Hannah Shvets, a 20-year-old member of the Communist Party USA, has been elected to Ithaca’s Common Council in the Fifth Ward. The Cornell University sophomore defeated independent candidate G.P. Zurenda in the recent election.

Shvets, who campaigns on policies including rent stabilization and increased housing supply, emphasized affordability and justice for both locals and students. She pledged to raise the minimum wage to $25 per hour and implement a just-cause employment policy to protect workers from arbitrary dismissal. Her platform aligns with broader socialist initiatives in the region.

Prior to the election, four of 10 council seats were held by Cornell students. Shvets’ victory marks a significant shift in local politics, reflecting growing support for progressive economic reforms.