Mayor Mamdani’s Endorsement Falters as Carl Wilson Wins Manhattan’s District 3 Council Seat

On April 28, 2026, Carl Wilson secured a decisive lead in New York City’s District 3 council special election, garnering roughly 43 % of first-choice votes. Lindsey Boylan trailed with about 25-26 %. No candidate surpassed the 50 % threshold, so the New York City Board of Elections will complete the ranked-choice tabulation by May 5.

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District 3 covers Manhattan’s West Side, including Hell’s Kitchen, the West Village and the Stonewall National Monument. The seat has been held by openly gay council members since 1991. The contest evolved into a proxy battle between Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose progressive brand rose in the 2025 mayoral race, and Council Speaker Julie Menin, the city’s legislative leader.

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• Carl Wilson – 35-year-old former chief of staff to outgoing Councilmember Erik Bottcher; openly gay; backed by Menin, Bottcher, Comptroller Mark Levine, Rep. Jerry Nadler and major labor unions.

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• Lindsey Boylan – 42-year-old former aide to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the first woman to accuse him of sexual misconduct; endorsed by Mayor Mamdani and supported by the Working Families Party and a Democratic Socialists of America newcomer.

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• Zohran Mamdani – Mayor of New York City, whose early 2025 victory relied on progressive coalitions.

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• Julie Menin – Council Speaker, long-time ally of Bottcher, champion of establishment endorsements.

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• First-choice vote share (99 % of scanners tallied): Wilson ? 43 %, Boylan ? 25-26 %, Layla Law-Gisiko ? 20 %, Leslie Boghosian Murphy ? 11 %.

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• Super-PAC spending: nearly $500 k favoring Wilson, largely from carpenters and teachers unions; Boylan faced at least $144 k of opposition spending from a PAC linked to former Gov. Cuomo’s donors.

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• Endorsements: Wilson received backing from the City Comptroller, labor unions, Rep. Nadler and the Council Speaker; Boylan’s endorsements included the mayor, the Working Families Party and DSA affiliates.

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Mayor Mamdani congratulated Wilson on a “hard-fought victory” and pledged collaboration on affordable housing, universal childcare and a working-people-first budget, while praising Boylan’s “tough race.” Wilson’s post-election statement emphasized that “the numbers tonight are clear.” Boylan’s concession highlighted the “momentum and energy” of her campaign and affirmed that the mayor’s movement “lives on.” Speaker Menin called Wilson “ecstatic” to welcome him and lauded his community ties.

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LGBTQ+ leaders questioned Mamdani’s endorsement of a straight candidate in a historically queer district. Liberal Democratic Club President Allen Roskoff said, “The mayor underestimated gay power.” Councilmember Justin Sanchez noted the importance of electing the “best candidate… who just so happens to be gay.”

City and State New York

Sources agree Wilson leads by a wide margin, but exact percentages vary between 43 % and “just over 43 %,” and Boylan’s share is reported as both 25 % and “just over 25 %.” The final winner will not be certified until the ranked-choice redistribution is completed.

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• “I stand here tonight deeply honored to be your next council member for district 3,” — Carl Wilson

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• “The mayor underestimated gay power,” — Allen Roskoff, Liberal Democratic Club President

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• “While we are waiting to count every vote, the numbers tonight are clear.” — Carl Wilson

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• “The movement that the Mayor brought to this city lives on and we are carrying its energy forward.” — Lindsey Boylan

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• “It’s nice to be able to band together in community to show that the best candidate won, not because he is gay, but because he’s the best candidate and he just so happens to be gay,” — Councilmember Justin Sanchez

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Wilson’s victory signals a setback for Mamdani’s nascent political brand and may shape upcoming Democratic congressional primaries in Brooklyn, where the mayor backs progressive challengers against establishment incumbents. The council’s composition also affects the looming debate over Mamdani’s veto of a school-buffer-zone bill, with Wilson indicating support for an override.

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The Board of Elections will finalize ranked-choice results by May 5. The council will soon vote on whether to override the mayor’s veto of the buffer-zone legislation, and the outcome may influence the dynamics of the 2026 congressional primaries in which Mamdani and Menin have competing interests.

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