Elsie Encarnacion wins primary to succeed Diana Ayala in City Council District 8

Elsie Encarnacion has won the Democratic primary race to succeed her boss Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala as the city council member for Council District 08, which represents East Harlem and the South Bronx.

Encarnacion, Ayala’s longtime chief of staff, emerged victorious in a crowded seven-way race after ranked choice results were released Tuesday. Preliminary vote counts on primary day, June 25, showed her with a significant but not insurmountable lead.