Justin Brannan
2024 - Present
2026
1
Justin Brannan (Democratic Party) is a member of the New York City Council, representing District 47. He assumed office on January 1, 2024. His current term ends on January 1, 2026.
Brannan (Democratic Party, Working Families Party) ran for election for New York City Comptroller. He will not appear on the ballot for the general election on November 4, 2025. He lost in the Democratic primary on June 24, 2025.
Biography
Brannan studied journalism at Fordham University and CUNY-College of Staten Island.[1]
At the time of his 2017 run for city council, Brannan was the deputy director of intergovernmental affairs for the New York City Department of Education and the co-owner of a children's art school. His professional experience includes work as the chief of staff for New York City Councilman Vincent Gentile (D), a director of development for the Bnai Zion Foundation, a private equity broker for Advanced Equities, Inc., an analyst for Bear Stearns Asset Management, and a radio announcer for WNEW. Brannan has also served as a shop steward, the founder of Bay Ridge Cares and the Bay Ridge Democrats, and a member of Community Board 10 and the board of directors of the Bay Ridge volunteer ambulance corps.[1][2]
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 Comptroller
Mark Levine, Peter Kefalas, and Ismael Malave-Perez are running in the general election for New York City Comptroller on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Mark Levine (D) | |
 | Peter Kefalas (R / Conservative Party) | |
 | Ismael Malave-Perez (Unity Party)  | |
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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. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Justin Brannan (Working Families Party)
Democratic primary election
Democratic Primary for New York City Comptroller
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Mark Levine in round 3 . 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: 965,724 |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican Primary for New York City Comptroller
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Peter Kefalas in round 1 .
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Total votes: 30,448 |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Conservative Party primary election
Conservative Primary for New York City Comptroller
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Peter Kefalas 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 Comptroller
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Justin Brannan 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.
2023
See also: City elections in New York, New York (2023)
General election
General election for New York City Council District 47
Incumbent Justin Brannan defeated incumbent Ari Kagan in the general election for New York City Council District 47 on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Justin Brannan (D) | 58.0 | 11,517 |
 | Ari Kagan (R / Conservative Party / Parent Party) | 41.5 | 8,233 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 103 | ||
| Total votes: 19,853 | |||
| = 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
- Tony Rubino (Freedom Party)
- Anna Belfiore-Delfaus (Medical Freedom Party)
- Timothy Peterson (Conservative Party)
Democratic primary election
Democratic Primary for New York City Council District 47
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Justin Brannan in round 1 .
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican Primary for New York City Council District 47
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Ari Kagan in round 1 .
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Total votes: 2,170 |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Michael Ragusa (R)
Conservative Party primary election
Conservative Primary for New York City Council District 47
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Timothy Peterson in round 1 .
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Nick Badolato (Conservative Party)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Brannan in this election.
2021
See also: City elections in New York, New York (2021)
General election
General election for New York City Council District 43
Incumbent Justin Brannan defeated Brian Fox in the general election for New York City Council District 43 on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Justin Brannan (D / Working Families Party) | 51.1 | 13,180 |
 | Brian Fox (R / Conservative Party) | 48.7 | 12,579 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 45 | ||
| Total votes: 25,804 | |||
| = 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
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Justin Brannan advanced from the Democratic primary for New York City Council District 43.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Brian Fox advanced from the Republican primary for New York City Council District 43.
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Brian Fox advanced from the Conservative Party primary for New York City Council District 43.
Working Families Party primary election
The Working Families Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Justin Brannan advanced from the Working Families Party primary for New York City Council District 43.
2017
New York City held elections for mayor, public advocate, comptroller, and all 51 seats on the city council in 2017. New Yorkers also voted for offices in their boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.
