Early Queens results show lead for Donovan Richards, three Assembly challengers

Photo courtesy of Richards’ Campaign

By David Brand

Early results in Queens’ Democratic primaries show Councilmember Donovan Richards with a significant lead in the contest for borough president and three challengers edging incumbents for seats in the state Assembly. 

Richards received more than 37 percent of in-person votes in the race to replace former Queens borough president Melinda Katz, now the county’s district attorney, but the final result remains uncertain with thousands of absentee ballots still uncounted. For the first time, all New York voters were eligible to vote by mail.

Former Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley received about 28 percent of the vote at polling sites across Queens. Councilmember Costa Constantinides trails with 15 percent and retired NYPD Sergeant Anthony Miranda picked up 14 percent of the vote. Flushing businessman Dao Yin got about 4.5 percent of the tally.

“I’m encouraged by the results coming in for our campaign for Queens Borough President and I want to thank all of my supporters who came out yesterday to make their voices heard,” Richards said in a statement. 

Crowley refused to concede defeat with so many absentee ballots still unopened.

“As I remain patient and optimistic until every last vote is counted I know that no matter what the out come of this primary, I will continue to fight for the people of Queens,” she said.

About 113,000 Queens residents visited polling sites during the 10-day early voting period and June 23 election day, according to the city’s Board of Election results. 

As absentee vote totals trickle in, election observers predict a lengthy ballot count that could stretch through the summer. But Queens voters are used to that. 

Last year’s marquee boroughwide race, the Democratic primary for Queens district attorney, dragged on into August as the razor thin margin between Katz and public defender Tiffany Cabán prompted Queens’ first countywide recount in 64 years. Katz ultimately won by 55 votes.

Incumbents lead all seven state Senate seats and 14 of the borough’s 18 spots in the Assembly — including a closely watched contest pitting veteran incumbent Jeff Aubry against former State Sen. Hiram Monserrate in Elmhurst and Corona.

In three Assembly districts, challengers currently lead incumbents — in some cases, by a wide margin.

Attorney Jenifer Rajkumar, a former Cuomo Administration official, leads by more than two-to-one over Assemblymember Michael Miller in District 38, which includes Glendale and Woodhaven. Rajkumar ran unsuccessfully for a Manhattan Assembly seat two years ago. Another challenger, CUNY professor and poet Joey De Jesus, received about 20 percent of the vote.

In Astoria’s 36th Assembly District, housing activist Zohran Mamdani is ahead by 7 percent over incumbent Aravella Simotas. Mamdani was the only Queens candidate endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America. 

In another contentious contest, Jackson Heights’ District 34, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas received more votes than the next two candidates combined. 

Gonzalez-Rojas, former executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, logged more than 37 percent of the vote compared to incumbent Assemblymember Michael DenDekker’s 21 percent. Uber-driving labor organizer Joy Chowdhury picked up about 14 percent of the vote, while community leader Nuala O’Doherty received 12.55 percent.

Gonzalez-Rojas got a boost from Make the Road Action, the political arm of the influential immigrants’ rights group Make the Road. The organization campaigned heavily for her and pressured her opponents on criminal justice and police reform.

“Jessica’s strong lead demonstrates the organizing muscle and hunger for real progressive leadership in our Queens communities — immigrant, Black, Brown, and TGNCIQ+ communities in Queens standing up and demanding change,” said Make the Road Action Co-Executive Director Javier Valdés.

In the borough’s only vacant state office, Assembly District 31, Community Board 10 member Khaleel Anderson leads the field of six candidates with 36 percent of the vote.

Anderson, 24, could become one of the youngest people ever elected to office in New York City if he wins the district, which covers a portion of Southeast Queens the eastern portion of the Rockaway Peninsula.

Democratic District Leader Richard David trails Anderson with about 26.4 percent of the in-person votes.