Who’s on your ballot?: A guide to Queens’ primary elections
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Queens heads to the polls on Tuesday to vote in races for mayor, comptroller, public advocate, borough president, city council and civil court. Eagle file photo by Ryan Schwach
By Ryan Schwach & Noah Powelson
Queens residents and voters across the city will head to the polls to cast their vote in a hotly contested mayoral race as well as other citywide races and local contests on Tuesday.
Alongside the mayor’s race, voters will also pick a new city comptroller and potentially a new public advocate.
In the World’s Borough there are five Democratic City Council primaries, two races for local civil court and one for a borough-wide civil court judgeship.
Three of the five council races are for open seats being vacated by term-limited councilmembers and are without a clear front runner.
In District 21, four candidates are running to replace Councilmember Francisco Moya in a race that has seen funding and endorsements split between the three major candidates.
In Jamaica’s District 28 five candidates are vying to replace the term-limited City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, including her district chief of staff and a former councilmember.
In the moderate District 30, the conservative Democrat Bob Holden has three candidates vying to replace him, including one of his staffers.
The polls won’t be the only thing that will be hot on Tuesday. Current weather predictions have the temperature in the city hitting upwards of 100 degrees, so stay safe and plan accordingly.
Head to vote.nyc for more information on your polling site.
Mayor
Two Queens candidates have emerged as front runners in the hotly contested Democratic Primary for mayor.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was born in Queens, currently leads the race with the most recent polls from Marist College and Emerson College putting him at around 10 percent over his rivals. Cuomo has gained numerous endorsements from Queens Democratic Party Chairman Gregory Meeks, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former New York Governor David Paterson as well as a host of electeds, unions and political groups. Cuomo has run his campaign centred on his experience in office and record as governor.
The race for the next mayor of New York City is a two person contest between Queens Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani and former Governor Andrew Cuomo. AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, Eagle photo by Ryan schwach
Polls have shown Cuomo’s closest threat in the race is Queens State Assemblymember Zohran Mamadani. A Democratic Socialist who was elected to office in 2021, Mamdani has run a volunteer based campaign advocating for a rent freeze, free city buses and other progressive causes. Mamdani also gained the endorsements of several notable elected officials, including New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Queens State Senator John Liu. He is the number one pick of the Working Families Party.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander made headlines last week after several videos emerged showing the mayoral candidate being detained by ICE agents as he attempted to prevent the arrest of a migrant. First elected to the City Council in 2009, Lander was elected comptroller in 2022. Lander and Mamdani have cross-endorsed each other in the election, telling their supporters to vote the other for the number two position.
City Council Speaker Adams was one of the last to throw her hat in the ring for the Democratic primary. Another Queens elected, Adams was raised in Hollis and was elected to represent the 28th District in 2017 before being named speaker in 2022. A close ally of New York State Attorney General Letita James, Adams was also endorsed by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Queens State Senator Leroy Comrie. On Friday, she announced she would not co-endorse any specific candidates, but asked supporters to rank the entire WFP slate.
Queens State Senator Jessica Ramos represents the 13th district which includes Jackson Heights, Corona and Elmhurst. While she has not dropped out of the race, Ramos endorsed Cuomo following the first mayoral debate.
Many of her high level endorsers, including the WFP, rescinded their endorsements after her endorsement of Cuomo.
Scott Stringer has served as a New York state assemblymember, Manhattan borough president, and the city’s comptroller, and now he’s looking to add New York City mayor to his resume.
New York State Senator Zellnor Myrie is also in the race, and was elected to represent 20th district, which includes parts of Brooklyn. He has been a progressive voice in the state legislature and has passed several criminal justice reforms. He is included on the WFP slate.
Former elected Michael Blake has made his way onto many people’s ballots following Ramos’ Cuomo endorsement. Blake is ranked fifth by the WFP. Blake only got his first injection of public matching funds on Friday.
The only non-politician mayoral candidate who participated in both debates is former hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson. A long career in finance, Tilson has advocated cutting regulations to speed up housing development to address affordability in the city. Tilson said he plans to rank Cuomo number two on his ballot.
Also on the ballot, rapper and perennial candidate Paperboy Love Prince and Dr. Selma Bartholomew.
Comptroller
Four candidates will appear on the ballot for the Democratic primary for the city’s comptroller.
The two leading candidates in the race are Brooklyn Councilmember Justin Brannan and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.
Brannan is the current chair of the City Council's Finance Committee, and has campaigned cutting the city’s economic ties with President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, and introducing free universal child care.
Levine was elected borough president in 2021, and has proposed plans to introduce $2.5 billion in affordable housing funding if elected. He has led in the majority of polls. Both candidates have split the majority of the high profile endorsements.
