With four weeks to go until New York City’s primary election on June 24 — and early voting set for June 14 through June 22 — candidates are entering the final stretch of campaigning.
One of the most closely watched contests is the Democratic City Council race in District 39, which covers parts of Kensington, Borough Park, Windsor Terrace, Park Slope, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill and the Columbia Waterfront.
Three candidates are competing in the Democratic primary: incumbent Council Member Shahana Hanif, progressive challenger Maya Kornberg, and Nickie Kane, a community advocate and grassroots organizer.
Meet the candidates
Shahana Hanif
Incumbent City Council Member
Elected in 2021, the Brooklyn-born and -raised incumbent has prioritized affordable housing, workers’ rights, economic justice and immigrant rights. During her first term, Hanif—who co-chairs the City Council’s Progressive Caucus and Task Force to Combat Hate—secured $20 million in funding for schools, parks and infrastructure. She has passed 14 bills as the lead sponsor, including laws aimed at strengthening reproductive healthcare, environmental justice and workers’ rights, such as the Workers’ Bill of Rights.
“As a Council Member and Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus, I have been at the forefront of the fight for transformational change,” Hanif said on her campaign website. “I’m proud of the innovative legislation I’ve written and passed, including measures to expand access to reproductive healthcare, establish universal compost for the first time in NYC, and create a Workers’ Bill of Rights that’s now posted at worksites across the city.”
Hanif has received a number of key endorsements from elected officials, major unions and advocacy groups, including U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Yvette Clarke, City Comptroller Brad Lander, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, the AFL-CIO’s New York City Central Labor Council, the New York State Nurses Association and Planned Parenthood of Greater New York.
Maya Kornberg
Progressive challenger and local activist
Maya Kornberg, a local activist and Park Slope resident, holds a doctorate in political science and is a senior research fellow at NYU’s Brennan Center for Justice. Her campaign priorities include affordable housing, climate resiliency and sustainability, and public safety.
“I am committed to creating a greener district with sustainable, safer, and more accessible transportation options and more affordable housing,” Kornberg said on her campaign website. “As a parent, I am passionate about expanding access to affordable childcare and great schools in our district and throughout the city. My experience working to stop political violence equips me to champion policies that promote safety and sustainability for our community.”
Kornberg’s supporters include former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, former U.S. Rep. Max Rose, the Independent Neighborhood Democrats and the NYC Organization of Public Sector Retirees. She has also received a 100% candidate rating from Planned Parenthood of Greater New York.
Nickie Kane
Grassroots organizer
Nickie Kane is a community advocate and grassroots organizer. According to Kane’s campaign website, the candidate is running an “independent political campaign focused on bringing real change to Brooklyn,” with a platform centered on community-driven solutions and common-sense reforms. Kane says she is “dedicated to representing the people — not the political machine.”
“My campaign has always been about the people of this district, not the deep pockets of outside interests,” Kane said on her campaign website. “Each and every signature collected to get me on the ballot was personally gathered, and I am proud that my campaign is driven by my own determination and dedication — not by corporate donors or special interest groups. I like looking the people of the district in the eye and hearing their stories and finding out what they need.”
New York’s primary election will be held Tuesday, June 24, with early voting scheduled from June 14 to June 22. To find your polling site, visit vote.nyc. The winner of this race will face off against Brett Wynkoop of the Conservative Party in the general election on Nov. 4.
This roundup is part of an ongoing series. Check back for more information on candidates in competitive races across Brooklyn.
