2009 NYC Election: Republicans Snag Two Queens Council Seats

The Bloomberg and Thompson bout was certainly been more entertaining than many expected, but it wasn't the night's only contested race. Though all of the incumbent Borough Presidents won another term and the citywide elections for Comptroller and Public Advocate were unsurprising (John Liu and Bill de Blasio won easily), several City Council races were action packed.

In Bayside, Queens, the seat being vacated by failed Mayoral candidate Tony Avella went to Republican Dan Halloran, who defeated Democrat Kevin Kim 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent, with all of precincts reporting, according to the Times. This comes after a few brutal exchanges in the past few days between the candidates, with Kim targeting Halloran's pagan religious beliefs, and Halloran accusing Kim — who hoped to become the Council's first Korean-American member — of being a pawn to Asian real estate developers.

In another coup for the Queens Republican Party, this time in Flushing, candidate Peter Koo beat Democrat Yen Chou 49.6 percent to 44.7 percent, with all precincts reporting according to the Times. That seat is currently held by Democrat John Liu, the city's incoming comptroller.

In South Williamsburg and Bushwick, incumbent Democratic Councilwoman Diana Reyna defeated Working Families Party candidate Maritza Davila — for the second time this election season. In today's tense race, Reyna landed 59.9 percent of the vote against Davila, who almost knocked out the Councilwoman in the Democratic Primary in September. What makes this race interesting is the subtext involving powerful Brooklyn Democratic Party Boss and Bushwick Assemblyman Vito Lopez, who served as a mentor for Reyna before becoming her bitter rival over a controversial plan to develop the so-called "Broadway Triangle" in Williamsburg. As such, the Democratic Party Boss did everything he could to get his newest protege, Davila, elected — even though she wasn't running as a Democrat.