Democratic incumbent Marjorie Velázquez is the likely winner in the four-way primary for the Bronx-based District 13 primary contest for NYC City Council.
She held 66% of the first-round vote, with over 96% of the scanners reporting, according to the unofficial results from the Board of Elections.
She soared past challengers Bernadette Ferrara, a Van Nest neighborhood activist, at 19%, Irene Estrada, the chairwoman of Bronx Community Board 11 at 8%, and Army veteran John Perez, at nearly 5%
The East Bronx district includes Throggs Neck, Pelham Bay and Morris Park
Velazquez won the general election by 10 points in 2021.
But she came under fire after she reversed her position on a controversial rezoning project, backing the City Council’s approval of a development project on Bruckner Boulevard in Throggs Neck that will bring hundreds of new low-income housing units.
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She received a last-minute fundraising push from a pro-business Super PAC aimed at re-electing moderate Democrats to the Council.
Meanwhile, the GOP primary was too close to call Tuesday night, as partial returns with 96% of scanners reporting showed Kristy Marmorato — an X-ray technician and the sister of county Republican Chairman Michael Rendino — with a narrow lead of 47% to 45% over George Havranek, who is the president of the Spencer Estate Civic Association.
The Republican candidate who ends up victorious in the three-way primary will take on Velázquez.
Netting nearly 8%, third candidate Hasime “Samatha” Zherka ran for state Senate last year. She is a construction business owner with deep ties to the area’s sizable Albanian community.
Bronx Republican leaders believe the party can take over the seat in the moderate district come the November general election.
