In a remarkable turn of events, Republicans have achieved a notable win in New York City, seizing a Brooklyn judicial seat, a victory GOP officials claim has not occurred in over a century.
Etan C. Harris has reportedly triumphed over Democrat Susan Liebman for the Brooklyn 8th Municipal Court District judgeship, garnering 50.91% of the vote according to preliminary results.
This close win, by around two percentage points, marks the first time in 105 years that a Republican, unaffiliated with the Democratic Party, has defeated a Democrat for this judicial position, as stated by local Republican leaders.
The outcome stands out amidst a difficult election night for Republicans, where many GOP strongholds fell to Democrats in New York City.
A first-time candidate and experienced civil litigation attorney, Harris celebrated his potential victory with supporters, although he did not officially declare himself the winner.
“We’re projected to win. I hope we will!” Harris expressed to his supporters on election night.
Despite his lack of political experience, Harris ran solely on the Republican and Conservative Party lines, which is notable in a borough typically dominated by Democratic candidates.
Kings County Republican Party Chairman Liam McCabe hailed the result as historic, drawing parallels between Harris’s victory and an unlikely survivor in a sea of Democratic wins.
“He made history,” McCabe commented.
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McCabe likened Harris’s success to “Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer flying through the storm,” emphasizing that this win is a stepping stone for the party in the future.
Harris’s victory is even more intriguing given that Democrats defeated nearly all Republican incumbents in the state Assembly and Senate races within Brooklyn.
Harris campaigned vigorously on public safety, judicial impartiality, and efficiency, branding himself as the “law and order candidate.”
His campaign manager, David Storobin, attributed the victory to traditional campaign strategies rather than complex political maneuvering.
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Storebin remarked that Harris’s success illustrates that an endorsement from the Democratic Party cannot guarantee victory in a judicial contest in Brooklyn.
Additionally, Harris received crucial backing from Republican NYC Councilmember Inna Vernikov, who represents parts of southern Brooklyn.
Vernikov stated that they had identified this judicial contest as an opportunity more than a year prior to the election.
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“A little over a year ago, we saw a rare opportunity to flip a judicial seat from blue to red in our area. Thanks to the tireless efforts of many volunteers, Etan Harris is poised to be the first Republican civil court judge in over a century,” Vernikov shared.
She commended Harris for his legal expertise and dedication to an unbiased judiciary.
“Etan will bring a non-biased, apolitical approach to the bench, along with integrity and competence. I was proud to support him,” she said.
This election occurs in a challenging context for Republicans in New York, following significant gains made by Democrats during Tuesday’s midterms.
Unlike other races, judicial elections focus on who presides over legal matters instead of legislative duties.
Judges in New York City Civil Court serve 10-year terms, addressing civil disputes related to contracts, debts, and property.
Although the unofficial results indicate a Harris win, final certification is still pending.
For Brooklyn Republicans, this apparent success provides a welcome highlight amidst an election night predominantly filled with Democratic victories.
Harris’s 50.91% vote share could signify an end to a 105-year dry spell for Republicans running independently in this district, representing an unexpected judicial win in one of New York City’s staunchest Democratic bastions.
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