Manhattan City Councilman Corey Johnson has secured the votes necessary to become the next city council speaker, sources told NY1 on Wednesday.

That means Johnson, one of eight candidates, has the backing of the majority of the 51-member council.

While council members are the only ones who actually vote, the election is influenced by outside players like labor unions, political leaders, and the mayor.

Sources say Johnson is supported by Congressman Joe Crowley, who is the Queens Democratic Party chairman. He also has the support of State Assemblyman Marcos Crespo of the Bronx. Those leaders control the largest blocks of votes in the council. They would not comment on Johnson's future Wednesday.

The councilman also did not return repeated calls for comment.

Johnson has long been considered one of the leading candidates for the leader position. He will replace Melissa Mark-Viverito, whose term is ending.

The speaker is considered the second-most powerful political leader in the city and leads the city council in setting priorities and passing laws.

While sources were telling NY1 the race essentially was over, Johnson's primary competitor was not backing down.

Brooklyn City Councilman Robert Cornegy tweeted Wednesday afternoon that he continued to run a positive, vigorous campaign.

But sources say the race is Johnson's to lose.

His victory would mean the role of speaker would head back to Lower Manhattan. He also represents the same district as former Speaker Christine Quinn.

This deal appeared to occur while Mayor Bill de Blasio was out of town, speaking to a progressive group in Iowa on Tuesday night.

De Blasio took a far less active role in this speaker's race than in 2013, when he essentially hand-picked Mark-Viverito.

The mayor refused to take questions about it at an unrelated event in Brooklyn on Wednesday.

Sources close to the mayor told NY1 that de Blasio told powerbrokers in the last day or two that he could work with Johnson if Johnson were elected speaker.

For now, this is just a deal; the official vote is slated to take place Jan. 3.