Julie Menen declares early victory in backroom race for the next New York City Council speaker

NEW YORK, November 26 (C'est Vrai) — Councilmember Julie Menen (D-District 5) declared on Wednesday that she'd secured enough votes to become the next New York City Council speaker, beating leftist Councilmember Crystal Hudson (D-District 35) in a race that historically takes place behind closed-doors. Hudson had campaigned as being more aligned with the agenda of Mayor-elect Zohran K. Mamdani (DSA-New York City), but the City's Big Business leaders had sought a speaker to bring balance to City Hall.

Further Reading :

• Moderate NYC Councilmember Julie Menin says she has support to be speaker [Gothamist]
  Nov. 26, 2025 — Councilmember Julie Menin, who represents the Upper East Side, said Wednesday she has secured enough support to be the City Council's next speaker. Councilmember Crystal Hudson, who represents parts of Brooklyn, is also vying for the speaker role. Menin’s Council district went for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the mayoral election. Hudson’s backed Mamdani.
• A Moderate From Manhattan Claims Enough Support to Lead City Council [The New York Times]
  Nov. 26, 2025 — Julie Menin, a councilwoman from the Upper East Side, was seen by some supporters as a necessary check on Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist with an ambitious policy agenda.
• Powerful health care union 1199SEIU backs Crystal Hudson for NYC Council speaker as race heats up [The New York Daily News]
  Nov. 26, 2025 — The union, which represents some 200,000 health care workers in the city, said in an exclusive statement to the Daily News on Wednesday that it is endorsing Hudson’s campaign for speaker because she “always puts the needs of hardworking New Yorkers at the forefront of her advocacy.”

Key Words :

• 1199 SEIU UNITED HEALTHCARE WORKERS EAST
• Andrew Cuomo
• Crystal Hudson
• Julie Menin
• Zohran K. Mamdani