State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal claimed victory within the Democratic main for Manhattan borough president on June 24, 2025.
Picture by Manuela Morerya
State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal appeared to defeat Metropolis Council Member Keith Powers within the Democratic main for Manhattan borough president, transferring him nearer to creating historical past as the primary brazenly homosexual particular person elected to a boroughwide place in New York Metropolis.
“Not only did we make history,” stated John Wahlmeier, a Hoylman-Sigal supporter and Democratic district chief, “but we made it with somebody who’s proactive and absolutely wonderful.”
Hoylman-Sigal has served over a decade within the New York State Senate, initially representing the twenty seventh District and later the redrawn forty seventh District since 2013. As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he helped cross greater than 350 payments, together with landmark laws such because the Baby Victims Act and the repeal of New York’s ban on paid gestational surrogacy.
All through his time in Albany, Hoylman-Sigal constructed a popularity as a progressive chief, championing LGBTQ+ rights, tenant protections, environmental reform, and public security. He sponsored the T.R.U.M.P. Act, which sought to bar presidential candidates from showing on the New York poll except they launched not less than 5 years of tax returns — a coverage that impressed related laws in 25 different states.
“He has been one of the most effective legislators we’ve seen in New York State,” stated Hoylman-Sigal’s marketing campaign supervisor, Caroline Corwell. “People have seen his record, and they’ve seen that he’s delivered — he’s not just talk, he is action.”
Why He Ran
“I think I could be as effective in Albany as I was at the city level,” stated Hoylman-Sigal, reflecting on his resolution to pivot from Albany to metropolis authorities. He famous that his run for borough president was additionally motivated by the necessity to assist New York Metropolis in response to Trump-era insurance policies.
Hoylman-Sigal emphasised that though the borough president’s position comes with restricted government energy, he intends to make use of the platform to foster cooperation and handle citywide challenges.
“I want to collaborate, as my predecessors like Gale Brewer did, to take a page out of her book on bringing people together to hash out the most difficult problems,” stated Hoylman-Sigal.
As a father or mother elevating two kids in Manhattan, Hoylman-Sigal campaigned on a platform to make the town a “safe and affordable place.” His marketing campaign additionally tackled points together with constructing inexpensive housing, bettering training, making transportation work for pedestrians and cyclists, defending civil liberties, getting unlawful weapons off the streets, addressing tenant protections, and confronting the local weather disaster.
“We have to work with our local community boards, and developers, and community organizations because we have a housing crisis, and it has to be addressed head-on. I want to make that my top priority,” stated Hoylman-Sigal.
On security and the subway, Hoylman-Sigal stated, “I want to add mental health professionals to the platform and make capital improvements to our subway.” He added that these insurance policies “should go a long way to making people feel safer.”
Lesley Achitoff, a voter, stated, “His policies have always been compassionate, forward-thinking, and confident.”
When requested what set Hoylman-Sigal aside, she stated his “dedication, calmness. There’s something about Brad that is calm and dedicated.” She stated she hopes to see a lower in racism, anti-LGBTQ hate, and antisemitism underneath Hoylman-Sigal, in addition to the promotion of “well-being for everyone.”
“I will miss him in his previous job, okay, but I think that as borough president, he will be remarkably helpful in keeping our borough safe, affordable, and liberal,” added Achitoff.
In a borough the place Democrats closely outnumber Republicans, Hoylman-Sigal is nearly assured to win in November, and would turn into the primary brazenly homosexual borough president in New York Metropolis historical past.
For Wahlmeier, the second was private in addition to political. “It just broke another barrier. My husband and I can look at somebody like Brad and know that the sky is the limit.”
On profitable the race, Hoylman-Sigal stated, “We worked so hard. My campaign team was on message the entire race, and I’m just so proud of the effort of our volunteers.”
“I couldn’t be more grateful,” stated Hoylman-Sigal.
When requested who he supported within the mayoral race, Hoylman-Sigal replied, “I’m focused on celebrating tonight.”
