Jewish lawmaker Julie Menin announces win in NYC Council speaker race

By Luke Tress

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26 November 2025, 8:17 pm

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Luke Tress is The Times of Israel's New York correspondent.

Julie Menin, a moderate, Jewish New York City council member, says she has won the race to become the next speaker of the city council.

The speaker plays an influential role in city government, and Menin announces her win as centrist Jews fret over the incoming mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

The official vote on the speakership is in January, so some votes could change before then, but Menin says she has a wide margin of support.

If confirmed, Menin, a Democrat, will become the first Jewish head of the council.

Menin says in a public statement that she has enough backing from council members to secure “supermajority support to become the body’s next Speaker.”

“The coalition supporting Menin reflects the depth and diversity of the city,” she says.

I’m honored to have the support of a supermajority of my colleagues to be the next Speaker of the @NYCCouncil. pic.twitter.com/RXFvbnKGwl

— Julie Menin (@JulieMenin) November 26, 2025

Menin represents the city’s District 5, covering the East Side of Manhattan and Roosevelt Island. She is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, a supporter of Jewish community issues, and one of five members of the council’s Jewish Caucus.

The City Council, with 51 members, is the legislative body covering New York City, akin to Congress at the federal level. The council handles local legislation, negotiates the city’s budget with the mayor, monitors city agencies, and reviews land use.

The council is a separate governmental branch from the mayor’s administration, but interacts with the mayor and serves as a check on City Hall on issues like legislation.

The speaker is elected by council members and heads the legislative body in setting priorities, passing laws, and handling public funds.

Menin says she has the support of at least 34 current and incoming councilmembers, more than the 26 needed to secure a majority. Menin will succeed Speaker Adrienne Adams, who also had warm ties with centrist Jewish communities.