Democrat Shirley Aldebol Unseats Republican in Bronx Council District 13 Upset

Democrat Shirley Aldebol defeated incumbent Kristy Marmorato yesterday in the race for Bronx City Council District 13, marking the only seat flip from Republican to Democrat in Tuesday’s city elections.

Aldebol, the executive vice president of the 32BJ SEIU union, secured 51.59 percent of the vote in the northwest Bronx district, a region largely reliant on buses and personal vehicles due to limited subway access. According to census data, a plurality of district residents – 46 percent – commute to work by car. The outcome signals a potential shift in the district’s approach to transportation and development. Aldebol affirmed her support for improved bus service, protected bike lanes, and year-round outdoor dining, diverging sharply from her predecessor’s priorities.

Marmorato had staunchly opposed the city’s shared e-scooter program and advocated for maintaining costly parking mandates for new housing developments near Metro-North stations, despite research suggesting these mandates exacerbate traffic and limit housing supply. “She wanted to get rid of those scooters,” Aldebol told Streetsblog. “I said, we can’t get rid of the scooters! But we can do something about them being thrown around. People are really using them so we have to figure out a way.” Aldebol also emphasized the need to address transportation “deserts” within the district, stating, “We have to rethink the bus system…especially because we have a lot of seniors.” You can view a map of District 13 here.

Aldebol acknowledged the district’s “entrenched car culture” but stressed the importance of building alternative infrastructure. She also pointed to the need for safer bike lanes, noting the current unprotected lanes are often unusable due to double-parking and commercial traffic. The shift in representation could influence future city-wide debates on transportation policy and sustainable development, as highlighted by advocates at Streetsblog NYC.

Aldebol stated she plans to bring all stakeholders to the table to address the district’s transportation challenges and move beyond a sole focus on parking solutions.