Massive early voting turnout in Queens
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Voter turnout through the first two days of early voting reached historic numbers ahead of this year’s General Election. Eagle file photo by Ryan Schwach
By Ryan Schwach
Queens voters turned out for the first two days of early voting in this year’s midterm elections in numbers that trounced recent years.
According to the Board of Elections, 40,281 Queens residents voted in the first two days of early voting, more than the number of voters who cast ballots during the first two days of early voting in the general election in 2025 and around three times the number who voted during last year’s contentious primary election.
Citywide, more than 165,000 people voted through the first two days, around 1,000 more votes than were cast during the first two days of early voting last November, and nearly 100,000 more than during the 2025 primary.
Compared to the last midterm elections, which came during the COVID-era in 2022, 97,000 were cast through the first two days of early voting.
Queens’ weekend voting totals placed third among the boroughs, behind the 47,177 who voted in Brooklyn and the 46,314 who voted in Manhattan. In the Bronx, 17,595 people voted through the first two days of early voting, and 13,776 voted in Staten Island.
Historically, high early voting numbers tend to indicate a strong showing for Democrats, who this year are hoping to capitalize on President Donald Trump’s historically low approval numbers and overall disillusionment among voters.
“It appears voter engagement is strong and highly engaged,” Brian Browne, a Queens political analyst, said. “I think it helps Democrats.”
“If this sustains, it's going to be interesting,” Browne added.
Browne said voters are likely spurred to vote by economic anxiety related to the war in Iran and effects of Trump’s tariffs.
Republican candidate for governor Bruce Blakeman campaigned in Queens on the first day of early voting. Photo via Bruce Blakeman/X
The top of the ticket is also likely drawing the interest in Queens. The gubernatorial race between Governor Kathy Hochul and Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has the potential to be close, according to some polls. Others, including some of the most recent polling, have the incumbent governor handedly defeating Blakeman.
Both candidates have been campaigning hard across the city and state in the final days of the race.
Blakeman campaigned in Flushing on the first day of early voting on Saturday, rallying with GOP candidate for attorney general Saritha Komatireddy at the New World Mall and outside the Flushing Library.
“I joined supporters in Flushing on the first day of early voting with a clear message: lower taxes, lower utility bills, and safer streets,” Blakeman said on social media. “I laid out my plan to cut state income taxes, strengthen policing and protect our children and libraries from threats.”
Hochul has been campaigning with Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who also campaigned with Democratic Socialist candidates in Queens over the weekend.
“They're excited about us finally working together, where they haven't seen mayors and governors do that often in the past, and to be able to deliver on common sense things,” Mamdani said on Monday. “What they're seeing is that the governor has a clear record and a clear vision of making life more affordable in the nation's most expensive city. Bruce Blakeman's vision is to work closer with [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and to create a private militia in Nassau County.”
Mayor Zohran Mamdani campaigned with Queens democratic socialist candidates over the weekend. Photo via Claire Valdez/X
Beyond the governor’s race, the World’s Borough has a shortage of hotly contested races.
At the state level, Queens’ only potentially competitive seat is the 23rd Assembly District, where Republican Thomas Sullivan is taking his third shot at the job. He is facing Democrat Pesach Osina, who has the endorsement of the Queens County Democratic Party and retiring incumbent Stacey Pheffer Amato.
Osina was also endorsed by his current boss, City Council Speaker Julie Menin, over the weekend.
There are 10 other state general elections in Queens, but none are expected to be close.
Queens has one notable federal race in New York’s 3rd Congressional District, where Representative Tom Suozzi is running to fend off Republican Michael LiPetri in the mostly Long Island-focused district.
