City Council Races 2017: Church and State in the Southeast Bronx

WNYC is taking a closer look at some of the most competitive City Council races in partnership with City Limits and Gotham Gazette. 

There's an open seat in District 18, which includes Soundview and Castle Hill in the Bronx. The outgoing council member is Annabel Palma, one of just 13 women on the Council.

Vying for the job is State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr., the Bronx borough president's father and former councilman. Diaz has been criticized for his anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage views, and in a recent interview with City Limits he said his religion and politics go hand in hand.

"I am the Church, I am the State," Diaz said. "So when you say separate the church and the state, I cannot do that."

Jarrett Murphy, executive editor of City Limits, speaks to WNYC's Kerry Nolan in the audio above about whether the younger, more progressive District 18 candidates will be able to defeat the Diaz name. 

Check out other contested City Council races here!