BROOKLYN – In a closely watched special election Tuesday, Democrat Sam Sutton defeated Republican and Conservative nominee Nachman Caller to win New York’s 22nd State Senate District, flipping a seat long eyed by the GOP after Donald Trump’s 77% showing there in 2024.
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The district — covering Midwood, Flatbush, and Borough Park — was left vacant by conservative Democrat Simcha Felder, who recently joined the City Council.
Sutton, a leader in the Sephardic Community Federation, drew strong support from Democratic leaders like Rep. Ritchie Torres, helping him unite the area’s diverse Jewish and immigrant communities. He will be the first Sephardic Orthodox Jew elected to the New York State Senate in a generation.
Caller, a GOP district leader and real estate attorney, was backed by Elise Stefanik and Mike Lawler, and campaigned on a staunchly conservative platform.
While Republicans had hoped for a symbolic win in a Trump-friendly area, Sutton’s victory underscores Democrats’ enduring organizational strength in New York City, even in neighborhoods with shifting political loyalties.
Congrats Sam Sutton on your victory on New York State Senate!
First Sephardic Jewish elected official in New York in a generation! pic.twitter.com/WcSsI4inuc— David G. Greenfield (@NYCGreenfield) May 21, 2025
Nachman Caller called Sam Sutton to congratulate him on his victory.
He wished him success as he takes on the responsibility of representing our community in the State Senate.
Thank you.
— Nachman Caller for Senate (@NachmanCallerHQ) May 21, 2025
Voted for Caller, either frum sate sen. seemed like a decent good choice for us.
As for the Mayoral Race, the choices are more like the: Less Good” (Adams), The Bad (Cuomo) & The Ugly (Mandami).
Flatbush has an ever growing Sephardic community while many ahskenazim move out. Its about time they have a representive in public office too. BH I am happy
What were the final numbers?
Who are those people in the picture? Where is it taken?
I always said when it comes to local elections it doesn’t matter Democrat or Republican I want to know who can bring home the bacon. In this case Sutton and Caller are both frum yidden and since I don’t know any of the candidates I looked to the askinim for guidance.
I wonder if lesbian christine Quinn (who sutton endorsed for mayor) returned sutton’s endorsement or is he only trying to get the gays vote with torres.
How come we always elect the lowest people in our community for public office
Sutton is a Democratic and will vote for woke ideology when, as they say, whenever “push comes to shove…” The Syrian community brought its people out in a special election that had few voters. In the future, it would be historically correct to refer to the Syrian Jewish Community as “Mizrahi”, that is the term for Jews from the “East”, rather as “Sephardic.” “Sephardic” Jewry has its roots in the Iberian Peninsula – Spain & Portugal. The Syrian Jewish community existed long before Jews were expelled from Iberia.
I didnt’ vote for Satan but now he one so I wont’ juge on preconseived idias.