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David Aiken
David Aiken (Democratic Party) ran for election to the New York City Council to represent District 21. He lost in the Democratic primary on June 24, 2025.
Aiken completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
David Aiken was born in New York, New York. He graduated from Thomas Edison High School. He attended New City Technical and Clinton College. His career experience includes working as a construction professional, community organizer, and church leader.[1]
Elections
2025
See also: City elections in New York, New York (2025)
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for New York City Council District 21
Shanel Thomas-Henry and Giovanni Franco are running in the general election for New York City Council District 21 on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
| Shanel Thomas-Henry (D / Working Families Party) | ||
| Giovanni Franco (R / United Alliance) | ||
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 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Erycka Montoya (Working Families Party)
Democratic primary election
Democratic Primary for New York City Council District 21
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Shanel Thomas-Henry in round 4 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.
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Total votes: 7,833 |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Sandro Navarro (D)
- Hiram Monserrate (D)
Republican primary election
Republican Primary for New York City Council District 21
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Giovanni Franco in round 1 .
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Working Families Party primary election
Working Families Primary for New York City Council District 21
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Erycka Montoya in round 1 .
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2021
See also: City elections in New York, New York (2021)
General election
General election for New York City Council District 21
Incumbent Francisco Moya won election in the general election for New York City Council District 21 on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Francisco Moya (D) | 98.4 | 7,169 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.6 | 120 | ||
| Total votes: 7,289 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic Primary for New York City Council District 21
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Francisco Moya in round 1 .
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Total votes: 6,849 |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
David Aiken completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Aiken's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Since my teenage years, I’ve been a dedicated community advocate—volunteering on boards of local organizations, collaborating with neighborhood groups, and staying actively involved in efforts that bring people together. Over the years, I’ve organized rallies, protests, informational forums, community programs, food pantries, youth activities, religious ceremonies, youth sporting events, and beautification projects—all aimed at uplifting our residents and improving quality of life.
Professionally, I’ve built a career in the private workforce as a proud IBEW union member for over 30 years. I’m also an ordained Methodist minister and have been elected three times by the members of this district to serve as a volunteer member of the New York State Democratic Committee. Through it all, my passion has never wavered: to advocate for fairness, support our seniors, expand opportunities for our youth, and build stronger bonds across the many vibrant groups that call this district home.
I’m running for City Council to turn that lifelong commitment into lasting progress.- Leadership that puts community first—not outside interests that see our district as an opportunity, not a neighborhood. I’m running to ensure decisions are made by and for the people who live here. That means expanding affordable housing, supporting union labor, protecting our seniors, and creating real opportunities for youth. I’ve spent decades organizing, advocating, and serving this community—and I’ll continue to fight for fairness, dignity, and a better quality of life for all.
- Every family deserves the chance to live and thrive in the community they call home. But rising rents, utility costs, and food prices are pushing working people out. I’m committed to making our district more affordable by expanding truly affordable housing, protecting tenants, ensuring fair wages, and fighting for cost-saving programs for seniors and families. That includes improving access to healthcare, transportation, and support services for older adults. Affordability isn’t just about rent—it’s about opportunity, stability, and dignity for every household in our community.
- Safe, clean neighborhoods are the foundation of a strong and thriving community. I believe in a balanced public safety approach that addresses root causes of crime—like lack of youth engagement, mental health support, and job opportunities—through prevention programs, mentorship, and reentry services. I also support our local law enforcement in addressing quality-of-life issues, including unlicensed scooters that endanger pedestrians and the well-documented rise of illegal prostitution. I’ll fight for cleaner streets, stronger services, and lasting safety for every neighborhood.
City Council Members serve as both legislators and neighborhood advocates. They help navigate city services, resolve constituent concerns, and fight for equitable resources across districts. In a city as large and diverse as New York, this role is vital to ensuring local voices are heard and respected in the broader state and legal framework. A strong Council Member helps bridge the gap between government and the people—bringing urgency, empathy, and accountability to the heart of policymaking.
From that experience, I learned just how powerful one person’s compassion and involvement can be. One act of kindness, one opportunity, can turn a dimly lit life into one filled with brilliance. I believe I am a product of that truth.
So many people who were born and raised in our neighborhoods—who helped build these communities with their hands, their families, and their faith—can no longer afford to stay here. Young adults can’t find housing they can afford, and retirees who worked their whole lives now feel like strangers in the very neighborhoods they helped shape. That should never be acceptable.
One of the most sacred responsibilities of this office is to ensure that people can live with dignity and stability—not just survive, but thrive in the communities they love. That means fighting for affordable housing that actually meets the needs of working people, advocating for fair wages, standing up to developers who disregard community input, and improving the quality of life for seniors who feel like the city they built is slipping away from them.
Government experience without community connection can lead to disconnected leadership. What we need are public servants who know how to listen, build trust, and get results. I bring years of experience on the ground—organizing programs, leading advocacy efforts, serving on boards, and being elected by this district to represent them on the State Democratic Committee. I understand how to work within systems, but more importantly, I know how to challenge them when they fail the people.
Beyond technical skills, lived experience matters. Representing working families, advocating for union workers, and listening to both the voices of those paying rent and those caring for elders are key. It’s not about a resume of titles; it’s about connecting with people, challenging inequities, and delivering tangible results. I’m committed to using this blend of technical expertise, leadership, and genuine community passion to serve our district effectively.
This office has the power to uplift neighborhoods or allow them to fall through the cracks. It requires someone who understands how city agencies work, how to get results, and how to be present in the lives of the people they serve. It’s not just a legislative seat—it’s a bridge between government and community. That’s why experience, accessibility, and accountability matter so deeply in this role. When done right, it can transform lives block by block.
As someone who has spent decades in the private workforce and in grassroots advocacy, I believe that trust is earned through honesty, consistency, and clear communication. I will push for public budgeting that is easy to understand, community-inclusive, and regularly updated. I support audits of city agencies, stronger oversight of developer deals, and full disclosure of lobbying activity. The people who live here, pay taxes here, and raise families here have a right to see where every dollar goes—and to hold their elected officials accountable when promises are broken.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2021
David Aiken did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 23, 2025
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