East Harlem City Council Election Results: Diana Ayala Re-Elected

EAST HARLEM, NY — Diana Ayala won a second term representing East Harlem in the City Council on Tuesday, facing no opponents as she cruised to re-election in District 8.

With about a third of votes counted, Ayala was leading with nearly 99 percent of the vote hours after polls closed, with only a few dozen write-ins counting against her.

Ayala, 48, has served in the City Council since 2018, succeeding her former boss, Melissa Mark-Viverito, for whom she served as constituent services director and deputy chief of staff. Spanning between East Harlem and the South Bronx, the district is one of just two in the city that touches multiple boroughs.

Before making it to the general election, Ayala first had to beat back three challengers in June's Democratic primary. In that matchup against Tamika Mapp, Antoinette Glover and Manuel Onativia, Ayala won handily with about 57 percent of the vote.

For more Harlem news, subscribe to the email newsletter from Harlem Patch.

In the Council, Ayala chairs the committee on consumer affairs and business licensing, and has pushed to expand tenants' rights and curb sales of K2, a dangerous synthetic marijuana drug.

Having won re-election, Ayala can now turn her attention to a new challenge: running for speaker. Ayala is one of several candidates to have expressed interest in seeking the powerful position, which will be chosen by members when the new Council takes office in January.

Ayala's second term will last only two years instead of the usual four, due to a quirk in the city charter related to the recent census and the redistricting process that follows it.

In Harlem's other City Council races, two newcomers were elected on Tuesday. Kristin Richardson Jordan prevailed in Central Harlem's District 9, while Shaun Abreu defeated two challengers to win in West Harlem's District 7.