Gifford Miller won the race for City Council speaker yesterday after two rivals unexpectedly dropped out and threw their support behind him.
After a flurry of late-night meetings and phone calls over the weekend, Angel Rodriguez (D-Brooklyn), Miller’s strongest opponent, said he could not muster the 26 votes needed to propel him into the key post.
“I looked at it realistically and realized that Gifford had enough support to be the next speaker,” Rodriguez said at an impromptu City Hall press conference.
Sources told The Post that powerful Queens Democratic leader Tom Manton had initially favored Rodriguez, but Queens council members voted 13-0 in favor of Miller (D-Manhattan).
Phil Reed (D-Manhattan) also pulled out, saying it had been a “healthy debate” and predicting Miller would be a great speaker. The council meets tomorrow to elect Miller as its leader, replacing Peter Vallone, who had to leave office because of term limits.
At 32, Miller will become the youngest person in recent memory to lead the legislative body. He is also the most senior member, having served for six years.