Harvey Epstein: Campaigns and Elections
Background
The 74th Assembly District seat became vacant after incumbent Brian P. Kavanagh resigned following his election to the State Senate in a November 2017 special election . Epstein entered the special election as a community activist, tenant lawyer, and former Community Board 3 chair, running on a platform centered on tenant rights, affordable housing, and progressive governance .
Results
The special election was held on April 24, 2018. Epstein won the Democratic nomination and defeated Republican Bryan Cooper, Green Party candidate Adrienne Craig-Williams, and Reform Party candidate Juan Pagan in the general election .
Primary
Epstein won the September 2018 Democratic primary, defeating Akshay Vaishampayan and Juan Pagan . He also ran on the Working Families Party line.
General Election
In the November 2018 general election, Epstein defeated Bryan Cooper and Juan Pagan to win his first full Assembly term .
2020 General Election
Epstein ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and won the general election .
2022 General Election
Epstein was reelected to the Assembly .
2024 General Election
Epstein ran unopposed for reelection in the 2024 New York State Assembly election but stated publicly that he intended to resign his Assembly seat if elected to the City Council in 2025 .
Campaign Launch
Epstein announced his candidacy for City Council District 2 on May 18, 2024, seeking to succeed term-limited Council Member Carlina Rivera in a district that substantially overlapped with his Assembly constituency . He was flanked by former Council Members Margarita Lopez and Rosie Mendez at his announcement and arrived with endorsements from tenant association presidents and district leaders .
Candidates
The Democratic primary was a five-candidate race. In addition to Epstein, the field included Sarah Batchu, a former de Blasio administration staffer and nonprofit leader; Andrea Gordillo, chair of Community Board 3; Allie Ryan, a prior City Council candidate; and Anthony Weiner, the disgraced former congressman attempting a political comeback .
Endorsements
Epstein secured endorsements from Attorney General Letitia James, the New York City Central Labor Council, the Working Families Party, StreetsPAC, Democrats for Informed Decisions, and a broad coalition of unions and advocacy groups . He was described by observers as the Democratic establishment's candidate of choice, with overwhelming support from organized labor and elected officials .
Campaign Dynamics
The race drew national attention primarily because of Weiner's participation, though Epstein benefited from sustained media coverage. Weiner's campaign was overshadowed by his prior criminal conviction for sending sexually explicit material to a minor, and he finished fourth with roughly 10 percent of the first-choice vote . Epstein's November 2024 SNL appearance, while unplanned, provided a viral moment that his campaign leveraged for fundraising . Campaign finance filings showed Epstein raising over $197,000, while Batchu and Gordillo each raised over $270,000 with public matching funds .
Results
On June 24, 2025, Epstein led the first round of ranked-choice voting with approximately 40 percent of the vote, well ahead of Batchu and Gordillo at roughly 21 percent each, Weiner at 10 percent, and Ryan at about 7 percent . The ranked-choice tabulation, released on July 1, confirmed Epstein as the winner in the fourth round .
General Election Campaign
Epstein ran on both the Democratic and Working Families Party lines in the November 4, 2025 general election against Republican Jason Murillo, independent Allie Ryan (Unity Party), and Gail Schargel (Clean Safe Streets) .
Results
Epstein won decisively with 42,376 total votes, or approximately 78 percent of the vote. Of those, 36,003 came on the Democratic line and 6,373 on the Working Families Party line . Murillo received 8,971 total votes (16.5 percent), Ryan received 1,720 votes (3.2 percent), and Schargel received 1,165 votes (2.1 percent) .
Assembly Succession
Following his election to the Council, Epstein resigned his Assembly seat. Keith Powers was selected by the Manhattan Democratic committee on December 10, 2025, to replace him. Powers won a February 3, 2026, special election with approximately 82.5 percent of the vote .