Primary elections were scheduled for September 12, 2017, and the general election was on November 7, 2017. Under New York law, candidates who run unopposed in a primary or general election win the nomination or election automatically, and their names do not appear on the ballot.[3] Justin Brannan (D) defeated John Quaglione (R), Robert Capano (Reform), and Angel Medina (Women's Equality) in the general election for the District 43 seat on the New York City Council.
| New York City Council, District 43 General Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Justin Brannan |
50.23% | 12,894 | |
| Republican | John Quaglione | 47.14% | 12,100 | |
| Reform | Robert Capano | 1.34% | 344 | |
| Women's Equality | Angel Medina | 1.09% | 281 | |
| Write-in votes | 0.19% | 49 | ||
| Total Votes | 25,668 | |||
| Source: New York City Board of Elections, "General Election - November 7, 2017," accessed January 2, 2018 | ||||
Justin Brannan defeated Khader El-Yateem, Nancy Tong, Vincent Chirico, and Kevin Carroll in the Democratic primary for the District 43 seat on the New York City Council.[4]
| New York City Council, District 43 Democratic Primary Election, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Justin Brannan |
38.66% | 3,670 |
| Khader El-Yateem | 30.89% | 2,932 |
| Nancy Tong | 15.84% | 1,504 |
| Vincent Chirico | 8.02% | 761 |
| Kevin Carroll | 6.36% | 604 |
| Write-in votes | 0.23% | 22 |
| Total Votes | 9,493 | |
| Source: New York City Board of Elections, "2017 Primary: Certified Results," accessed September 28, 2017 | ||
Endorsements
Brannan received endorsements from the following in 2017:[5]
- 32BJ SEIU
- Bay Ridge Democrats
- Communications Workers of America - District 1
- Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club
- Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn
- Professional Staff Congress - City University of New York
- Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union
- Transportation Workers Union Local 100
- Working Families Party
- New York City Councilman Vincent Gentile
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Justin Brannan did not complete Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.
2023
Justin Brannan did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
2021
Justin Brannan did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
2017
Brannan's campaign website highlighted the following issues. Click "show" on the boxes below for more information about his positions.
| Transportation |
|---|
| "The New York City subway system is a disgrace. People who live in different states can get to Manhattan quicker than we can. But instead of investing in the system to make the trains run on time, the state has invested millions in cosmetic station upgrades. Like you, Justin thinks this is outrageous and that’s why improving public transportation is one of his top priorities. Justin knows that while stations could certainly use some tender loving care, getting to work on time is more important than bells, whistles and WiFi.
Working families, the middle class, people living in poverty, students and seniors all suffer from a lack of reliable public transportation. Do you know who doesn't suffer from a lack of reliable public transportation? The people who currently make the decisions regarding public transportation. It is no surprise that state legislators – some who represent towns that border Canada – are the ones who are so quick to cut funds when it comes to our subways and buses. Who could blame them? They live in Buffalo. They don’t ride the R or the D to work every day and have to deal with constant delays and surprise service disruptions so they don’t care. This is why Justin has called for New York City to take back control of the subway system from Albany once and for all. Restoring city control of subways and buses is common sense and will undo a fifty-year-old political decision and ensure that New Yorkers have the last say over their transit destiny. Justin takes either the R or the x27 to work in Manhattan everyday so he knows first-hand just how frustrating the daily commute can be. That’s why Justin will fight for better service on the R, N and D lines and more express buses during AM & PM rush hour. Justin is the only candidate with a plan of action and a history of getting things done for commuters. Whether organizing rallies to protest service cuts, testifying before the MTA board against fare hikes or circulating petitions demanding better service, Justin has a record of tangible results when it comes to improving public transportation. As a top aide to Councilman Vincent J. Gentile, Justin worked behind the scenes to bring back popular weekend service on the x27 and x28 express buses. Later, as a member of the Restore the B37 Bus Coalition, Justin fought alongside local residents, workers, businesses owners, community groups, elected officials, and TWU Local 100 members to bring back the B37 bus. In 2013, Justin launched the successful 'Bring Back the Bay Ridge Ferry' campaign and led the charge to bring ferry service back to the 69th Street Pier when it seemed like a distant dream. Justin organized thousands of residents to petition City Hall and the New York City Economic Development Corporation and on June 1, 2017 commuter ferry service returned to the 69th Street Pier for the first time in decades. Now, Justin is focused on getting an express ferry route that would travel from Bay Ridge directly to Wall Street during AM & PM rush hour. As a testament to his years of advocacy, Justin has received the endorsement of the Transport Workers Union Local 100 which represents 41,000 New York City employees including those who operate trains, maintain the trains and tracks, staff the token booths, clean platforms and subway cars, and service and repair mechanical equipment such as elevators and escalators. TWU Local 100 believes that Justin would be a major ally in the fight to improve the faltering transportation system. Whether you live in Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach or Bensonhurst, Justin believes that no New Yorker should have to travel more than an hour to get to work and he will do everything in his power to make that a reality."[6] |
| Education |
|---|
| "Growing up in Bay Ridge, Justin attended both public and private schools (P.S. 185, McKinley and Xaverian) and believes that a sound education is the great socioeconomic equalizer.
