Despite a mountain of political baggage, an upstart Brooklyn Socialist toppled an entrenched incumbent in a closely-watched state Senate race dominated by headlines about truth and integrity.
Julia Salazar, 27, rode the progressive wave, toppling long-term state Sen. Martin Malavé Dilan in a district that includes swaths of Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Cypress Hills.
“Tonight’s victory is not about me,” Salazar said in a tweet after her win. “Tonight’s victory is about New Yorkers coming together and choosing to fight against rising rents and homelessness in our communities. Together, we will build a better New York.”