In one of the most heated and polarizing Republican primaries in recent Brooklyn history, Council Member Inna Vernikov emerged as the clear and commanding victor in Council District 48, defeating former Council Member Ari Kagan by a decisive 32% margin.

The campaign left the southern Brooklyn GOP visibly fractured and strained with voters, party officials and community leaders taking sides — or remaining conspicuously silent.

Kagan, who previously lost a re-election bid in the redrawn 47th Council District to Democrat Justin Brannan, entered the CD48 primary expecting Vernikov to vacate her seat to pursue a rumored state Senate run. When that didn’t materialize and she stayed in the race, Kagan forged ahead — backed by Assembly Members Alec Brook-Krasny and Michael Novakhov, as well as f

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