As New York’s primary election approaches, the race in the Bronx’s City Council District 11 is gaining attention.
The district, which includes Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Riverdale, Norwood, Van Cortlandt Village, Wakefield and Woodlawn, is currently represented by Democrat Eric Dinowitz, who is seeking re-election after first winning the seat in 2021.
Two candidates are on the ballot for the June Democratic primary. The winner will move on to the general election in November to face two third-party/Republican challengers.
Meet the Candidates
Eric Dinowitz
Democrat (Incumbent)
City Council Member, educator, community leader
The incumbent, Council Member Eric Dinowitz, is seeking his first full four-year term after securing the position in a 2021 special election. A lifelong Bronx resident and former special education teacher, Dinowitz has served on several City Council committees since being in office, including as Chair of the Higher Education Committee and Co-Chair of the Bronx Delegation.
In his reelection campaign, Dinowitz highlights accomplishments such as securing funding for hospital upgrades, expanding access to CUNY and launching anti-hate initiatives. Dinowitz also touts supporting programs for older adults, public safety efforts and food insecurity relief.
“I’m committed to giving back to the neighborhood that gave me so much,” his campaign told the Bronx Times. “I fight every day for the same safe and prosperous upbringing to make our community a great place to live, work and retire – and for all future generations.”
Dinowitz has been endorsed by U.S. Congressmembers Ritchie Torres and Adriano Espaillat; current Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson; and several labor groups, such as 32BJ-SEIU, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and DC37.
In this election cycle, Dinowitz leads in campaign fundraising, having raised over $240,000 – $161,181 coming from public fundraising. According to the New York City Campaign Finance Board, his campaign currently has $136,676 with a month left before the June primary.
Danielle Herbert-Guggenheim
Democrat
Lifelong educator, community advocate
Danielle Herbert-Guggenheim is a Bronx native with a 25-year career in education, having also worked as a special education teacher, middle school administrator and adjunct professor. She’s also a former assistant principal at Harlem Middle School 864 and currently serves as the educational director for the James Baldwin Outdoor Learning Center.
Herbert-Guggenheim describes herself as a “New Deal Democrat,” focused on building a cleaner, more equitable Bronx. Her policy priorities include pathways to homeownership, job training programs, sustainable infrastructure and expanding support for working families. She’s also a founding member of the Unity Democratic Club and has served two terms as its vice president.
“I simply want to ignite a movement to create a Bronx we want our children to inherit,” she told the Bronx Times. “I will address issues related to equity and sustainability in a transformative way. No more status quo!”
She has emphasized that her campaign will prioritize parts of the district she believes are too often overlooked, such as Bedford Park, Norwood and Wakefield.
Herbert-Guggenheim is endorsed by the Unity Democratic Club, of which she is a core member, and the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, a prominent LGBTQIA+ group.
She trails Dinowitz in campaign fundraising by a significant margin, having raised $63,149, with $47,226 coming from public fundraising. According to the New York City Campaign Finance Board, her campaign currently has $36,752 to reach voters heading into the June primary.
Stylos Sapaskis
Republican
Stylos Sapaskis is running as the Republican candidate for City Council District 11. While information about his platform and campaign remains limited, he is officially listed on the ballot for the seat.
In the Northwest portion of the Bronx, Sapaskis has launched campaigns for several political offices over the last two decades, such as for the New York State Assembly and U.S. Congress, but without success.
According to the New York City Campaign Finance Board, he is not participating in campaign fundraising.
Denise Smith
Conservative
Denise Smith is the Conservative Party candidate for District 11. She does not currently have a public campaign website or detailed platform available. There are no details on her campaign financing.
New York’s Democratic primary election will be held June 24, with early voting scheduled from June 14-22. To find your pollsite, visit vote.nyc.
