, is a heavily Democratic area. According to the New York State Board of Elections, roughly 71% of voters are registered Democrats, and roughly 7% are registered Republicans. Yet Marmorato won the district with 52% of the vote two years ago, despite few registered Republicans in the area.
Voters like Pat Cambria believe Marmorato fulfilled the promises she made on the campaign trail. “Yes, she has taken care of numerous things,” the longtime Morris Park resident said.
Cambria appreciated Marmorato’s opposition to the expansion of Bally’s casino, and the Just Home supportive housing project for people exiting incarceration, which was ultimately approved by the City Council.
Residents were unified on their main concerns for the Bronx: affordability and safety, and now they want Aldebol to deliver.
Full article at the Mott Haven Herald
(Photo courtesy of Shirley Aldebol)