Opinion: A Movement, Not a Moment—NYC Council’s Future is Women-Led

“A potential backslide in 2025 would not only undermine our progress, but also stall momentum toward achieving long-term gender equity in political leadership at all levels of government.”

As the executive director of The New Majority NYC, my passion for gender equity in politics is deeply rooted in my understanding of the transformative power of women’s political leadership.

Having dedicated my career to advancing social justice, equity, and community efficacy, I have seen firsthand the profound impact women leaders can have. So many wise, capable, and passionate women are already leading their families and communities—why shouldn’t they help lead the city too?

In 2017, a coalition of women leaders and electeds started the 21 in ‘21 Initiative with an audacious goal of putting 21 women in City Council seats in 2021. We ended up surpassing our goal and making HERstory with the election of 31 women to the City Council. For the first time, the NYC Council is majority women and a majority women of color. 

The effects of this were immediate. This Council has passed landmark legislation that protects abortion access, a historic maternal health package, financial relief for homeowners, expanded eligibility for the Fair Fares program, and a ban of solitary confinement in city jails. And during this budget cycle, this Council saved the city from drastic library cuts, restored its composting program and critical social services for emergency food programs, seniors, HIV/AIDS patients, and more.

The electoral success of 2021 led to visionary policies that made society more inclusive and equitable for all New Yorkers today. But now, we are dangerously close to losing our hard-fought majority. As we approach the 2025 council election, we are at a critical juncture that could make or break the progress that 21 in ‘21–now The New Majority NYC–and advocates of gender parity have achieved in the last four years.

Currently, there are 10 open seats out of the 51 in the City Council. This includes three women and seven men incumbents who are term-limited. While six new women candidates have declared their intentions to run, some of our women incumbents are being strongly challenged, and there is potential for a significant setback in our goal of gender parity.

A potential backslide in 2025 would not only undermine our progress, but also stall momentum toward achieving long-term gender equity in political leadership at all levels of government.  

We need women’s political leadership now more than ever. Attacks on civil rights, crucial social services, and bodily autonomy have reached a fever pitch across the country. Having local leadership that reflects our city’s diverse population and experiences can effectively safeguard our city against these injustices.

When women are at the table, issues such as childcare, healthcare, education, economic justice, and workplace equality receive the attention and advocacy they deserve. We at The New Majority know that we can, and must, accomplish more. 

New York City has the chance to make sure our achievement in 2021 is not a moment but a movement. Sustaining gender parity in our city’s political leadership is not about a number, but about the meaningful inclusion of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences that drive equitable policies and foster a more just and inclusive society.

From the 2025 elections onward, I hope that generations of New Yorkers can look to their City Council and see themselves represented meaningfully, in a future where gender equity in political leadership is a reality at all levels of government.

Ebonie Simpson is the executive director of The New Majority NYC, an organization dedicated to building political power for all women through civic initiatives and programs and endorsing women-identified and mission-aligned candidates running for office in New York City.