Khaleel Anderson wins Queens Assembly seat, becoming New York’s youngest-ever Black state lawmaker
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Khaleel Anderson (left) with volunteers from the john lewis voter comfort station Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Anderson
By Katherine Middleton and David Brand
Far Rockaway organizer Khaleel Anderson has won an open seat in Southeast Queens’ Assembly District 31, becoming the youngest Black state lawmaker in New York history.
Anderson, 24, received about 89 percent of the in-person vote with 99 percent of the ballots tallied in District 31, according to New York City Board of Elections results. The district includes a portion of Southeast Queens near JFK Airport, South Ozone Park and the Eastern portion of the Rockaway Peninsula.
The Republican candidate, Joseph Cullina, received about 11 percent of the vote.
Anderson said he was “honored” to become the youngest Black candidate elected to state office and one of the youngest people ever elected to the state Assembly. Future President Theodore Roosevelt won a Manhattan assembly district at 23 in 1881. Assemblymember Richard Gottfried was also 23 when he won his Manhattan seat in 1970. And Ruben Diaz Jr. was 23 when he won a Bronx Assembly seat in 1996.
“This historic and impactful moment for our district marks the beginning of a new fight on behalf of working class families in our diverse communities,” Anderson said. “I am encouraged that my work as the soon-to-be youngest assemblymember in the state and youngest Black assemblymember in New York State history will inspire other younger leaders across Assembly District 31 and all of New York.”
“I feel the great significance and weight of the responsibility trusted in me to push for progressive justice and reform,” he continued.
Anderson spent Election Day canvassing the district and urging residents to vote for candidates on the Working Families Party line. The progressive organization backed Anderson in the crowded Democratic primary.
Voting wait times varied across the district depending on the time of day and the location. A locked door at a polling place at the Redfern Houses caused a 1 hour and 45 minute delay, with several voters waiting for the site to finally open in the morning, residents said.
The BOE changed the location of a polling place in Hammels to a site across the street due to construction, but did not notify many voters prior to the change.
On Tuesday night, Anderson spoke with voters outside P.S. 215 in Wave Crest. He was joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
Resident Jason Figueroa told Anderson that the area, his home for the past 40 years, has become overcrowded and underdeveloped. He said the district has not had a strong representative advocating for constituents.
Anderson agreed that the area is underdeveloped, but said he would push to create new affordable housing and better infrastructure in the district.
“We’re facing a homelessness and a housing crisis across this city so we need housing, but we also need to make sure we have the amenities to cater to those people, so that means better schools, better hospitals, better opportunities,” Anderson said. “I will be a champion for those causes because I know what this community needs.”
Anderson, a Community Board 14 member, defeated five other candidates in the June 23 Democratic primary to replace Assemblymember Michele Titus. Titus left the Assembly on Jan. 1 after winning a seat on the New York City Civil Court bench.
