Primary election results for New York City Council seats indicate longtime public servant and incumbent Council Member Charles Barron has lost to challenger Chris Banks in District 42.
Barron, a former member of the Black Panther Party and civil rights activist who represented District 42 in East New York for over 20 years, was defeated by community activist Banks, who received nearly 51% of the vote with 99% of scanners reporting as of Wednesday afternoon, according to unofficial election results. Barron trailed behind with 43% of the vote.
Banks, a registered Democrat and co-founder of East New York United Concerned Citizens Inc., was endorsed by the NYC Carpenters Union and the United Federation of Teachers.
The two participated in a debate hosted by Schneps Media on June 14, where they both discussed issues of education, housing and public transportation impacting the constituents of District 42, which includes parts of East New York, New Lots, Remsen Village, Spring Creek, and Starrett City.
