New York City Council challengers are (literally) giving incumbents a run for their money

A little bit of money goes a long way in municipal elections, where low voter turnout can tip the scales toward one candidate. And nowhere is that more true than in New York City Council races, where candidates – even newcomers without deep institutional ties – can obtain generous amounts of cash through the city’s public matching funds program. With the 2025 cycle underway and candidates’ campaign finances trickling in, here are some of the primary challengers making the biggest splashes, according to filings with the New York City Campaign Finance Board.

District 1

Several Democratic challengers have lined up to oust New York City Council Member Christopher Marte in lower Manhattan, including attorney Jess Coleman and longtime New York City Transit employee Eric Yu, but emerging from the pack of challengers with strong fundraising is Elizabeth Lewinsohn, a former policy director for the New York City Police Department’s Counterterrorism Bureau.

Challenger: Elizabeth Lewinsohn – $121,142 private funds + $0 public funds

Incumbent: Christopher Marte – $70,511 private funds + $174,800 public funds

District 7

Council Member Shaun Abreu has been racking up endorsements lately. While his war chest is larger than his opponent’s, gay Nigerian refugee Edafe Okporo, the challenger’s fundraising is nothing to sneeze at, having already exceeded the public matching funds threshold. 

Challenger: Edafe Okporo – $35,861 private funds + $117,055 public funds

Incumbent: Shaun Abreu – $101,495 private funds + $174,562 public funds

District 14

Council Member Pierina Sanchez is facing a challenge from her more conservative predecessor, former Council Member Fernando Cabrera. Also making some waves in the race is Bryan Hodge Vasquez, who has over $103,000 in cash on hand.

Challenger: Fernando Cabrera – $29,707 private funds + $152,950 public funds

Incumbent: Pierina Sanchez – $72,308 private funds + $174,800 public funds

District 27

In Southeast Queens, neither Council Member Nantasha Williams nor challengers Austin Pieters and Vera Daniels have raised a ton of money – but the distance between Williams and Pieters’ totals are somewhat slim, especially with neither qualifying for matching funds yet. Pieters does, however, have $17,000 in outstanding loans.

Challenger: Austin Pieters – $26,380 private funds + $0 public funds

Incumbent: Nantasha Williams – $36,896 private funds + $0 public funds

District 35

Council Member Crystal Hudson has been among those floated to succeed Adrienne Adams as City Council speaker after her term ends at the end of this year. But that would be moot if Hudson does not defeat primary challenger Dion Ashman.

Challenger: Dion Ashman – $29,516 private funds + $115,748 public funds

Incumbent: Crystal Hudson – $69,624 private funds + $129,694 public funds

District 38

Council Member Alexa Avilés has yet to qualify for matching funds and is actually being outraised by one of her challengers, Ling Ye. Asked about that, Avilés said her team has been “laser-focused on protecting our communities from the president’s extremist agenda,” and that her reelection campaign “is just beginning.”

Challenger: Ling Ye – $24,492 private funds + $0 public funds

Incumbent: Alexa Avilés – $20,183 private funds + $0 public funds

District 39

Council Member Shahana Hanif has a tough challenge for her Brooklyn seat this year in Maya Kornberg, with the Israel-Hamas war already a big topic of discussion in the race.

Challenger: Maya Kornberg – $ 62,821 private funds + $116,804 public funds

Incumbent: Shahana Hanif  – $ 68,478 private funds + $174,800 public funds