Diana Ayala
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Diana Ayala | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Deputy Speaker of the New York City Council | |
| In office January 5, 2022 – December 31, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Position reestablished |
| Succeeded by | Nantasha Williams |
| Member of the New York City Council from the 8th district | |
| In office January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Melissa Mark-Viverito |
| Succeeded by | Elsie Encarnacion |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 24, 1973 |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | Bronx Community College (AS) Lehman College (BS) |
| Website | Official website |
Diana Ayala (born September 24, 1973) is an American politician, who served as a member and the deputy speaker of the New York City Council since until 2025. Ayala represented the 8th district, succeeding former Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito in 2017.[1] The district includes Concourse, East Harlem, Highbridge, Longwood, Mott Haven, Port Morris, and Randall's Island. She is a member of the Democratic Party.[2]
Born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, she and her family moved to New York City when she was a child. They lived in public housing after living in shelters. She received an associate degree in Human Services from Bronx Community College[3] and a bachelor's degree in Sociology from Lehman College in 2000.[4]
Career
Ayala worked as a Senior Center Director in East Harlem for seven years. She then served as Constituent Services Director and Deputy Chief of Staff for her predecessor, Melissa Mark-Viverito.[5]
New York City Council
Ayala ran against three other candidates in the Democratic primary for the open 8th city council district. Ayala had the support of Melissa Mark-Viverito, the term-limited incumbent and Speaker. Ayala's main primary opponent was Robert J. Rodriguez, an assemblyman. Ayala won the primary narrowly with 43.5% of the vote (4,012 votes) to Rodriguez's 42.23% (3,895 votes). In the general election, Ayala won 91.07% of the vote (13,617 votes), while her Republican opponent, Daby Benjaminé Carreras, won 5.26% (787 votes) and her Conservative opponent, Linda Ortiz, won 3.30% of the vote (494 votes).[6]
Ayala criticized fellow New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov for not apologizing for bringing a gun to a Pro-Palestine rally at Brooklyn College a few days after the October 7, 2023 attacks against Israeli citizens by members of Hamas in Israel. Vernikov was arrested, but no charges were filed because the gun was missing a part that made it unfunctional. Ayala motioned to end the investigation from proceeding for another year in the Rules Committee chaired by Sandra Ung.[7]
| Election history | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Year | Election | Results |
| NYC Council District 8 |
2017 | Democratic Primary | √ Diana Ayala 43.50% Robert J. Rodriguez 42.23% Tamika Mapp 9.78% Israel Martinez 4.26% |
| NYC Council District 8 |
2017 | General | √ Diana Ayala (D) 90.90% Daby Carreras (R) 5.36% Linda Ortiz (Conservative) 3.37% |
In February 2026, Ayala announced that she has challenged Assemblyman Eddie Gibbs and is running to replace him in the New York State Assembly.[8]
