Manhattan District 3 Results: Erik Bottcher Wins Uncontested Race

LOWER MANHATTAN, NY — The polls are closed as of 9 p.m. Tuesday in the uncontested race to represent the West Village and Hell's Kitchen in the City Council and Democratic candidate Erik Bottcher has officially been elected to the position.

"Words cannot express how honored I am to have been elected to represent our community on the New York City Council," Bottcher wrote on Instagram. "Nor can words express how thankful I am to each and every one of you who cast your vote, volunteered, or contributed to our campaign."

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Bottcher beat out five other candidates in the Democratic primary for Manhattan's Council District 3 in June.

Along with the West Village and Hell's Kitchen, Bottcher will also represent Chelsea, Greenwich Village, West SoHo, Hudson Square, Times Square, the Garment District, Flatiron, and a very small section of the Upper West Side.

Bottcher will now be replacing his longtime boss Corey Johnson, to whom he has served as chief of staff.

For the first time in 20 years, all the winners of Tuesday's Council races will serve only a two-year term, opposed to the usual four years.

The shortened term is due to a rarely discussed provision in New York City's charter that changes the term length in the City Council from two to four years every 20 years to allow new challengers under new parties.

It means there will be another City Council election in 2023.

You can read Bottcher's complete set of answers to Patch's candidate survey: here.