Brooklyn State Senator Kevin Parker is also running. With over two decades of experience in the legislature, Parker has campaigned on making the city more affordable.
Ismael Malave Perez, a city employee at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, is the fourth candidate in the race. Perez did not raise enough money to earn matching funds, and has campaigned on affordability and rooting out city corruption.
Public Advocate
The longtime Public Advocate Jumaane Williams faces two challengers in the Democratic primary this week. Williams is running for what would be his final term if elected. Williams currently leads the poll significantly, both his political rivals have been quick to latch onto controversy in his office.
Queens Assemblymember Jennifer Rajkumar participated in a heated debate against Williams earlier this month, accusing the Public Advocate of creating a toxic work environment that lead to the assault of an employee, allegations Williams vehemently denies. Rajkumar initially ran for comptroller this election season before switching to public advocate in January. Rajkumar has received endorsements from Queens State Senator Joe Addabbo and Queens Assemblymembers David Weprin, Nily Rozic, Sam Berger and Queens Councilmember Bob Holden.
Marty Dolan is the third candidate running for Public Advocate, a former financial analyst looking for his first elected position in a public office. He has called for New Yorkers to vote out New York City Mayor Eric Adams, as well as Williams and Lander. Dolan did not qualify to earn matching funds, and did not participate in the debate. Last year, he ran against AOC for her congressional seat.
City Council Races
District 19
District 19, which encompasses the Northern Queens neighborhoods of Whitestone, Beechhurst, Bayside and College Point, is a race for who will face off against popular yet controversial Republican incumbent Vickie Paladino in November.
Running in the Democratic Primary is Alexander Caruso, who is endorsed by the Working Families Party and active duty FDNY Firefighter Benjamin Chou.
Both candidates have qualified for matching funds, but Chou has raised about three times more money than Caruso.
District 21
There is a four way race for District 21 in Corona, Jackson Heights and Elmhurst. The seat is being vacated by term-limited Moya.
Running to replace Moya is Erycka Montoya, organizer Shanel Thomas-Henry, district leader Yanna Henriquez and David Aiken.
Yanna Henriquez, Erycka Montoya, David Aiken and Shanel Thomas-Henry are all vying for City Council District 21. Photos via campaigns
Montoya is running as the progressive candidate in the race, and is doing so with the backing of the WFP, AOC and local Assemblymembers Catalina Cruz and Jessica González-Rojas.
Thomas-Henry, who gained local prominence working with the LaGuardia Airport revitalization, has raised the most money in the race and is running a campaign centered on public safety and affordable housing. She is backed by Jessica Ramos, powerful union DC37, and is ranked second by WFP and the Queens Dems.
Getting the first choice rank from the Queens Democratic Party is Henriquez, a prominent Dominican-community member, who was recently endorsed by Moya.
Aiken has struggled to raise money in his bid for the seat, but on Friday got an endorsement from scandal-scarred former elected and district leader Hiram Monserrate. Monserrate was originally running for the seat, but had his candidacy invalidated due to a City Council law that specifically bars him from running for city office.
Thomas-Henry is followed in fundraising by Montoya, Henriquez and then Aiken.
District 25
In the Jackson Heights centered District 25, incumbent Democratic Councilmember Shekar Krishnan is running against Richard Pacheco.
Pacheco is a veteran of both the Marine Corp and the NYPD, which informs his platform which surrounds public safety and mental health treatment.
He has served as the president of the Jackson Heights Co-Ops Alliance. He ran unsuccessfully for this district in 2023, and for State Assembly last year.
Krishnan has the support of many local electeds, as well as the Queens Democratic Party and WFP.
District 28
The most crowded-race in Queens is located in one of its most populous communities. In southeast Queens, five candidates are running to represent “The Great 28,” which is being vacated by the term-limited speaker.
Adams’ own district Chief of Staff Tyrell Hankerson has pulled in the most money and institutional support, but is closely followed by activist Japneet Singh, Romeo Hitlall, Latoya LeGrand and former D28 Councilmember Ruben Wills.
Hankerson is running with the blessing of his boss, as well as the Democratic Party. However, if he is elected he would need to move into the district, since he currently resides just outside of it.
Singh has pulled in a significant amount of money and is endorsed by State Senator John Liu.
Singh has criticized Hankerson for riding Adams’ “coattails” and is seeking to gain support from the western part of the district which is predominantly South Asian and Indo-Caribbean.
Hitlall, a Lion’s Club leader and businessman has pulled in the second most money behind Hankerson. He is running with endorsements from Addabbo and Rajkumar.
