Mother & James

Public Advocate Letitia James hugs Corey Johnson's mother as they speak with Johnson. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Elder Statesmen

Corey Johnson greets former mayor David Dinkins and former council speaker Peter Vallone. Vallone was New York City's first council speaker. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Duane

Corey Johnson embraces former council member and state senator Tom Duane. Duane was the first openly gay member of both of those legislative bodies and the first openly HIV-positive member of the senate. Johnson represents the same council district as Duane, succeeding Christine Quinn who had succeed Duane. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Borrero

Corey Johnson embraces journalist Gerson Borrero, just ahead of the council session. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Selfie Time

Corey Johnson and Donovan Richards take a selfie just before the start of the council session that will elect Johnson speaker and the end of their time sitting together in sessions. As speaker Johnson will sit on the aisle in the row behind his prior seat. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Oath

Corey Johnson and his fellow council members take the oath of office. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Barron

Corey Johnson listens as Council Member Inez Barron decries the pending failure to elect a black council member as speaker and absence of any black council speaker among the four speakers to date. Barron nominated herself for speaker, but drew only her own vote. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Barron & Johnson

Corey Johnson hugs Council Member Inez Barron after her remarks expressing disappointment at the absence of a black member serving as speaker. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Rodriguez

Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez expresses support of Corey Johnson. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Barron & Barron

Council Member Inez Barron speaks with husband, former council member and current Assembly Member Charles Barron. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Speaker Election 1/3/18

Barron Anger

A departing & angry Charles Barron points at and criticizes Council Member Daneek Miller for not voting for Barron’s wife Inez for speaker. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Holden

Newly elected Council Member Bob Holden smiles after Republican Council Member Eric Ulrich (right/foreground) referenced the unsettled question of whether Holden will conference with the three other Republican members. Holden is a registered Democrat but was elected on the Republican ballot line. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Speaker Election 1/3/18

Van Bramer

Council Member and majority leader Jimmy Van Bramer praising Johnson as Van Bramer casts his vote. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Election

Corey Johnson as the vote total is announced and his colleagues begin to rise and applaud him. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Richards Hug

Donovan Richards and Johnson hug immediately as Johnson rises to move to the speaker's seat. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Applause

Corey Johnson's fellow council members and the audience rise to applaud his as he steps to the speaker's lectern for the first time. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Speaker Election 1/3/18

Soaking It In

Corey Johnson faces his fellow council members and the audience as they rise to applaud him following his election as speaker. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Soaking It In

Corey Johnson faces his fellow council members and the audience as they rise to applaud him following his election as speaker. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Hey Joe

Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Rep. Joe Crowley exchange waves after Johnson acknowledges and thanks Crowley. Crowley, who is also chairman of the Queens County Democratic Committee, had a determinative influence on the vote and supported Johnson. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Speaker Election 1/3/18

Speaker Election 1/3/18

Speaker Election 1/3/18

Speaker Election 1/3/18

Speaker Election 1/3/18

Speaker Election 1/3/18

Speaker Election 1/3/18

Speaker Election 1/3/18

Speaker Election 1/3/18

Across The Aisle

Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Minority Leader Steven Matteo hug after each offered warm words for the other. Johnson later described Matteo as "my friend for life." Speaker Election 1/3/18

Johnson & Mother

Corey Johnson embraces his mother. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Johnson & Mother

Corey Johnson embraces his mother. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Speaker Election 1/3/18

Kozlowitz

Council Member Karen Kozlowitz hugs Corey Johnson. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Speaker Election 1/3/18

Hat!

New Council Speaker briefly dons Council Member Ruben Diaz Sr.'s ever-present cowboy hat. CoreySpeaker Election 1/3/18

Speaker Election 1/3/18

Holden

Council Member Bob Holden gives Corey Johnson a congratulatory hug. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Cornegy

Council Member and former speaker candidate Robert Cornegy congratulates Johnson after the meeting. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Post-Meeting Press Conference

Council Speaker Corey Johnson is joined by approximately thirty of his fellow council members for a post-meeting press conference. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Post-Meeting Press Conference

Council Speaker Corey Johnson responding to questions at a post-meeting press conference. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Post-Meeting Press Conference

Council Speaker Corey Johnson is joined by approximately thirty of his fellow council members for a post-meeting press conference. Speaker Election 1/3/18

Post-Meeting Press Conference

Council Speaker Corey Johnson is joined by approximately thirty of his fellow council members for a post-meeting press conference. Speaker Election 1/3/18