NEW YORK — The New York City Council on Tuesday unanimously elected Julie Menin as its new speaker, making her the first Jewish person to hold the powerful leadership post in the body’s history.

Council members voted 51-0 to elevate Menin, a Manhattan Democrat and longtime civic leader, to the position that sets the council’s legislative agenda and serves as the chief counterweight to the mayor’s office.

The moment also marked a broader milestone in the city’s political history, with Menin becoming the first Jewish speaker to serve under New York City’s first Muslim mayor, underscoring the city’s evolving diversity at the highest levels of government.

Menin called the vote a moment of pride for the city’s many communities and said she is committed to leading with fairness and inclusion.

“It is an extraordinary honor to serve as speaker of the New York City Council,” Menin said after the vote. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to deliver for every neighborhood and every New Yorker.”

Menin previously served as the city’s consumer affairs commissioner and later as director of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, building a reputation as a pragmatic leader with deep experience in city government.

Her election was widely seen as a unifying moment in a council often divided by ideology, with members from across the political spectrum praising her ability to bridge differences and build consensus.

As speaker, Menin will oversee budget negotiations, committee assignments and legislative priorities at a time when the city faces ongoing challenges related to public safety, affordability and social services.

Her unanimous election marks a new chapter for the City Council — and a historic moment reflecting the changing face of leadership in New York City.

🔴 LIVE: Watch New York City Council's 2026 Charter Meeting https://t.co/nZ3KbINKCv
— New York City Council (@NYCCouncil) January 7, 2026

“By a vote of 51 in the affirmative, zero in the negative and zero abstentions, the Council has duly elected Councilmember Julie Menin as speaker of the City Council.”
Menin is the first Jew in this role. pic.twitter.com/ecJlcByZ80
— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) January 7, 2026

Jooish News

Jooish News