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Cuomo Cancels Special Election for Queens Borough President

(Photo: NYC Mayors Office via Flickr)

April 25, 2020 By Michael Dorgan

Governor Andrew Cuomo has canceled the special election for Queens Borough President that was scheduled to take place on June 23.

The governor made the announcement by executive order Friday.

The race was being held to replace Melinda Katz, who stepped down on Jan. 1 to become Queens District Attorney. The winner of the special election was expected to serve through to Dec. 31, 2020.

The special election was originally set for March 24 but Cuomo postponed it to June 23 following the outbreak of COVID-19.

The cancellation of the race will now see Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee hold the position for the remainder of 2020.

The candidates vying for the borough president job will now compete to serve as borough president for a 12-month term in 2021. A primary will be held on June 23 to determine the party candidates who will run for the position in the general election on Nov. 3.

The current candidates running for Queens BP are Councilman Costa Constantinides, former Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, retired NYPD officer Anthony Miranda, former Assistant District Attorney James Quinn, Councilman Donovan Richards, and businessman Dao Yin.

Cuomo also announced Friday the cancellation of the state Assembly and state Senate special elections that were also scheduled for June 23. This includes the special election for the Queens Assembly District 31 seat in southeast Queens.

“The state assembly and state senate special elections, which are otherwise scheduled to be held on June 23, 2020 are hereby cancelled and such offices shall be filled at the general election,” Cuomo’s executive order reads. “The special election to be held for the office of Queens Borough President is hereby cancelled, and such office shall be filled at the general election.”

Lee issued a statement following Cuomo’s executive order noting her commitment to serve as borough president through to the end of 2020.

“I made a commitment to represent and serve the people and families of Queens to the best of my ability and for as long as necessary, and this commitment still stands.”

Queens Borough President Candidates (CFB) Top Row (L-R) Costa Constantinides, Elizabeth Crowley, Anthony Miranda Bottom Row (L-R) Jim Quinn, Donovan Richards, Dao Yin.