As Americans woke up Nov. 6 to the news of another Donald Trump presidency, local elected officials and nonprofit groups expressed disappointment at the result.
Bronx voters cast 339,883 ballots in the Nov. 5 election, with preliminary Board of Elections results showing 72% support for Kamala Harris, who received 244,385 votes, and 27% for Donald Trump, with 91,542 votes.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, a strong advocate for Harris, issued a post-election statement calling for unity and continued work on behalf of Bronxites.
“The outcome of this 2024 Presidential election represents a stark divide. It’s a sobering reminder of the work we need to do to bridge these divides and ensure that our voices are heard,” said Gibson.
“Regardless of who serves as Commander-in-Chief, we will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to protect the rights of our families and ensure that our community’s needs are prioritized. In these times of uncertainty, it’s vital that we come together, regardless of political affiliation, to safeguard our residents’ rights and well-being,” she said.
U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres — who was reelected to Congress with nearly 77% of the vote from District 15, which includes much of the South Bronx — posted a historical perspective from his personal Instagram account.
“The signs of a decisive defeat were staring us in the face all along. We were simply in denial about them or willfully blind to them, substituting magical thinking for actual analysis,” he said, adding that it is nearly impossible for the incumbent party to win with high numbers of Americans believing the country is headed in the wrong direction.
Meanwhile, Brad Lander, the New York City comptroller and a 2025 mayoral candidate, issued a statement lamenting the results.
“There’s no sugar-coating it,” he said. “The election results are devastating. It will take time to grieve & analyze. But even as we do, we need to summon the collective courage to stand up & protect our neighbors, our rights, and the institutions of our democracy.”
The immigrant rights nonprofit Make the Road New York — which operates in Bushwick, Brooklyn and Jackson Heights, Queens, as well as outside of New York City — published a statement saying the group was “outraged and heartbroken” by Trump’s victory.
“The policies peddled by Donald Trump are racist, misogynistic, and anti-immigrant,” the statement said. But it also struck a note of solidarity and continued work on behalf of immigrants and equality for all: “Our commitment to collective action and social justice does not begin or end on election day. We are organizers, advocates, teachers, and lawyers, and our work is to turn love into power.”
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
