On Tuesday, Shahana Hanif, a former City Council employee, made history by winning her election in a Brooklyn district that includes Park Slope, Kensington, and parts of central Brooklyn. Hanif, who is of Bangladeshi American descent, became the first Muslim woman to be elected to the Council, despite the fact that New York City has a large Muslim population. She was one of two South Asian candidates to make history as well; the other, Shekar Krishnan, won a seat in Queens. Hanif expressed her gratitude and pride in being the first Muslim woman and the first woman of any faith to represent District 39. She mentioned volunteers and support from the community and progressive organizations, such as the Working Families Party, as she emphasized the importance of creating an inclusive and just city. She highlighted the need for a city that protects its most vulnerable, provides equal education, focuses on local climate solutions, and ensures that immigrant neighbors feel welcome and safe. She called for continued community involvement beyond the election. The upcoming City Council will see its first openly gay Black women members, with Kristin Richardson Jordan winning in Harlem and Crystal Hudson in a Brooklyn district. Several other LGBTQ candidates, including Tiffany Cabán in Queens, also secured victories. Chi Ossé in Brooklyn and Erik Bottcher in Manhattan were the only candidates running in their respective races. Lynn Schulman was predicted to secure a seat in Queens. These candidates are part of a broader trend in New York City's City Council, which is on track to be almost as diverse as the city itself next year. Over twenty women are expected to hold the majority of seats in the Council, marking a historic first.