A Republican judge has been elected to a South Brooklyn seat for the first time in more than a century, a win party leaders are saying is a “Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer” in a Democratic blizzard.
Etan C. Harris appeared to have defeated Democrat Susan Lieberman to become 8th District Municipal Court Civil Court Judge on Tuesday after taking home 50.91% of the vote, according to unofficial tallies.
Etan Harris / Facebook
The win — by a roughly 2% margin — marks the first time a Republican has defeated a Democrat in the district in 105 years, party leaders say.
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The victory is extra historic considering nearly every other GOP incumbent in the borough lost their Assembly and Senate seats in a blue massacre.
“He made history,” said Liam McCabe, chairman of the Kings County Republican Party.
“Even in a Democratic blizzard, we had this Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer flying through the storm and, you know, will only be that much stronger next time around.”
Harris was the only candidate in any race in Brooklyn that was backed, supported and endorsed by Republican City Councilmember Inna Vernikov, her office said.
“A little over a year ago, we saw a rare opportunity to flip a judicial seat from blue to red in our area. Thanks to the support of so many volunteers, the Brooklyn GOP & Conservative Party, Etan Harris is going to be the first Republican civil court judge in over 100 years,” Vernikov told The Post.
“Etan will bring a non-biased, apolitical approach to the bench, as well as integrity and competence. I was proud to support him and help get him to the finish line.”
