NEW YORK (PIX11) – Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine has won the New York City comptroller election.

Levine defeated Republican candidate Peter Kefalas and independent candidate Ismael Malave Perez.

He will assume the office left vacant by Brad Lander, who retired to run for mayor.

Levine has been vocal about the need for a rent freeze, acknowledging that both tenants and landlords are struggling in New York City.

In addition to affordable housing, Levine campaigned on the promise to make communities safer by addressing quality-of-life problems and strengthening communities by getting work authorizations for immigrants.

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