City Council Republicans had hoped to pick up seats in the overwhelmingly Democratic body in yesterday’s election, but the “coattails effect”- the hope of riding into office on the popularity of Mayor Bloomberg – proved to be nonexistent.

The balance of Democrats to Republicans in the City Council will remain 48 to three. The most Republicans ever to sit on the City Council at any time has been seven.

In an interview with The New York Sun before last night’s outcome was clear, City Council minority leader, Republican James Oddo of Staten Island, said that he would be surprised if the GOP did not pick up at least one council seat, and in the best case scenario, as many as four seats. With nearly all precincts reporting last night, Mr. Oddo’s seemed likely to have been proven overly optimistic. Mr. Oddo was easily re-elected last night.

The new make up of the council will undoubtedly have an effect on who will be the next speaker. Last night’s outcome dashed some Republican hopes that a bigger GOP delegation could influence the outcome of that race.

Republicans had hoped to pick up two seats on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where the ratio of Democrats to Republicans is about 3-1, compared to a 5-1 ratio across the borough.

The affluent neighborhood lost two of the council’s biggest personalities, speaker Gifford Miller, whose term limits expired and who failed in his bid for the democratic mayoral nomination, and Eva Moskowitz, who served as chairwoman of the Education Committee and voluntarily vacated her seat in an unsuccessful run for borough president.

In the fifth district, Mr. Miller’s seat, Jessica Lappin, a former aide of the speaker, defeated Joel Zinberg, a surgeon and professor. Ms. Lappin, 30, outspent Dr. Zinberg $222,887 to $99,706.

In the fourth district, Ms. Moskowitz’s stomping ground, Democrat Daniel Garodnick, a lawyer and a tenant advocate, defeated GOP candidate Patrick Murphy, a former marketing executive and past president of the New York City Log Cabin Republicans. In the city’s most expensive council race, Mr. Garodnick spent $258,965, more than any council newcomer. Mr. Murphy was a close second with $235,641 in expenditures.

With a big boost from the King’s County Democratic Party, incumbent Vincent Gentile appeared to hold off Republican challenger Pat Russo in Brooklyn’s 43rd District, which includes Bay Ridge and was widely identified as a possible swing seat. Mr. Russo outspent Mr. Gentile $134,432 to $114,832.

Also thought to be vulnerable was the Bronx’s 13th District, which includes most of the borough’s eastern neighborhoods and was a battle between two newcomers. Democrat James Vacca, a former community board district manager, defeated Republican Philip Foglia, a lawyer who worked with Mayor Giuliani and had earned his powerful endorsement. Mr. Vacca outspent Mr. Foglia $185,706 to $81,374.

The council will usher in eight new members in its session beginning in January. Two new members were elected unopposed in the general election, and six fought competitive primary races, but were all but guaranteed victory last night.

Democrat Rosie Mendez, who served as chief of staff outgoing council member Margarita Lopez, won the race for Manhattan’s 2nd District, which includes the East Village and the Lower East Side. Democrat Inez Dickens, an officeholder in the New York State Democratic Party, will serve in Manhattan’s 9th District, which includes central Harlem.

A Queens Democratic Party candidate, Thomas White, who knocked out Allan Jennings in the primary, handily won the 28th District. Mr. White formerly served on the council for 10 years before term limits forced him out.

In the 41st District in Brooklyn, Democrat Darlene Mealy, a New York City transit worker, will replace Tracy Boyland, who was term-limited out. Ms. Mealy ended the Boyland dynasty after defeating Ms. Boyland’s father, William, in the primary.

Democrat Melissa Mark-Viverito, an organizer for 1199 SEIU New York’s health care union, was elected unopposed to serve in Manhattan’s 8th District in Harlem. Traditionally, incumbent council members do not face much opposition, and yesterday 11 Democratic incumbents and one Republican incumbent were re-elected unopposed.