Bronx residents elected two New York Assembly staffers Tuesday in a special election to fill the Assembly seats left vacant by their Democratic bosses.

Democrat Vanessa Gibson, who was a former staffer for Aurelia Greene, beat long-time Republican Barbara Bowland and Conservative party representative Joel Ray Rivera for Greene's seat in the 77th Assembly District.

The election in the 85th Assembly District was won by Democrat Marcus Crespo. Crespo, who is a former staffer of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. beat Republican Leopold Paul to take Diaz's seat in the Assembly.

The seats in the 85th Assembly District, which covers the Soundview area, and the 77th Assembly District, which covers the Highbridge and Morrisania neighborhoods, were left vacant when Diaz became Bronx borough president and Greene was named deputy borough president.

AP wire services contributed to this article.