Metro

Republicans win 4 NYC council seats

Republicans won four contested City Council races in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island and had a shot at taking a fifth in a potential upset.

Republican Inna Vernikov thumped her Democratic opponent Steve Saperstein for an open seat In southern Brooklyn’s 48th Council District by nearly 30 points.

With 87 percent of the vote in, Vernikov, a 37-year-old lawyer and Ukraine native, garnered 10,768 votes, or 65 percent of the vote, to 5,870 votes, or 35 percent, for Saperstein.

She will succeed ex-Councilman Chaim Deutsch, who forfeited his seat earlier this year when he was convicted of tax fraud.

The district includes many Russian-speaking and Jewish immigrants in the communities of Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Sheepshead Bay and Homecrest.

Vernikov ran as an unabashed supporter of former President Donald Trump, and Donald Trump Jr. endorsed her in a robocall to voters. She also opposed coronavirus vaccine mandates.

“I’m very excited. This election victory shows that the people are fed up with the progressive policies that have destroyed our city and district,” Vernikov told The Post last night.

Pro-Trump Republican Inna Vernikov thumped her Democratic opponent Steve Saperstein. Gregory P. Mango

“I hope to open the door for other Republicans and serve the district with honor and integrity.”

Meanwhile, Joann Ariola kept the 32nd District, encompassing the beach communities in eastern Queens, in Republican hands.

Ariola, the Queens Republican leader and a Howard Beach civic activist, trounced lefty Democratic progressive Felica Singh with 16,040 votes, or 67 percent, to 7,443 votes or 31 percent for Singh, who was backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).

Political insiders said Singh’s support for defunding the police and her criticism of Israel were losing positions in the district.

Ariola will succeed term-limited Republican Councilman Eric Ulrich.

Republican Joann Ariola kept the 32nd District, encompassing the beach communities in eastern Queens. Dennis A. Clark

Meanwhile, in Staten Island’s mid-island 50th Council District, Republican David Carr defeated Democrat Sal Albanse, a former Brooklyn councilman who moved to the borough five years ago.

With 99 percent of the vote in, Carr captured 19,295 votes, or 61 percent, to 10,082 votes, or 32 percent, for Albanese. Conservative Party candidate George Wonica received 2,273 or 7 percent of the vote.

Carr, who was chief of staff to outgoing Councilman Steve Matteo, will succeed his boss.

In Staten Island’s mid-island 50th Council District, Republican David Carr defeated Democrat Sal Albanse. Facebook

Albanese had the support of law enforcement and other unions but the red tide on the island swamped him.

Meanwhile, a Republican candidate pulled off an upset in the 19th Council District in northeastern Queens.

Vickie Paladino led former Democratic Councilman Tony Avella with 99 percent of the votes in. Paladino had the support of 12,143 votes, or 50 percent, to 10,490, or 43 percent, for Avella. John-Alexander Sakelos, running on the Conservative and Save Our City lines, received 1,729 votes or 7 percent.

Vickie Paladino led former Democratic Councilman Tony Avella with 99 percent of the votes in. Facebook

In another shocker, Democratic Councilman Justin Brannan, who is running to become the next council speaker, is fighting for political survival.

With 95 percent of the vote in, Brannan was locked in a dead heat with Republican Brian Fox in the 43rd District that takes in communities including Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights.

Some city council results are in, while others are still in the air. Christopher Sadowski

Fox, who ran a law-and-order campaign, had 11,589 votes to 11,568 for Brannan — a difference of just 21 votes.