Justin comes from a family of educators. Justin’s mother Mary Brannan is a lifelong early childhood educator who has taught for over 30 years at Holy Angels Academy (formerly Our Lady of Angels School.) Justin and his wife Leigh Holliday Brannan, an accomplished artist and educator, own The Art Room, a fine art school for children in Bay Ridge. Justin was proud to serve as the Deputy Executive Director for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at the New York City Department of Education. Most notably, Justin helped oversee the expansion of Pre-K for all from 20,000 to 70,000 students citywide in addition to the rollout of the Mayor de Blasio’s Community Schools Initiative which is a holistic approach to learning that supports the social, emotional, physical as well as academic needs of students. Having worked inside the Department of Education, Justin knows how to cut through red tape and get things done for parents who are often intimidated or bewildered by the Byzantine bureaucracy of the DOE. District 20 has continually been voted and ranked among the best school districts in all of New York City. But, because of this, it is also one of the most overcrowded school districts in the city. In fact, every school in District 20 is at least 140% over capacity. Something’s gotta give. That is why Justin has made a promise to have at least one new public school built over the next four years. Justin is a strong supporter of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and the NYC Community Schools Initiative and will work to expand these programs because he knows the future of our city comes down to student success and a well-prepared workforce. Justin believes that every New York City child deserves a quality education. It's a right enshrined in our state constitution and confirmed by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit. But more than ten years after CFE was settled, NYC public schools are still not getting their fair share from Albany. You can count on Justin to stand up and fight for public school students and the funding schools deserve. Now more than ever, in the age of Trump, defending our public schools is vital. As the education candidate, Justin will stand up against any privatization attempts. Moreover, Justin will continue to push Department of Education to focus on teaching over testing, more arts & music in schools and a more comprehensive, holistic approach to students with special needs."[7] |
| Senior Issues |
|---|
| "They don’t call it the Greatest Generation for nothing. Whether it's working to make sure our local senior centers stay fully funded, protecting SCRIE & DRIE so that future seniors can afford to keep calling our community home or cracking down on those who prey on seniors with scams and fraud schemes, Justin knows that seniors are the pillars of our community and that it is our responsibility to make sure these men and women who quite literally helped build our city have the peace of mind to enjoy their golden years to the fullest.
Justin believes that no person should be forced to choose between keeping a roof over their heads, putting food on the table, or buying the medication they need to stay healthy – especially seniors living on fixed incomes and veterans. Justin will work to make our neighborhoods more accessible to seniors and people with disabilities. Many of today's seniors are living in poverty and many who are approaching retirement age don't have enough savings to keep their heads above water with New York City's high cost of living, particularly when it comes to housing. By supporting the expansion of eviction protection legal services and working to build more senior housing specifically for residents of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach and Bensonhurst, Justin will make sure seniors can lead healthy and rewarding lives right here in the neighborhoods where they grew up, worked, raised their families and lived for so many years."[8] |
| Small Business |
|---|
| "Did you know that if you spend $100 at a local business, about $68 stays in your neighborhood? Small businesses are not only backbone of our local economy but a big part of what keeps our neighborhoods unique. Without our independent mom & pop shops providing flavor, every neighborhood would look the same.
