Frank Morano prevails in Staten Island special election for NYC Council

New York City Council’s Republican Caucus is six members strong again. At least for now.

Republican radio host Frank Morano emerged victorious in Tuesday night’s New York City Council District 51 special election to fill the South Shore Staten Island seat left vacant by former Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli.

Not long after polls closed at 9 p.m., Morano held a commanding lead over two other candidates, with 59% of the vote and 99% of scanners reporting. Next in the race was Clifford Hagen, a conservative Democrat who logged roughly 21% of the vote, followed by Griffin Fosella, a Republican and the son of Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella, who stood at roughly 20% of the vote. Special elections are nonpartisan – Morano ran on a “SI Patriotism” line, while Hagen ran on a “Common Ground” line and Fossella ran on a “We the People” line.

Morano hosts a radio show on 77WABC and previously served as a part-time staffer in Borelli’s office. Morano was backed by Borelli as well as by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, and Council Members David Carr, Vickie Paladino, Inna Vernikov and Bob Holden.

For a special election, turnout was relatively high – more than 3,700 cast ballots during early voting alone, according to the New York City Board of Elections. (Last month’s City Council special election in southern Brooklyn garnered fewer than 700 ballots cast during early voting.) More than 9,400 votes were counted by 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, with 99% of scanners reporting.

Borelli left the council in late January to take a lobbying job with Chartwell Strategy Group. He would have been term-limited at the end of this year. 

After taking office, Morano will remain in the council until the end of the year. But he will have to win again in the June primary (if there is one) and November general election to be elected for a full term starting in January. The three special election candidates are currently planning to run in their respective primaries in June. Two additional candidates have campaign accounts open to run for the full term starting in 2026. A list of candidates who qualified for the primary election ballot in all New York City races will be finalized later this week. 

But Morano now has a significant advantage when it comes to reelection prospects in November. Should he win, he’ll have a critical vote in the next installment of the never-ending conflict over who ought to lead the Minority Caucus next January. Staten Island Council Member David Carr, who ultimately lost the race this January to replace Borelli as minority leader on a technicality, endorsed Morano in the special election. Queens Council Member Joann Ariola, who won that minority leader contest, did not back any candidate publicly.