As the focus remains on the bloated cast of Democratic candidates going up against President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, getting lost in the foray are the U.S. Representatives who will also be facing challengers next year.
In Queens, all but one representative has a challenger either to the left or right that wants to unseat them.
U.S. Representatives Grace Meng (D-Flushing), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx, Jackson Heights), Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Astoria), Nydia Velázquez (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn, Woodhaven), Thomas Suozzi (D-Nassau County, Little Neck) and Greg Meeks (D-Rockaway Beach, Jamaica) currently have opponents that want to replace them in the upcoming election cycle.
U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn, Ozone Park), the House Democratic Caucus chairman that represents only a sliver of Queens in Ozone Park, is the only congress member to be uncontested in the World’s Borough.
Meng will be up against Melquiades Gagarin, a Democratic Socialist member and former lead canvasser for Tiffany Cabán, according to the Federal Election Commission. She will also be up against Sandra Choi, who has yet to put up a campaign website.
Ocasio-Cortez has five Republican challengers in retired NYPD police officer John Cummings, Jamaican businesswoman Scherie Murray, medical journalist Ruth Papazian, construction contractor Miguel Hernandez and entrepreneur Antoine Tucker, according to the FEC.
Maloney is up against three Democrats, including DSA member Peter Harrison, sexual assault activist Erica Vladimer and gun control advocate Lauren Ashcraft.
Moderate Republican and community activist Avery Pereira would like to unseat Velázquez.
Suozzi has a more diverse set of opponents in progressive Democrats Michael Weinstock, an attorney and firefighter, and Melanie D’Arrigo a behavioral specialist. The representative of Glen Oaks, Floral Park, Little Neck and Whitestone will also have to fight for his seat from Independent candidate and UN analyst Joshua Sauberman.
Shaniyat Chowdhury, a military veteran and DSA-member will take on Meeks, the Queens County Democratic chairman.
The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming April 28, 2020 Democratic primary by mail, in-person or online is April 3, 2020, according to the Board of Elections. The deadline to register to vote in the April 21, 2020 Republican primary is March 27, 2020.
The general election is Nov. 3, 2020.
