Chris Banks ahead of longtime East New York pol Charles Barron in District 42 City Council primary

Early results show lefty City Councilman Charles Barron in second place in the Democratic primary for Brooklyn’s District 42.

His challenger, Chris Banks, scored nearly 51% of the first-round vote with 99% of the precinct’s scanners reporting in.

Barron was 8 percentage points behind with 43% of the vote; while Jamilah Rose, a grant writer, had 5%.

Barron, along with his wife Inez Barron, has represented East New York for more than two decades.

The former Black Panther and longtime civil rights activist previously served in the council. He was first elected in 2001 but because of term limits, left in 2013. 

He was then elected to the state Assembly in 2014 and served until the end of the 2021 session. Barron then won his current council seat in 2021.

Banks, a community activist, netted a series of endorsements from the powerful United Federation of Teachers and NYC Carpenters Union.

His campaign qualified for matching funds under the city’s public campaign financing program.

He also ran against Barron while he was serving in the state Assembly back in 2014, but ultimately lost the challenge.

The East New York district covers Brooklyn neighborhoods including New Lots, Remsen Village, Spring Creek, Starrett City.