Brooklyn Republican Flips a Blue Seat To Red In District 17

This article was last updated at 10:58 p.m. Tuesday. This article will be updated as results continue to come in. Keep refreshing the page for updates.

BROOKLYN, NY — The New York State Senate Republican Conference has claimed victory in State Senate District 17, where Republican Steve Chan has a significant lead on Democratic incumbent Iwen Chu.

With 92.05 percent of votes counted, Chan holds the lead with 54.98 percent of the vote, or 27,865 votes, according to the city's Board of Elections unofficial vote totals. Chu trailed behind with 44.59 percent of the vote, or 22,599 votes.

Once all the votes are tallied by the New York City Board of Elections, the official final totals will be announced. This article will be updated as results continue to come in.

"We are thrilled to pick up a Republican seat in New York City and welcome the first Asian-American Republican State Senator to our conference," Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt said.

Chu was the first Asian woman elected to the New York State Senate, narrowly beating Republican challenger Vito LaBella in 2022 by just 215 votes out of more than 35,000 votes cast.

"I am in this for the people," Chu, who was elected in 2022 when her State Senate district was created in a rare redistricting process, told Patch ahead of election night.

This year, she faced fierce competition from Chan, an ex-marine and a retired NYPD officer who is backed by the area's congresswoman, Nicole Malliotakis.

Malliotakis, the Republican incumbent for Congressional District 11, beat Democrat Andrea Morse with 64.38 percent of votes cast in Brooklyn.

"My decades of public service is proof that I'm here for the people of our community. I'm not a politician. I can work with all parties," Chan told Patch ahead of the election.

State Senate District 17 represents parts of Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Gravesend and Kensington.