Diana Moreno cruises to victory in race to replace Mamdani in Assembly

Diana Moreno was elected to replace Zohran Mamdani in the State Assembly in a special election held on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Eagle photo by Jacob Kaye

By Jacob Kaye

Diana Moreno was elected on Tuesday to replace Mayor Zohran Mamdani in the State Assembly, handily winning the three-way race in the low turnout special election.

It wasn’t particularly close.

Moreno brought in nearly 74 percent of the vote with around 99 percent of ballots counted on Tuesday night in the race for Assembly District 36.

Her stiffest competition was herself. Carrying both the Democratic and Working Families ballot line, Moreno, the Democratic nominee, beat out Moreno, the Working Families nominee, by a mere 200 votes.

Rana Abdelhamid, a local organizer and nonprofit leader, finished second with around 17 percent of the vote. Mary Jobaida, also a local organizer and former Assembly candidate, finished last with a little under 8 percent of the vote.

Moreno’s victory, which she’ll have to defend in the upcoming June primary race for the seat, appeared inevitable.

Moreno was not only endorsed by Mamdani – who won 70 percent of the vote in the district in the November mayoral race – but she was also backed by the New York City Democratic Socialists of America, the Working Families Party and the Queens County Democratic Party, in a rare, if not unprecedented, alignment from the three political organizations.

On the campaign trail, the Ecuadorian-born, Astoria resident billed herself as Mamdani’s political successor and vowed to fight for his agenda in the state legislature. She’ll arrive at the Assembly just as state budget negotiations start to heat up.

At her election night party in Astoria, Moreno said she was committed to “fight every single day to make sure that our district, Astoria and Long Island City, becomes the model for the future that we want to see in this country.”

Many voters in Assembly District 36 are represented by DSA-backed candidates in the City Council, the state legislature, Congress, and, now, the mayor’s office.

“We are showing the world what it means to build a world where the dignity of workers is at the center of our politics, where the safety and precious life of all children is equal and respected,” Moreno said during her victory speech. “That is the path forward.”

Mamdani traveled from City Hall to his old neighborhood to welcome Moreno to the office he once held.

“This district, it means a lot to all of us because it's home,” the mayor said. “I can tell you, there is no one that I would rather see leading this district, leading this fight for working people across the entire state, than our new and next assemblymember, Diana Moreno.”

Though Moreno has long been a star in Queens’ DSA chapter, Mamdani’s endorsement appeared to go a long way with voters throughout the district.

There were few ideological differences between Moreno, Abdelhamid and Jobaida, all of whom are members of the DSA. Each supported Mamdani and his affordability platform during his run for mayor, and all three vowed to help him enact his agenda in Albany if elected. All three candidates spoke out on the campaign trail against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and said they wanted more affordable housing built in the district.

Mamdani’s support may have been the difference maker.

Astoria voter Evan Davidoff told the Eagle on election day that he cast his ballot for Moreno because he felt “a source of pride that DSA has such a stronghold in Astoria and also just the fact that Zoran endorsed her.”

Louis K., a 71-year-old Long Island City voter said Moreno’s "alignment with Mamdani was very crucial here.”

“They were all very similar candidates as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “I generally vote Democratic, and these days I’m looking more towards the Working Families Party and the Democratic Socialists of America.”

Abdelhamid conceded on Tuesday night in a post to social media.

“Proud of everyone who believed in our vision, knocked on doors, made calls, and showed up to vote,” she said. “You proved that grassroots organizing builds real power.”

“Congratulations to [Moreno], looking forward to working together for our community,” she added.

Jobaida did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.