Joseph Borelli

Joseph Charles Borelli (born July 27, 1982) is an American politician who was formerly the Minority Leader of the New York City Council. In the Council, he represented the 51st District, which encompasses much of the South Shore of Staten Island. He is a Republican and a staunch supporter of Donald Trump.

Early life, education, and career

Borelli was born in Staten Island and adopted at birth by the Borelli family. He attended Public School 4, Our Lady Star of the Sea Grammar School, and St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School, from which he graduated in 2000.

After graduating from Marist College, he worked on the campaign of Vincent Ignizio, who was elected to the New York State Assembly from the 62nd District. He became Chief-of-Staff to the then-Assemblyman, and continued in that role when Ignizio was elected to the New York City Council in February 2007. He was one of only two Republicans in New York City's State Assembly delegation.

On November 3, 2015, Borelli won a special election to replace fellow Republican Vincent Ignizio on the City Council and was chosen to be the Council's Minority Whip.

In 2016, Borelli frequently appeared on national cable TV news shows where he supported Donald Trump as the Republican Presidential nominee. Borelli also co-chaired Trump's campaign during the 2016 New York Republican primary. Trump later won New York's primary with 59% of the vote, and he went on to win the Republican nomination and later the general election. The following year, Borelli was re-elected in the New York City Council elections, 2017, winning 80% of the vote.

In 2019, Borelli was the Republican and Conservative Party nominee for NYC Public Advocate, running against Democratic incumbent Jumaane Williams. Williams won the race garnering 77.9 percent of the vote to Borelli's 20%. In 2019, New York State Republican Chairman Nick Langworthy named Borelli as a spokesman to help spread the New York GOP's message during the 2020 election cycle.

On November 17, 2021, Borelli was elected as Minority Leader of the City Council's Republican delegation, replacing outgoing Council Member Steven Matteo.

In 2022, Borelli criticized the planned implementation of congestion pricing to the most crowded areas of Manhattan. Congestion pricing eventually went into effect in January 2025.

In 2024, Borelli introduced a bill to revoke New York City's status as a sanctuary city. He stated that "sanctuary city policy is a social experiment gone off the rails."

In January 2025, Borelli resigned from the City Council, about a year before he would have been required to leave office due to term limits. He took a position in the private sector, joining Chartwell Strategy Group, a political consulting firm. Borelli became the first Managing Director of the firm's recently opened New York City office.

Personal life Borelli lives in the Annadale neighborhood of Staten Island, with his wife and their two sons.

Electoral history 2023

2021

2019

2017

2016

2015

2014

2012