NYC Holds Special Election for Manhattan Council Seat
New York City held a special election on April 28, 2026, for the City Council District 3 seat in Manhattan, according to official city election information. The city’s voting pages confirmed the contest date, polling hours from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the early voting period that ran from April 18 through April 26.
The race drew attention across Manhattan’s West Side, where voters weighed a broad field of candidates in one of the city’s most closely watched local contests this spring. Official voter information and candidate guides listed Carl Wilson, Lindsey Boylan, Layla Law-Gisiko, and Leslie Boghosian-Murphy among the main contenders.
According to election-night reporting reflected in the public results data, Wilson led the field with 43.08% of first-choice votes. Boylan followed with 25.66%, Law-Gisiko received 20.05%, and Boghosian-Murphy earned 10.72%. Write-in candidates accounted for 0.50% of the vote.
The contest became notable not only because of the crowded field, but also because of the political attention it attracted in a district stretching across neighborhoods from Greenwich Village to Hell’s Kitchen. Official city sources identified the race as a special election for District 3, and the city’s election results portal remained the final reference point for certification and official reporting.
New York City held a special election on April 28, 2026, for the City Council District 3 seat in Manhattan. Official city election pages confirmed the contest date, polling hours, and ballot deadlines for the race.
Early election-night reporting showed Carl Wilson leading the race after the first round of results, with about 43% of first-choice votes. Lindsey Boylan was the nearest challenger in the reported count.
What happened
The race drew attention because it was a closely watched Manhattan contest. Wilson’s election-night lead made him the front-runner, while official certification remained the final step in confirming the result.
Key details
- Election date: April 28, 2026.
- Contest: Special Election for NYC Council District 3 in Manhattan.
- Reported leader on election night: Carl Wilson.
- Reported first-choice vote share: about 43%.
- Reported runner-up: Lindsey Boylan.
Sources
- NYC Board of Elections — Election Results Summary: https://vote.nyc/page/election-results-summary
- NYC Board of Elections — Special Election City Council District 3 Election Day: https://vote.nyc/election/special-election-city-council-district-3-election-day
- NYC Votes — 2026 Special Election Voter Guide: https://www.nycvotes.org/whats-on-the-ballot/voterguide-2026-special-election/compare-candidates/
- NYC311 — 2026 Special Election: https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-03700
- Citizens Union — Endorsement and candidate ranking: https://citizensunion.org/document/2026-04-09/citizens-union-endorses-carl-wilson-ranks-two-other-candidates-in-special-election/
- District 3 April 2026 Election Results App: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/5e0f992f812c41e99f80ada3c6565485