A Tale of Two Speakers? Adrienne Adams And Francisco Moya Both Declare Victory in Race to Lead Council

In statements Tuesday afternoon, both Moya and Adams, who are Queens Democrats, projected victory in the coming contest for speaker. The body will officially vote on one speaker—who essentially sets the legislative agenda and liaises with the mayoral administration—after its members are sworn in at the beginning of the year.

City Council members Adrienne Adams and Francisco Moya both claimed to have secured enough votes from their colleagues to win the speaker seat on Tuesday, sending the once-crowded race to lead the lawmaking body in a puzzling direction.

In twin tweets Tuesday afternoon, both Moya and Adams, who are Queens Democrats, projected victory in the coming contest. The body will officially vote to choose one speaker—who essentially sets the legislative agenda and liaises with the mayoral administration—after its members are sworn in at the beginning of the year.

“After much discussion and collaboration with my colleagues, I am honored to have received the necessary votes to become the next speaker of the New York City Council,” Adams announced in a Tuesday afternoon tweet. “As speaker, I look forward to being a partner with every member to help advance the needs of our communities. As a member of the Council, I will always prioritize my colleagues, labor, and the people of New York and have an open door for every voice.”

Today is a historic day for New York City. After much discussion and collaboration with my colleagues, I am honored to have received the necessary votes to become the next Speaker of the New York City Council.

— Adrienne Adams (@AdrienneEAdams1) December 14, 2021

“I am humbled to announce that our diverse coalition of Council Members and leaders from across New York City has collected a majority of votes to elect the next speaker of the Council,” Moya, the reported favorite of Mayor-elect Eric Adams, said in a tweet. “I look forward to leading this body into a brighter future for our great city.”

I am humbled to announce that our diverse coalition of Council Members and leaders from across New York City has collected a majority of votes to elect the next speaker of the Council. I look forward to leading this body into a brighter future for our great city.

— Francisco Moya (@FranciscoMoyaNY) December 14, 2021

Neither official immediately addressed the differing statements in responses to City Limits Tuesday.

READ MORE: The NYC Council Speaker Candidates on Their Legislative Priorities

Days before the close of the year, speaker aspirants—which included Council members Adams, Moya, Diana Ayala, Justin Brannan, Keith Powers, Carlina Rivera, and incoming Council member Gale Brewer—have worked to lobby their colleagues for the post.

On Monday, the New York Daily News reported that Ayala, Brannan, Brewer and Powers had dropped out of the race and opted to support Adams. The move was aimed at weakening Moya’s bid for the seat, the Daily News reported, following reports that the Mayor-elect, Eric Adams, was lobbying for him to be speaker.