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 ever 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 with their wins; the other, Shekar Krishnan, won in a district in Queens. Hanif expressed her humility 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. She expressed the goal of creating a city that is anti-racist and feminist, one that protects its most vulnerable residents, provides equal education, focuses on local climate solutions driven by communities, and ensures that immigrant neighbors feel safe and at home. She emphasized the importance of continued participation in this work even after the election. Next year, the City Council will have its first openly gay Black women members, with Kristin Richardson Jordan winning in Harlem and Crystal Hudson in a Brooklyn district covering Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Bedford-Stuyvesant. Several other LGBTQ candidates, including Tiffany Cabán in Queens, also won their races. Chi Ossé in Brooklyn and Erik Bottcher in Manhattan both ran unopposed in their respective races. Lynn Schulman was predicted to secure a seat in Queens. These candidates are part of a larger trend in the New York City Council, which is projected to be almost as diverse as the city itself next year. Over 24 women are expected to hold a majority of the Council's seats for the first time in history.