Dems, GOP select candidates to run in Eastern Queens Assembly race
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Democrat Sam Berger and Republican David Hirsch were both tapped by their respective parties to run in the 27th Assembly District’s special election in September. Photos via Berger/Queens GOP
By Ryan Schwach
Both the Queens County Democratic and Republican parties have picked their respective nominees for the upcoming special election to succeed Daniel Rosenthal in representing the 27th State Assembly District in Eastern Queens.
On Monday, the Queens Democrats officially tapped 25-year-old Sam Berger as the Democratic nominee, and the Queens GOP named 32-year-old David Hirsch as their pick to run to represent District 27 in Albany.
Berger and Hirsch will face off in the Sept. 12 special election, which Governor Kathy Hochul officially announced last week. No other candidate has announced a bid for the seat.
Berger, who will be backed by the Queens County Dems, is a 25-year-old recent graduate of St. John’s Law School who was studying for the bar exam as he was weighing a potential campaign for office.
"I am truly honored to receive the Queens Democratic Party's nomination," Berger said in a statement. "This nomination reflects the collective belief in a shared vision for a stronger, more prosperous District 27. I am committed to representing the values of the Democratic Party and working tirelessly to address the pressing needs of our community."
The young Eastern Queens local was endorsed by Rosenthal, who stepped down last month to take a role with the UJA-Federation, before being given the nomination. Notably, party nominees are recommended by their Assembly district’s district leaders. Of the four district leaders in the 27th District, one is Rosenthal and another is Paula Berger, the nominee’s mother.
"I am proud to endorse Sam Berger for Assembly District 27, and I am confident in his ability to advocate for the best interests of our constituents," Rosenthal said in a statement to the Eagle last month. "His passion, dedication, and knowledge will undoubtedly serve our community well. Sam is a devoted father, an advocate, and a proud product of the very community he aspires to serve.”
The Queens County Democratic Party did not respond to a request for comment.
Hirsch, who like both Rosenthal and Berger is Orthodox Jewish, is a political consultant and rabbi in Eastern Queens.
“The guy is brilliant,” Queen GOP Chair Anthony Nunziato told the Eagle on Monday. “We are ready for a common sense leader, and that is what David Hirsch is. He’s the man to represent us in Albany and introduce legislation that helps Queens.”
The news that Hirsch would be the GOP’s nominee was originally reported by Hamodia, a Jewish publication.
“New York State is plagued by problems caused by the Democrat Party’s policies in Albany,” Hirsch told the publication. “We have bail reform laws that play ‘catch and release’ with criminals. We have a rise in hate crimes against Jews and Asians, with the lightest of sentences for the perpetrators. At a time when New York’s public schools are failing in Math and Reading, our Democrat-run government is going after yeshivas.”
Political operatives say the race for the Eastern Queens district, which is predominantly Jewish and Asian-American, could be closer than most races between Democrats and Republicans in Queens and in New York City. Parts of the district are represented by Republican City Councilmember Vickie Paladino. Parts of the district also voted overwhelmingly for Republican candidates in recent gubernatorial and mayoral races.
