At an election night watch party at Salty Dog, Santosuosso told Brooklyn Paper that her campaign\u2019s positive vision, love for Bay Ridge and commitment to public service helped secure her victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that positive vision is what people want right now,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd you know, we were very lucky that we felt support from across the political spectrum. And I intend to do everybody who supported us and everybody who didn\u2019t support us proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KaylaSantosuosso-44.jpg\")
Supporters cheer as Santosuosso declares victory, marking the first time a woman will represent the 47th District.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n
Just a mile away at The Wicked Monk, Sarantopoulos\u2019 supporters remained hopeful even as Santuosso\u2019s lead grew.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Campaign manager Colby Conerly said voter turnout had been particularly high in \u201ca lot of our strongholds\u201d including Gravesend, Bath Beach and Sea Gate.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish this was more of a fun election, but there\u2019s so much at stake right now in New York City, especially in southern Brooklyn,\u201d he said. \u201cA lot of people are scared, they want to be comforted. They want to hear multiple different sides and they want to, I think everyone can agree, they just want the city to be safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Conerly said southern Brooklyn \u2014 and Coney Island in particular \u2014\u00a0 are \u201ckind of deprived, it\u2019s kind of forgotten,\u201d by the city, and has been neglected with regard to public transit, jobs and development.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose people, they can\u2019t wait four more years,\u201d Conerly said. \u201cThey can\u2019t even wait a year or two from now. They need jobs down there, they need a ferry service to take them where they can get jobs. And they need the jobs to come to Coney Island.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KaylaSantosuosso-46.jpg\")
Kayla Santosuosso addresses supporters, promising to prioritize street safety, family support and local business revitalization.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n
The race was one of the most widely-watched in New York City. District 47, which includes most of Bay Ridge, Coney Island and Sea Gate as well as parts of Dyker Heights, Bath Beach and Gravesend is deep purple, and has seen several close races in recent years.<\/p>\n
In 2021, before redistricting changed district lines, Brannan defeated<\/a> Republican Brian Fox by just a few hundred votes in District 43. Two years later, Brannan took a more decisive 3,000-vote victory<\/a> over newly-minted Republican Ari Kagan in District 47 in what was widely expected to be a much closer race.\u00a0<\/p>\n Santosuosso, a lawyer and community advocate who currently serves as Brannan\u2019s chief counsel, cruised to victory<\/a> in the Democratic primary last June, securing nearly 80% of the vote.<\/p>\n The Republican primary proved more contentious. Sarantopoulos wound up just 16 votes ahead of Richie Barsamian, resulting in an automatic recount and allegations of voter fraud. More than a month after the election, Sarantopoulos was certified as the winner<\/a>.<\/p>\n More than 6,800 votes separated the two candidates when Santosuosso declared victory in the Nov. 4 general election.\n<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC05433.jpeg\")
Republican candidate for City Council District 47 George Sarantopoulos concedes the race to Kayla Santosuosso at The Wicked Monk in Bay Ridge on election night.Photo by Kirstyn Brendlen<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KaylaSantosuosso-47.jpg\")
Kayla Santosuosso\u2019s parents said they are proud of their daughter\u2019s election win.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n