From 1993 to 2013, the district covered much of the west side of Manhattan, and western coastal sections of Brooklyn.

It now encompasses majority African-American and Caribbean-American Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Canarsie, East New York, Ocean Hill, Spring Creek, and East Flatbush; the mostly white neighborhoods of Bergen Beach, Gerritsen Beach, Howard Beach, Marine Park, Mill Basin, and Sea Gate; and mixed neighborhoods like Clinton Hill, Flatlands, Fort Greene, Ozone Park, Brighton Beach, and Coney Island.

The election had a few competitors for what was then an open seat, with the 10th incumbent congressman Edolphus Towns retiring.

State assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries faced off against New York City Councilman Charles Barron.

Certain parties will invariably endorse either the Republican or Democratic candidate for every office, hence the state electoral results contain both the party votes, and the final candidate votes (Listed as "Recap").