NEW YORK — The race for City Council speaker fell into confusion Tuesday when two candidates each declared themselves the winner of the pitched political battle.
Upon securing the endorsements of four one-time rivals, Adrienne Adams said in a statement: “After much discussion and collaboration with my colleagues, I am honored to have received the necessary votes to become the next Speaker of the New York City Council.”
But Francisco Moya also said he has enough support among his colleagues.
“I am humbled to announce that our diverse coalition of Council Members and leaders from across New York City has collected a majority of votes to elect the next speaker of the Council,” he said.
Adams and Moya, both Council members from Queens, are the front-runners in the race to lead the 51-member legislative body. City Council speaker is one of the most powerful posts after mayor.
On Tuesday, Diana Ayala, Justin Brannan, Gale Brewer and Keith Powers dropped out of the race and lauded Adams’ candidacy as historic. They said she would be a unifying force.
The commitments they have secured from colleagues in their individual pushes for speaker are enough make Adams the council’s first Black woman speaker, sources tell NY1.
Moya has four colleagues publicly backing him for speaker. His team tells NY1 he is securing more votes.
Moya’s candidacy has been boosted by Mayor-elect Eric Adams’ inner circle and allies.
Also remaining in the race for speaker is Carlina Rivera of Manhattan.
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