By Trendsetter Tribune 
In a decisive victory for New York Democrats, former City Council Member Erik Bottcher won a special election for the 47th State Senate District on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Bottcher, a prominent LGBTQ+ leader, secured his seat with an overwhelming 91.8% of the vote, according to unofficial results.
The Race for District 47
Bottcher’s victory fills the vacancy left by Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who vacated the seat after being elected Manhattan Borough President.
- Opponent: Republican Charlotte Friedman received 7.5% of the vote.
- Constituencies: The 47th District spans Manhattan’s west side, including the West Village, Chelsea, and Hell’s Kitchen.
- Platform: Bottcher campaigned on housing affordability, mental health services, and defending New York from the “MAGA agenda” at the state level.
A Historic First Vote: Medical Aid in Dying Act
Bottcher wasted no time in the State Senate, casting his first legislative vote last week in favor of the Medical Aid in Dying Act (S.138/A.136).
- The Legislation: Originally championed by his predecessor, Hoylman-Sigal, and Assembly Member Amy Paulin, the bill was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul on February 6, 2026.
- Significance: The law makes New York the 14th jurisdiction in the U.S. to authorize this option. It allows terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to request life-ending medication.
- New Safeguards: Following negotiations with the Governor, the final version includes a five-day waiting period, a requirement for patients to record their request via audio or video, and a mandatory mental health evaluation.
Keith Powers Also Secures Victory
Bottcher was not the only Manhattan Democrat to see a landslide victory. Keith Powers, a former City Council colleague, won his special election for the 74th Assembly District with 82.3% of the vote. Powers succeeds Harvey Epstein, who recently moved from the Assembly to the City Council.
What Happens Next
With Bottcher and Powers now seated in Albany, attention turns to the vacancies they left behind in the New York City Council. Mayor Zohran Mamdani (the first DSA mayor of NYC, elected in 2025) is expected to call for special elections to fill those Council seats in the coming weeks.