One of the most hotly contested races in Queens is the race for City Council District 28 between (l to r) Tyrell Hankerson, Japneet Singh, Ruben Wills, Romeo Hitlall and Latoya LeGrand. Eagle file photo by Ryan Schwach
LeGrand, a South Jamaica Houses resident and staffer for Assemblymember Vivian Cook also has the blessing of her boss, as well as the Working Families Party, State Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson and State Senator James Sanders.
Wills is trying to make a political comeback following his exoneration on fraud changes, but has struggled to raise money or receive any high profile endorsements.
The Eagle also reported that many signatures on a petition sheet he shared with three other candidates were forged.
District 30
In the Maspeth, Ridgewood centered District 30, three candidates are on the ballot to replace term-limited Holden.
Teacher’s union leader Dermot Smyth, local civic leader Paul Pogozelski and Holden staffer Phil Wong.
In City Council District 30 (l to r) Dermot Smyth, Paul Pogozelski and Phil Wong are gunning for the Democratic nomination. Eagle file photo by Ryan Schwach
Smyth is boasting the most money raised, more than both his opponents combined, as well as the Queens Dems endorsement and subsequent support from many of Queens’ elected officials. He has centered his campaign on his education background and affordability.
Wong, who has had a close relationship with Holden since before the latter was elected, is endorsed by the Common Sense Caucus co-chair, and several conservative groups and officials. Wong is also backed by the expected GOP nominee for mayor, Curtis Sliwa. Wong has raised the second most money in the race.
Pogozelski, a local roller hockey league founder and civic president, has been trying to run an insurgent campaign for the seat. He has raised less money and received less institutional support than his counterparts, but could be considered the furthest-left in the race for the moderate-leaning district.
The race for District 30 has been the most combative in Queens, particularly between Smyth and Pogozelski.
Pogozelski has attacked Smyth for the amount of fundraising he received from outside the district, and Smyth has criticized Pogozelski for his lack of a voting record in past elections.
Civil Court Races
Boroughwide
There is one judicial seat open for Queens Civil Court, and it is being fought over between Democratic Party backed candidate Sheridan Chu and insurgent John Ciafone.
Sheridan Chu is a Forest Hills resident who runs a private practice law firm. A St. John’s University School of Law grad, Chu also worked as a pro se attorney at the Red Hook Community Justice Center from 2012 until 2016.
John Ciafone had made several unsuccessful election bids in the past, both to the Civil Court and to the New York City Council. The Western Queens attorney ran in the Democratic primary for District 22 in 2021, finishing third in the six-way race won by Tiffany Cabán. Another St. John’s University grad, Ciafone has managed a personal injury private practice in Astoria for many years.
The New York City Bar Association approved Chu, but not Ciafone.
1st Municipal District
Two candidates are vying for the open seat in the 1st Municipal District; Juliette-Noor Haji and Thomas G. Wright-Fernandez.
Haji has a 15-year career working as a public defender in Queens with the Legal Aid Society, was a clerk for Judge Joseph C. Cassini III in New Jersey, She is also an adjunct law professor at both Cardozo School of Law and CUNY School of Law.
The Democratic backed Wright-Fernandez currently serves as the principal law clerk to the Queens Supreme Court Justice Jessica Earle-Gargan, who presides over the Queens Treatment Court. Before joining the court system, he ran his own private practice for a little over a decade. He also serves as a member of Community Board 1 in Astoria.
Haji was approved by the NYCBA, Wright-Fernandez was not.
2nd Municipal Court District
The 2nd Municipal Court District is also vacant this year, and two Democratic candidates are competing for it.
Julie M. Milner is a civil rights attorney from Western Queens. The CUNY School of Law graduate will be making her second attempt to make it onto the bench after an unsuccessful run last year.
The Eagle reported in 2024 that an X account under Milner’s name featured a number of posts supporting issues championed by the far-right, including bans on LGBTQ+ books – which she called “filthy, pornographic smut” – in school libraries.
She had also appeared to call for the assassination of former President Joe Biden.
Milner’s opponent, Eve Cho Guillergan, immigrated to the U.S. with her parents when she was 12, is a graduate of Rutgers School of Law. Guillergan has run a private practice for around 20 years and also has held various leadership positions within several bar associations, including serving as president of the Network of Bar Leaders.
If elected, she would also be the first Korean American and Filipino woman elected to the Civil Court bench in Queens.
Milner was not approved by the NYCBA, Cho Guillergan was.
Want more information on the candidates in Queens? Read the rest of our election coverage at Queenseagle.com, and stay tuned to our social media for updates on Election Day!