As a small business owner, Justin knows how hard it can be to stay afloat with rising rents, bills and insurance. That’s why Justin believes the government shouldn’t be in the business of hurting small businesses. Our neighborhoods depend on small businesses and it is up to us to make sure these business owners are not saddled with onerous fines for violations that don’t pose any risk to customers. Whether its expanding education for small business owners or providing access to low-interest loans, Justin believes we need to do everything we can to ensure our local businesses have access to all the tools and resources they need to succeed. As a brick-and-mortar advocate, Justin has pushed for policies that support small businesses and encourage entrepreneurship. In addition, Justin has worked closely with the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs to help local mom & pop shops comply with New York City codes and regulations in order to avoid the most common fines typically issued to small businesses. Renting a storefront in a desirable, high-traffic location is always expensive but vacant storefronts negatively affect the landscape of our neighborhoods and the city as a whole. Rather than having some storefronts sit vacant for months or years on end, Justin believes landlords should give entrepreneurs a chance to open the business they’ve always dreamed about. Justin will create a system to incentivize landlords to rent to small businesses even if just for a short-term lease for a pop-up shop while the landlord waits for the big chain or corporate tenant of their dreams."[9] |
| Illegal Conversions |
|---|
| "Our neighborhoods have seen a surge in illegally converted single and two family homes in recent years. Often a building goes from two family to six family after unscrupulous investors illegally renovate a house. The number one concern with these illegal conversions is safety – for those living in substandard conditions, for their neighbors and for first responders.
Justin is committed to ending new illegal conversions and bringing complete conversions up to code and within proper zoning. As a top aide to Councilman Gentile, Justin helped draft the aggravated illegal conversion law which protects vulnerable, low-income renters from greedy landlords and hits violators with stiff penalties. When enforced properly, it will stem the tide and help people currently living in substandard housing stay safe. Justin also supports legislation allowing inspectors to use visible evidence of illegal conversions (multiple electric and gas meters, etc.) to issue fines. Justin believes substandard housing is not affordable housing and thanks to Councilman Gentile’s new law, seeking to maximize profit at the expense of tenant safety is now illegal. While it is important to stop illegal conversions, it is also important to ensure those evicted during the process do not become homeless as they are victims of unscrupulous landlords. Justin will sponsor legislation to create a system, funded through fines on illegal conversions, to house affected families."[10] |
| Property Taxes |
|---|
| "Right now, for example, Bay Ridge homeowners are assessed at a higher rate than homeowners in other neighborhoods like Park Slope. Make sense? Of course not! Bay Ridge is assessed over 4% of market value when, in Park Slope, it is closer to 1%! Not only does it not make sense, it is just not fair. This must be remedied immediately so that all neighborhoods are treated fairly. Justin will fight to be sure that includes Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Bath Beach."[11] |
See also
2025 Elections
External links
|
Candidate New York City Comptroller |
Officeholder New York City Council District 47 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Justin Brannan - Democrat for City Council, "Meet Justin," accessed September 1, 2017
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Justin Brannan," accessed September 1, 2017
- ↑ New York Election Law, "Sec 6-160. Primaries," accessed July 14, 2017
- ↑ Ballotpedia staff, "Email correspondence with the New York City Board of Elections," July 14, 2017
- ↑ Justin Brannan - Democrat for City Council, "Endorsements," accessed September 1, 2017
- ↑ Justin Brannan - Democrat for City Council, "Transportation", accessed September 1, 2017
- ↑ Justin Brannan - Democrat for City Council, "Education", accessed September 1, 2017
- ↑ Justin Brannan - Democrat for City Council, "Senior Issues", accessed September 1, 2017
- ↑ Justin Brannan - Democrat for City Council, "Small Business", accessed September 1, 2017
- ↑ Justin Brannan - Democrat for City Council, "Illegal Conversions", accessed September 1, 2017
- ↑ Justin Brannan - Democrat for City Council, "Property Taxes", accessed September 1, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ari Kagan (R) |
New York City Council District 47 2024-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by Vincent Gentile (D) |
New York City Council District 43 2018-2024 |
Succeeded by Susan Zhuang (D) |
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