![\"Democrats](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bottcher-powers-special-election-2026.jpg\" "\\"Democrats")
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Democrats Erik Bottcher (l.) and Keith Powers were victorious in special elections for two vacant state legislative seats on Tuesday. <\/p>\n
Photos via NYC Council Media Unit and Lloyd Mitchell<\/p>\n
Democrats easily swept two special elections<\/a> on Tuesday for a pair of state legislative seats covering parts of Manhattan.\n<\/p>\n City Council Member Erik Bottcher, the co-chair of the Council\u2019s LGBTQIA+ Caucus, easily won the Feb. 3 special election to replace Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal in the state Senate, defeating Republican Charlotte Friedman by a wide margin, according to unofficial results.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Bottcher\u2019s former City Council colleague, Keith Powers, cruised to victory in a contest to succeed Harvey Epstein in the state Assembly, handily beating Republican\/Conservative candidate Joseph Foley. Epstein now serves in the City Council himself.<\/p>\n With more than 86% of the vote in on election night, Bottcher had 91.8% \u2014 or just over 11,200 votes \u2014 while Friedman had 7.5%, or 920 votes. Bottcher will now represent the 47th Senate District, which runs along the west side of Manhattan from Manhattan Valley down to Greenwich Village.<\/p>\n \u201cTonight, the people of the 47th District made a clear choice for progress, integrity, and leadership that shows up,\u201d Bottcher said in a written statement on election night. \u201cI\u2019m deeply grateful to every voter, volunteer, and neighbor who believed that government should work harder for working families \u2014 and I\u2019m excited to get to work.\u201d<\/p>\n Bottcher vowed to be a \u201crelentless advocate for safer streets, more affordable housing, reliable transit, and an economy that rewards work and treats people with dignity.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \u201cI want to thank everyone who believed in my ability to be an effective state senator,\u201d Bottcher said. \u201cYour trust means everything to me, and I\u2019m ready to honor that trust with action.\u201d<\/p>\n Last October, Bottcher, 46, announced he was exploring a campaign to replace outgoing Congressmember Jerrold Nadler<\/a>, but as competition grew, Bottcher ultimately decided to run for Hoylman-Sigal\u2019s old seat. When he pivoted to run for State Senate, Bottcher said in a written statement that his decision was \u201crooted in where I believe I can do the most good immediately,\u201d adding that the \u201cState Senate is where critical decisions are being made on housing affordability, addressing the mental health crisis, safeguarding our environment, and defending New York from the Trump agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so proud that Erik is assuming the 47th Senate District that I had the privilege of representing on the West Side from \u2018the gay bars to Zabar\u2019s,’\u201d Hoylman-Sigal wrote on X, referring to a phrase he commonly repeated in recent years when describing his State Senate district.<\/p>\n Bottcher has served in the City Council since January 2022 in a district that includes Hudson Square, West Village, Chelsea, Hudson Yards, Meatpacking District, Garment District, Times Square, and Hell\u2019s Kitchen. Mayor Zohran Mamdani is expected to soon call a special election to fill that seat; Carl Wilson<\/a>, Bottcher\u2019s current chief of staff, and Lindsey Boylan, an urban planner and former state aide who helped expose the sexual harassment scandal<\/a> that forced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo\u2019s resignation in 2021, have already declared their candidacies.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Powers took home 82.25% of the vote (3,953), while Foley had 16.73% (804), in the race to succeed Epstein in the 74th Assembly District, which covers parts of the East Village, the Lower East Side, Gramercy, Kips Bay, Murray Hill, Midtown and Midtown East.<\/p>\n Powers had served in the City Council for eight years before being term-limited out of office in 2025. He had represented the 4th City Council District; that seat is now held by Virginia Maloney<\/a>.<\/p>\n