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 Bangladeshi American, became the first Muslim woman to be elected to the Council, despite the city being home to an estimated 769,000 Muslims. Additionally, Shekar Krishnan, another South Asian candidate, also made history by winning a seat representing Jackson Heights and Elmhurst in Queens. Hanif expressed her gratitude for being the first Muslim woman on the Council and the first woman of any faith to represent District 39 in a statement on Tuesday night. She mentioned the support of volunteers and endorsements from various community and progressive groups, such as the left-leaning Working Families Party. She emphasized the importance of creating an inclusive and progressive city that protects its most vulnerable residents, provides equitable education, focuses on local climate solutions driven by communities, and ensures that immigrant neighbors feel welcomed and safe. She stressed the need for continued community involvement beyond the election. Additionally, next year will see the first out gay Black women serving on the City Council, 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 for their respective seats, while Lynn Schulman was predicted to win in Queens. These candidates are part of a trend in the New York City Council where diversity is increasing, with over two dozen women expected to hold a majority of the seats for the first time.