Joann Ariola

Succeeded byDavid Carr

BornJune 14, 1958 (age 67)

Joann Ariola
Ariola in 2025

Minority Leader of the New York City Council
In office February 7, 2025 – January 7, 2026
Preceded by	David Carr
Succeeded by	David Carr
Member of the New York City Council from the 32nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 2022
Preceded by	Eric Ulrich

Personal details
Born	(1958-06-14) June 14, 1958 (age 67) New York City, New York, U.S.
Party	Republican
Education	Adelphi University

Joann Ariola-Shanks (born June 14, 1958) is a councilwoman of the New York City Council, representing District 32 which includes Glendale, Woodhaven, Ozone Park, Howard Beach, Broad Channel, and the western half of the Rockaway Peninsula. She previously served as the chairwoman of the Queens Republican Party.

Ariola is a lifelong resident of the 32nd Council District. Born on June 14, 1958, Ariola is the eldest child of a prominent Ozone Park family. During her childhood, the family - including her younger sister and brother - relocated to a new home in Howard Beach. She attended P.S. 63 (Old South), P.S. 207 (Rockwood Park), Our Lady of Grace Catholic School, Stella Maris High School on the Rockaway Peninsula and Adelphi Business School.^{[citation needed]}

Political career

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Ariola entered into the political arena in 1993 as chief of staff for New York City Councilmember Alfonso C. Stabile. In 1996, Ariola unsuccessfully ran against Audrey Pheffer for a seat in the New York State Assembly.

Later, Ariola served as communications director for Councilmember Noach Dear, before unsuccessfully running against Joseph Addabbo Jr. in 2001 for the City Council seat left vacant by Stabile.

Following the unsuccessful 2001 race, Ariola worked under the Bloomberg administration as an Assistant Commissioner with the Community Assistance Unit until 2006, when she entered into the private sector as Director of Intergovernmental Relations for Medisys.

2020 Borough President race

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

In 2020, Ariola ran for Queens Borough President against Donovan Richards, losing in the special election with 27.72% of the vote.

2021 City Council race

Ariola was elected to the NYC City Council in 2021 over Democrat Felicia Singh. Despite many predicting a close race,^[1] she handily defeated Singh 67%-32%.^[2]^[3]

Ariola was elected minority leader of the New York City Council in February 2025. Joe Borelli resigned from the City Council to work in the private sector. During the private election, Joe Borelli and Inna Vernikov voted for David Carr. Vicky Paladino, Kristy Marmorato, and Ariola did not show up to vote. Speaker Adrienne Adams intervened in the disputed election. After reviewing the rules of the City Council's internal election process, the speaker determined that a re-election had to take place. The last three New York City Council members were present during the meeting and voted for Ariola as their new leader. The first three members did not show up. Ariola was declared the new leader of the Republican caucus.^[4]^[5]

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph Addabbo Jr.	4,899	43.6
	Democratic	Lew Simon	2,545	22.7
	Democratic	John Seminerio	2,371	21.3
	Democratic	Christina Jorge	1,383	12.3
	Write-in		8	0.1
Total votes			11,235	100
General election
	Democratic	Joseph Addabbo Jr.	15,126	55.1
	Republican	Joann Ariola	10,184
	Conservative	Joann Ariola	982
	Working Families	Joann Ariola	326
	Total	Joann Ariola	11,492	41.8
	Independence	John Baxter	425	1.5
	Green	Robert Curran	405	1.5
	Write-in		3	0.1
Total votes			27,451	100
	Democratic gain from Republican

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joann Ariola	2,378	82.0
	Republican	Steve Sirgiovanni	494	17.0
	Write-in		28	1.0
Total votes			2,900	100
General election
	Republican	Joann Ariola	15,216
	Conservative	Joann Ariola	1,694
	Total	Joann Ariola	16,910	66.2
	Democratic	Felicia Singh	8,322	32.6
	Community First	Kenichi Wilson	283	1.1
	Write-in		40	0.1
Total votes			25,555	100
	Republican hold

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joann Ariola	7,568
	Conservative	Joann Ariola	1,414
	Total	Joann Ariola (incumbent)	8,982	95.1
	Write-in		458	4.9
Total votes			9,440	100.0
	Republican hold

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joann Ariola	24,909
	Conservative	Joann Ariola	4,758
	Total	Joann Ariola (incumbent)	29,667	97.4
	Write-in		787	2.6
Total votes			30,454	100.0
	Republican hold

v t e Districts and members of the New York City Council
Speaker: Julie Menin (D) Majority Leader: Shaun Abreu (D) Minority Leader: David Carr (R)
1 Christopher Marte (D) 2 Harvey Epstein (D) 3 Vacant 4 Virginia Maloney (D) 5 Julie Menin (D) 6 Gale Brewer (D) 7 Shaun Abreu (D) 8 Elsie Encarnacion (D) 9 Yusef Salaam (D) 10 Carmen De La Rosa (D) 11 Eric Dinowitz (D) 12 Kevin Riley (D) 13 Shirley Aldebol (D) 14 Pierina Sanchez (D) 15 Oswald Feliz (D) 16 Althea Stevens (D) 17 Justin Sanchez (D) 18 Amanda Farías (D) 19 Vickie Paladino (R) 20 Sandra Ung (D) 21 Shanel Thomas-Henry (D) 22 Tiffany Cabán (D) 23 Linda Lee (D) 24 James Gennaro (D) 25 Shekar Krishnan (D) 26 Julie Won (D) 27 Nantasha Williams (D) 28 Tyrell Hankerson (D) 29 Lynn Schulman (D) 30 Phil Wong (D) 31 Selvena Brooks-Powers (D) 32 Joann Ariola (R) 33 Lincoln Restler (D) 34 Jennifer Gutiérrez (D) 35 Crystal Hudson (D) 36 Chi Ossé (D) 37 Sandy Nurse (D) 38 Alexa Avilés (D) 39 Shahana Hanif (D) 40 Rita Joseph (D) 41 Darlene Mealy (D) 42 Chris Banks (D) 43 Susan Zhuang (D) 44 Simcha Felder (D) 45 Farah Louis (D) 46 Mercedes Narcisse (D) 47 Kayla Santosuosso (D) 48 Inna Vernikov (R) 49 Kamillah Hanks (D) 50 David Carr (R) 51 Frank Morano (R)
Democratic (45) Republican (5) Vacant (1) Mayor Zohran Mamdani Public Advocate Jumaane Williams Comptroller Mark Levine

Political career

2020 Borough President race

2021 City Council race

Election history

City Council, 2001

City Council, 2021

City Council, 2023

City Council, 2025

References

Related Articles