If you live in the Norwood Newscoverage area, which includes Norwood, Bedford Park, University Heights, Kingsbridge Heights, Fordham and Fordham-Bedford, you may very well be in store for new representation in state government come Jan. 1.

Only one Bronx official — 80th District Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera — was actually replaced (by challenger Mark Gjonaj). The other changes are due to dramatic redistricting shifts that will officially kick in when newly elected or re-elected representatives start work at the beginning of the new year.

Here in the northwest Bronx, some area residents will say good-bye to State Senator Gustavo Rivera, whose 33rd District used to make up the entire Norwood News coverage area. After redistricting earlier this year, the 33rd shifted south and east.

The entire neighborhood of Norwood will now be covered by State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson whose 36th District used to snake along the Bronx River and into Mt. Vernon. It still does, but now it makes a detour into Norwood and most of Bedford Park.

Meanwhile, Jeff Klein’s 34th Senate District now has a bridge from the east Bronx to Riverdale that runs narrowly along Bedford Park Boulevard. If you live in Bedford Park, you’re probably in Klein territory. If you’re north of Bedford Park, you’re in Hassell-Thompson land. South of Bedford Park — that’s Rivera world.

The local assembly districts remained relatively unchanged in the northwest Bronx. Gjonaj takes over for Rivera in a sprawling 80th District that now runs from Morris Park into Norwood and includes all of Mosholu Parkway.

Jeff Dinowitz’s 81st District retained about half of its Norwood territory, including Williamsbridge Oval Park and Montefiore Medical Center.

Fordham, Fordham-Bedford and most of Kingsbridge Heights remains in Jose Rivera’s 78th District. Nelson Castro, who won re-election to the 86th District, now represents part of Fordham Road as well as University Heights.

In Congress, the northwest Bronx is now represented by Charlie Rangel in the 13th Congressional District and Jose Serrano in the 15th Congressional District.

While celebrating at Maestro’s Restaurant in Morris Park, Gjonaj thanked his supporters and said it was time to get down to work.

“I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves because they’ve certainly done their part,” Gjonaj said. “Now it’s up to me to do mine.”
–Additional reporting by David Greene

Ed. note: A version of this story was originally published in the Nov. 15-28 print edition of the Norwood News. The print version mistakenly reported that Jose E. Serrano represents the 16th Congressional District. Serrano now represents New York’s 15th Congressional District.

Local Election Results

State Assembly Election Results

District 78 (Map)
Jose Rivera (I) Dem 17,425 93.82%
Luana Malavolta GOP 881 4.74%
Richard Retcho Con 267 1.44%

District 80 (Map)
Mark Gjonaj Dem 19,866 78.92%
Nicole Torres GOP 2,295 9.12%
Naomi Rivera WF 1,988 7.9%
Patrick McManus Con 777 3.09%
William Edstrom Grn 246 0.98%

District 81 (Map)
Jeffrey Dinowitz (I) Dem 27,220 92.7%
Judith Kunz Con 2,145 7.3%

District 86 (Map)
Nelson Castro (I) Dem 20,387 96.35%
Ana Sanchez GOP 640 3.02%
Vhidiwhatie Diamond Con 133 0.63%

State Senate Election Results

District 33 (Map)
Gustavo Rivera (I) Dem 48,916 96.05%
Michael Walters GOP 2,010 3.95%

District 34 (Map)
Jeffrey Klein (I) Dem 71,791 93.88%
Elizabeth Perri Con 3,504 4.58%
Carl Lundgren Grn 1,180 1.54%

District 36 (Map)
Ruth Hassell-Thompson (I) Dem 71,791 93.88%
Robert Diamond Con 1,280 2.02%

Congressional Election Results

District 13 (Map)
Charles Rangel (I) Dem 152,592 90.82%
Craig Schley Con 10,530 6.28%
Deborah I. Liatos SW 4,874 2.90%

District 15 (Map)
Jose E. Serrano (I) Dem 132,505 97.08%
Frank L. Del Valle Con 3,983 2.91%

Ed. Note: Election results have yet to be certified by the Board of Elections.