Puerto Rico Showdown: City Council President Race Heats Up
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Tensions are mounting among progressives as the race for the next City Council president unfolds. The main contenders are Crystal Hudson, a close ally of Zoran Mamdani, and Paul Julie Menin, who has strong pro-Israel views.
Hudson, a Democrat from Brooklyn, and Menin, a Democrat from Manhattan, are the top candidates for this influential role. Both organized competitive events for their fellow senators Thursday night at the annual SOMOS retreat.
“They’re really pushing for their agendas,” one moderate lawmaker, still undecided, mentioned.
Menin has been vocal about his ambitions, asserting that he aims to monitor the new socialist mayor’s actions. Meanwhile, Hudson, who actively campaigned with Mamdani, is looking to foster a more cooperative relationship between the City Council and City Hall—a stark contrast to the ongoing clashes during Mayor Eric Adams’ tenure.
A source noted, “Mamdani clearly supports Hudson,” though it remains uncertain whether the incoming mayor will align with that view.
After Adams’ election in 2021, he controversially endorsed Queens Borough Councilman Francisco Moya for the speaker role, creating tensions among council members who prefer their independence from the mayor’s influence.
This intervention blocked outgoing House Speaker Adrian Adams from securing the votes he needed to continue, leading to ongoing disputes over various issues during their terms.
While there’s a lot of focus on the mayoral contest, the battle for the council chairmanship is intensifying.
One insider suggested, “The entire Brooklyn delegation could potentially unify as a pro-Hudson group.” But others believe this support might not be sufficient for Hudson to secure the position.
In contrast, Menin has built a coalition of lawmakers from the Bronx, Queens, and Manhattan, along with special interest groups hesitant about Mamdani’s potential dominance over the 51-member council.
Borough Councilwoman Amanda Farias from the Bronx initially seemed like a contender, but her chances are diminishing as she loses support and lacks a clear path to victory.
Farias’ strategy hinged on Menin and Hudson undermining each other, positioning herself as a moderate choice. However, it looks like that plan isn’t gaining the traction she hoped for.
