U.S. Rep. Meng faces a second challenger ahead of 2020 primary
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Economic development policy expert Sandra Choi is challenging U.S. Rep. Grace Meng in New York’s 6th Congressional District. Photo via Choi’s campaign
By David Brand
Four-term Queens Rep. Grace Meng has picked up a second Democratic challenger ahead of the 2020 Congressional primary, after running unopposed in her three previous contests.
Economic development policy expert Sandra Choi announced her candidacy in a Facebook post earlier this month. She filed her candidacy for New York’s 6th Congressional District with the Federal Election Commission in July.
Choi, the daughter of immigrants from South Korea, grew up in Queens and recently returned to Flushing after working in Detroit. She joins former nonprofit worker and ex-political staffer Mel Gagarin, a member of the Democratics Socialists of America, in challenging Meng.
Both Choi and Gagarin are attempting to outflank Meng on the left while criticizing the county’s Democratic establishment.
In her Facebook post, Choi said Meng, the first Asian American elected to Congress from an East Coast state, deserves credit for “championing greater visibility” for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
“However, she is also a product of the Queens machine that thrives on the complacency and disinterest from the electorate,” Choi continued. “She benefits from the same network that kept career politicians like Joe Crowley in power for decades and helped Melinda Katz steal the election from Tiffany Cabán.”
Choi said Meng, a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee and vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, has brought “stagnant leadership” to the district, which stretches across a wide swath of Queens from Bayside to Maspeth and includes Flushing, Forest Hills and Elmhurst. The ethnically and racially diverse district is about 40 percent Asian, 33 percent white and 20 percent Latinx.
“I will embrace and elevate the authentic voice of this district to the halls of Congress,” she said. “I’ll go to every corner of the district and make sure you are heard.”
Despite the challenges from the left, Meng has endorsed policies like Medicare for All that are favored by the left wing of the Democratic party. She has also called for the House to begin impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.
“People love her. She has a unique ability of being well-liked,” said former Assemblymember Mark Weprin, who chaired Meng’s 2012 campaign for Congress and lives in her district.
“She cares about good schools and quality healthcare and low crime. Those are all things that are very important in Eastern Queens,” Weprin told the Eagle in July.
Meng last ran a contested primary in 2012, when the newly created 6th district seat opened. She defeated Councilmember Rory Lancman and former Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley for the seat.
The Eagle reached out to Meng after Gagarin announced his candidacy. Meng said she takes “nothing for granted.”
“I will continue to fight tirelessly for the people of Queens whether it's opposing the policies of the Trump administration, ensuring access to affordable healthcare, working with our labor unions to ensure safe working conditions, fighting for women and equal pay, helping veterans, standing up for underrepresented communities such as working families and immigrants, and being a voice for the voiceless,” Meng said.
