Larry He flips State Senate 17 in southern Brooklyn; Joyce Xie leads Assembly District 49

Southern Brooklyn's Chinese American–majority districts delivered two of the night's clearest local stories — with one race still short of an Associated Press call.

Senate District 17: He beats Chan

City & State reports Democrat Larry He declared victory on election night in State Senate District 17, covering Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Bath Beach, defeating Republican Sen. Steve Chan by about 57% to 42% with 99% of scanners reported. The outlet called it one of four Democratic pickups in the area and said the margin bolstered Assembly Member William Colton's political machine. He is Colton's chief of staff, Documented reported (also published by THE CITY).

Assembly District 49: Xie leads, AP uncalled

In neighboring Assembly District 49, Democrat Joyce Xiaoqiong Xie led Republican Assembly Member Lester Chang by about 861 votes with 99% of scanners reported, City & State said — but added that the Associated Press had not called the race. Documented and THE CITY described both He and Xie as victorious at the Bensonhurst election-night gathering and put Xie's edge at nearly six percentage points in their tally.

Xie is the budget director and community liaison for Council Member Susan Zhuang, Documented reported. Chang flipped the seat four years ago by upsetting longtime Democrat Peter Abbate Jr. and ran unopposed last cycle, per City & State.

What voters told Documented

Documented interviewed Chinese immigrant voters in Bensonhurst who said affordability — food prices, wages, SNAP disruptions — weighed heavily alongside public-safety concerns such as the Bath Beach jogger killing and a proposed South Brooklyn shelter. Several said they had backed Republicans in 2024 but voted Democratic this year.

Absentee and affidavit ballots can still move narrow Assembly leads. Watch for an AP call on AD-49 and certified BOE totals.