Etan C. Harris has been elected as the 8th District Municipal Court Civil Court Judge in South Brooklyn, a victory that Republican leaders are highlighting as a significant achievement. Unofficial tallies show Harris securing 50.91% of the vote, defeating Democrat Susan Lieberman. This win represents the first time a Republican has won this specific seat in over 100 years, according to party officials.
The victory is particularly notable given the broader political landscape in Brooklyn. Republican Party Chairman Liam McCabe described Harris's win as "Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer" navigating a "Democratic blizzard," emphasizing its rarity in a district where most other Republican incumbents in the Assembly and Senate lost their seats. Republican City Councilmember Inna Vernikov, who endorsed Harris, called the win an opportunity to "flip a judicial seat from blue to red" and noted Harris's commitment to a "non-biased, apolitical approach to the bench, as well as integrity and competence."