De Blasio asks Cuomo to clear up Queens borough president confusion

By Victoria Merlino

Will a postponed special election for Queens borough president replace the primary? And just how long will the victor serve? 

We may finally find out soon.

Mayor Bill de Blasio is asking Gov. Andrew Cuomo to allow the winner of the Queens borough president special election to hold office until the end of the regular term in 2021, and to eliminate the partisan election entirely to avoid voter confusion. Currently, both the special election and the primary for Queens borough president are set to occur on June 23. 

If both were to proceed, the winner of the special election would serve until the end of 2020, and the winner of the general election following the primary would serve during 2021. 

“The Mayor has recommended to Governor Cuomo that the Queens Borough President election proceed as a special election only, and that the winner serve through the end of the term. To hold both a special and a primary election on the same day for the same office would cause voter confusion,” de Blasio spokesperson Jose Bayona said in a statement.

The confusion began after the special election’s original date was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The New York City Campaign Finance Board has urged Cuomo and de Blasio since that time to make adjustments to the special election and nix the primary, arguing that not doing so would create “significant operational challenges” for voters, campaigns and election officials. 

CFB Executive Director Amy Loprest asserted this recommendation again at a press conference on Tuesday.  

“A single special election would give voters a direct say,” she said.