Another progressive vs socialist race brews in Queens as Raga throws hat into Senate race
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Assemblymember Steven Raga will run for State Senate District 12 to succeed Michael Gianaris. Photo via Raga campaign
By Ryan Schwach
Queens Assemblymember Steven Raga threw his hat into the race to replace Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris in the State Senate, setting up a battle between the progressive lawmaker and Democratic Socialists of America-backed Aber Kawas.
The brewing contests between Raga and Kawas, who shifted her Assembly bid to the Senate, creates a race with a narrative becoming ever more common in Queens – one where a progressive faces off against the DSA, which is coming off its greatest electoral victory in New York City history.
A lifelong Queens resident, Raga has represented the borough since 2023 as the assemblymember for District 30, which includes Elmhurst, Jackson Heights and Woodside.
He made his bid official over the weekend.
“Western Queens is home, from Little Manila in Woodside to Astoria and Sunnyside, and from rent-stabilized apartments and NYCHA to the street vendors and small businesses that keep our streets alive,” he said in a statement. “I’m proud of what we’ve delivered together as your Assemblymember, and I’m ready to keep delivering and fight even harder as your next State Senator.”
Running for Gianaris’ 12th Senate District will bring a bigger, more diverse constituency and new challenges – challenges the state’s first Filipino representative says he is ready to take the higher chamber.
“I've lived here for decades, I grew up here, spent my career organizing and delivering the services to our community, especially during the darkest times during COVID,” he told the Eagle last week. “I think voters in general need options of candidates who have that vested interest in the district.”
“I’m ready,” he added. “I'm focused on voters and the issues and on running that kind of campaign that is needed for Western Queens.”
In his brief time representing Queens, Raga has championed funding for the local Elmhurst Hospital and for affordable housing.
While he is a card carrying, dues paying member of the DSA, he won’t receive support from the organization, which has grown in power since the Mamdani’s mayoral win – which Raga also supported.
They instead will back Kawas, who had the DSA’s backing in her short-lived bid for the Assembly. Last week, the Palestinian organizer shifted her campaign to the Senate following Gianaris’ retirement announcement.
“I respect Raga and his work, but the reason I'm running for office has not changed,” Kawas told the Eagle on Friday. “I’m running to pass an affordability agenda and to make New York a safer place for all of us. Right now, we need more leaders who are willing and able to shake up the status quo, and fight for what working people need and deserve.”
“I’m running to bring regular people into our democratic process and have a seat at the table, and I look forward to growing our movement through this race,” she added.
Raga admitted that the race might be tough.
“What's needed is a very diverse, multi-ethnic, working class, progressive coalition big enough to win but also govern in Albany,” he said. “Which will allow us to get more relief, services, and support for our families in Queens.”
“What matters to me, really, isn't the label,” he added. “It's the work that continues to follow after that.”
The race shaping up in District 12, one where a progressive like Raga is facing off against a DSA candidate, has become commonplace in Queens this election cycle.
The race for New York’s 7th Congressional District has similar contours. There, DSA and Mamadani-backed Claire Valdez is running against Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.
The same dynamic may well soon become apparent in the race to replace Raga.
Currently, community board and Civic Engagement Commission member Somnath Ghimire has filed for the Democratic Primary, as has retired New York City Police Department Lt. Cmdr. Shamsul Haque, a Mamdani supporter.
