The 2025 election is coming to a close, yet one crucial vote remains – deciding the next speaker of the New York City Council. As the 2026 election for this leadership position approaches, here’s a breakdown of what the job entails.

The City Council as a body plays a crucial role in shaping policies for all New York City residents with the speaker standing at the helm. They’re responsible for guiding the council’s agenda, managing legislative proceedings and appointing committee chairs. The speaker controls the legislative calendar and has a significant influence over which bills advance to vote. Most notably, the speaker serves as a key liaison between the council, the mayor and other city agencies.

Beyond legislative duties, city council speakers represent the council publicly, advocat

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