Bronx Voters, Meet Your Primary Election Candidates

Hear directly from the hopefuls running for eight Bronx-only City Council districts, and for borough president, in this series of debates hosted by BronxNet and City Limits.

Early voting is well underway in New York City, and residents will have their last chance to cast their ballots in this year’s primary election on Tuesday.

In the Bronx, there are Democratic contests in all eight of the borough’s City Council districts, many of which do not feature an incumbent. Five candidates are also running to replace Ruben Diaz Jr. as Bronx borough president, the first time there’s been an open seat for the borough’s beep office since 2009.

BronxNet and City Limits held debates for each of the Bronx races in recent weeks. Still trying to decide which candidates to rank on your ballot? Watch the contenders pitch their ideas in the conversations below, moderated by BronxTalk host Gary Axelbank.

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Bronx Borough President
Five candidates—Councilmember Fernando Cabrera, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, Councilmember Vanessa Gibson, former police Lt. Samuel Ravelo and State Sen. Luis Sepulveda are vying for the borough-wide post, which Ruben Diaz, Jr. must vacate thanks to term limits. Read our coverage of the 2021 borough president races.

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11th Council District
Five candidates are challenging Eric Dinowitz, who won a March special election to replace Andrew Cohen in the northwest Bronx (Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Riverdale, Norwood, Van Cortlandt Village, Wakefield, Woodlawn). Read our coverage of this race.

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12th Council District
Councilmember Kevin Riley, elected in a December special election to replace Andrew King, faces two rivals in this race covering most of the north central Bronx (Wakefield, Olinville, Edenwald, Eastchester, Williamsbridge, Baychester, Co-op City). Read our coverage of this race.

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13th Council District
Five candidates are racing for this east Bronx seat (Allerton, City Island, Country Club, Edgewater Park, Ferry Point, Locust Point, Morris Park, Pelham Bay, Pelham Gardens, Pelham Parkway, Schuylerville, Silver Beach, Spencer Estates, Throggs Neck, Van Nest, Waterbury LaSalle, Westchester Square, Zerega), which opened when incumbent Mark Gjonaj announced he would not seek reelection. Read our coverage of this race.

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14th Council District
The race for the west Bronx district (Morris Heights, University Heights, Fordham, Kingsbridge) long represented by the term-limited Fernando Cabrera, has six candidates running. Read our coverage of this race.

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15th Council District
Oswald Feliz prevailed in a March primary to replace Ritchie Torres when he won a seat in Congress; seven candidates are trying to beat Feliz in the race for a full term representing this central Bronx seat (Bedford Park, Fordham, Mount Hope, Bathgate, Belmont, East Tremont, West Farms, Van Nest, Allerton, Olinville). Read our coverage of this race.

Democratic debate:

Republican debate:

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16th Council District

Four candidates are in the contest for Vanessa Gibson’s current seat, which represents part of the west Bronx (Claremont, Concourse, Concourse Village, Highbridge, Morris Heights, Mount Eden, Morrisania).

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17th Council District

Councilmember Rafael Salamanca faces a challenge from Helen Hines in this district covering the south Bronx (Concourse Village, Crotona Park East, East Tremont, Hunts Point, Longwood, Melrose, Morrisania, Port Morris, West Farms, North Brother Island, South Brother Island). Read our coverage of this race.

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18th Council District

Ruben Diaz, Sr.’s retirement has opened the door for one of the eight candidates in this southeast Bronx primary (Soundview, Castle Hill, Parkchester, Clason Point, Harding Park). Read our coverage of this race.