Republicans made significant gains across the five boroughs on Tuesday, with more voters casting ballots for Donald Trump than any Republican presidential candidate in over two decades. The party’s success was fueled by opposition to a proposed homeless shelter in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.
Former NYPD sergeant Steve Chan, who won a State senate seat in Southern Brooklyn, credited his campaign’s focus on the issue for its victory. Chan defeated incumbent Democrat Iwen Chu by more than 5,000 votes and 10 percentage points.
Asian-American voters in the district shifted towards the right in part due to opposition to the shelter, which is aimed at housing long-term homeless New Yorkers, not newly arriving migrants from the Southern Border. The issue resonated with voters who were concerned about public safety and community values.
In other competitive local races, Republican Assemblymembers Alec Brook-Krasny and Michael Novakhov appeared to hold their seats, but Novakhov’s Democratic challenger, Joey Saban, was trailing by 270 votes as of Wednesday afternoon.
The party’s success in Brooklyn has been seen as a “red wave” moment for Republicans. However, some Democrats, including Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and Councilmember Justin Brannan, warned that the party must address the underlying issues driving voter frustration to remain relevant.
Source: https://www.thecity.nyc/2024/11/06/steve-chan-iwen-chu-red-wave-southern-brooklyn