Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies (CPS), the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced the addition of Donovan W. Pepper as principal and director of national strategic partnerships.
Yesterday, New Yorkers voted for Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Brooklyn and Manhattan District Attorneys, all five Borough Presidents and all 51 seats of the New York City Council, along with six ballot proposals. Zohran Mamdani was elected Mayor of New York City in a decisive victory, receiving over 50% of the vote. Over 2 million New Yorkers voted in the election, marking the highest level of voter turnout for a mayoral election since 1969. It was a strong Election Night for Democrats across the country, with the party securing key local wins in New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and California. The transition period begins immediately, with the new Mamdani administration assuming office on January 1, 2026.
Ballot Proposals 2, 3, and 4 shift key housing approvals from the City Council to the City Planning Commission and a new appeals board; changes supporters say will fast-track affordable housing amid a severe shortage. Opponents saw the measures as an overreach of power, making them a central flashpoint in the mayoral race.
The results below are preliminary as of 11:30 a.m. on November 5 and reflect current, unofficial tallies that have not yet been certified by the Board of Elections
This morning, Mamdani announced his transition team. Former First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, former FTC Chair Lina Khan, nonprofit leader Grace Bonilla, and city budget expert Melanie Hartzog will serve as co-chairs. Elana Leopold, a progressive political strategist, former de Blasio administration official, and senior Mamdani campaign adviser, will be the transition’s executive director. The Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies team will host a webinar in late November or early December to discuss the Mayoral transition and the new administration.
Proposal 1 (Statewide): Would allow the Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County to expand ski trails on state forest-preserve land. In exchange, New York State would be required to add 2,500 acres of new protected forest land to the Adirondack Park.
Proposal 2 (NYC): Would speed up approvals for affordable housing by creating two fast-track review paths: one for publicly funded affordable housing citywide, and another for projects in the 12 neighborhoods that historically build the least affordable housing. A “no” vote would keep the current seven-month land-use review process involving community boards, borough presidents, the City Planning Commission, City Council, and the Mayor.
Proposal 3 (NYC): Would simplify and accelerate the approval process for smaller housing and infrastructure projects, including efforts to prepare for extreme weather and climate challenges. For most projects, it would remove the final step of City Council review.
Proposal 4 (NYC): Would create an Affordable Housing Appeals Board made up of the Borough President, City Council Speaker, and Mayor. If the City Council rejected or changed an affordable housing proposal, this board could overturn that decision with a 2-to-1 vote.
Proposal 5 (NYC): Would require the Department of City Planning to create and maintain a single, modernized digital city map, consolidating planning information currently spread across multiple systems.
Proposal 6 (NYC): Would move New York City’s local elections to coincide with presidential election years, with the goal of increasing voter turnout by aligning with higher-participation election cycles.
Manhattan
Brooklyn
Queens
Bronx
Staten Island
Manhattan
Brooklyn
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
Alina Bonsell (R) — 25.82%
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
Emmanual Findlay (R) — 11.42%
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
Co-Chair, New York Practice
Co-Chair, New York Practice
Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.
November 5, 2025
November 5, 2025
November 5, 2025
