Brooklyn politics is a beast. Honestly, if you aren’t living in the thick of it, trying to track the Brooklyn borough president election feels like trying to read a subway map while the G train is actively skipping your stop. Everyone talks about City Hall, but the real local power—the stuff that determines if that giant glass tower goes up on your corner or if the local park gets a new playground—starts right here.
Most people think the Borough President (BP) is just a ceremonial cheerleader. It’s a common mistake. They see the fancy office at Borough Hall and assume it’s all about cutting ribbons and handshakes.
Wrong.
The BP controls millions in capital funding and holds a massive megaphone in the land-use process. In a place as big as Brooklyn, which would be the fourth-largest city in America if it flew solo, that "ceremonial" role is actually a gatekeeper position.
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Why the 2025 Brooklyn Borough President Election Was a Landslide
We just came off the November 2025 cycle, and the numbers were staggering. Antonio Reynoso, the incumbent, didn't just win; he basically ran a victory lap across the entire borough. He pulled in 491,606 votes, which comes out to roughly 82.5% of the total. His Republican challenger, Janine Acquafredda, managed about 17%.
It wasn't even close.
But the real story wasn't the general election—it never is in Brooklyn. The real fight happened in the June primary. Reynoso faced off against Khari Edwards again. If that name sounds familiar, it's because they went head-to-head back in 2021 too. Edwards is a powerhouse in the healthcare space, formerly of Brookdale Hospital, but he couldn't break the incumbent's momentum. Reynoso locked it up in the first round of ranked-choice voting with over 77% of the vote.
Why did he win so big?
- Housing Policy: He leaned hard into "The Comprehensive Plan for Brooklyn," which basically said we need to stop building only in rich neighborhoods and spread the density out.
- Maternal Health: He put a lot of political capital—and actual cash—into reducing mortality rates for Black mothers.
- Establishment Support: By the time the primary rolled around, he had the backing of the Working Families Party and most major labor unions.
The Power Shift: From Borough Hall to Capitol Hill?
Here’s the thing about Brooklyn politicians: they’re never satisfied staying in one place. Just months after his reelection, the news dropped that Reynoso is already eyeing a jump.
With longtime Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez announcing she won’t seek reelection in the 7th District for 2026, the Brooklyn borough president election winner has already declared his candidacy for the House. It’s a huge move. It means the person we just voted for to lead the borough might be packing their bags for D.C. before the seat even gets warm.
This creates a vacuum.
If Reynoso wins that Congressional seat in November 2026, we are looking at a special election for Brooklyn Borough President in early 2027. Brooklynites love a special election. They’re chaotic, fast, and usually involve a dozen people you’ve never heard of suddenly claiming they’ve lived in your neighborhood for twenty years.
Who is Waiting in the Wings?
The "lefty" wing of the Democratic party is already mobilising. Since Zohran Mamdani—a democratic socialist—pulled off that massive upset to become Mayor-elect, the DSA (Democratic Socialists of America) has been emboldened. They’re looking at Borough Hall as the next logical trophy.
You’ve got City Council members like Jennifer Gutiérrez and Lincoln Restler who are already deeply involved in the borough’s legislative "nerd" work. They aren't just names; they represent the new guard of Brooklyn politics that prioritizes transit and tenant rights over old-school developer handshakes.
What the Borough President Actually Does (The Nitty-Gritty)
If you're wondering why you should care about who wins the next Brooklyn borough president election, look at your local community board.
The BP appoints all the members of the 18 community boards in Brooklyn.
These boards are the ones who vote on liquor licenses, bike lanes, and rezoning. If you hate that a new bar is opening until 4:00 AM under your apartment, the person who appointed the people who approved it is the Borough President.
They also get a slice of the city's multi-billion dollar budget. In January 2026, Reynoso opened up applications for the Fiscal Year 2027 capital funding. We’re talking about money for:
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- New technology for public schools.
- Upgrades for NYPD precincts (controversial, depending on who you ask).
- Renovations for nonprofit community centers.
- Faith-based housing initiatives like the "Divine Dwellings" program.
The Misconceptions That Kill Voter Turnout
"It doesn't matter who the BP is, the Mayor does everything."
I hear this at diners in Bay Ridge and bars in Bushwick. It’s a half-truth that does a lot of damage. While the Mayor (now Zohran Mamdani) sets the city-wide tone, the BP is the one who can hold up a project for years.
Take the IBX (Interborough Express). This is the massive plan to connect Brooklyn and Queens via a new transit line. The BP’s office is the primary liaison for that project. If the BP hates the route, the project slows down. If the BP loves it, they can help fast-track the environmental reviews.
Another myth? That the BP is a "safe" seat.
Ask Eric Adams. He used the BP office as the ultimate springboard to the Mayor’s office. It’s a high-visibility job with very little of the "blame" that comes with being Mayor. You get to take credit for the new park but rarely get blamed for the trash not being picked up. It's the perfect political incubator.
What’s Next for Brooklyn Voters?
The dust hasn't even settled on the 2025 race, but the 2026 Congressional primary is already sucking all the air out of the room. If you live in North Brooklyn or parts of Queens, you’re going to see Reynoso’s name on your ballot again very soon.
But keep your eyes on the "Special Election" whispers.
If a vacancy happens, the transition will be swift. Under NYC law, a special election would be triggered, and it would be a non-partisan "free-for-all" where the person with the most organized ground game wins. In a borough of 2.5 million people, sometimes these races are decided by a few thousand votes because nobody shows up in February or March to vote.
Actionable Steps for the Informed Voter:
- Check your Community Board: See who your BP has appointed. If you don't like the direction your neighborhood is taking, that's where the change starts. Applications for boards usually close in mid-February.
- Track the Capital Budget: The BP’s office has a public portal showing where the money goes. Check if your local library or school is on that list.
- Watch the 7th District Race: Reynoso’s performance in the Congressional race will dictate if we’re having another Brooklyn borough president election much sooner than 2029.
- Register for Rank-Choice Voting: If you aren't familiar with how the transfers work, the 2025 primary showed that winning over 50% in the first round is the only way to avoid a week of nail-biting math.
Brooklyn moves fast. The politicians move even faster. Stay ahead of the curve or get left behind on the platform.