While most media attention is on the upcoming 2020 Presidential Race, there are gubernatorial, municipal, mayoral, and other local elections happening all around the country—including right here in Queens County.
Some critical elections have been contested. Melinda Katz, the incumbent Queens Borough President, won the heated Democratic primary for Queens County District Attorney which concluded in early August. On November 5, 2019, Katz will face Republican Joseph Murray to become the next Queens District Attorney.
There are more than 125,000 registered active Republicans in Queens County as compared to 731,000 registered active Democrats. In total, comprising both active and inactive voters, Republicans constitute 14.6% of total registered voters in Queens County—a severe minority. This is emblematic of the shortage of Republicans in New York City as a whole, where only 13.1% of total registered voters, inactive or active, are Republicans.
In the New York State Assembly, Republicans control 43 of the 150 seats (28.6%). Despite Queens having more registered total Republicans than any other county within New York City, all 18 Queens County assembly seats are held by Democrats.
There are only three Republicans in the New York City Council—constituting a meager 5.8%—and one of them is Queens County’s very own Eric A. Ulrich of the 32nd District. Hailing from Ozone Park, Ulrich was first elected in 2017 and has announced that he will not be seeking re-election in 2021.
Right now, the Republican Clubs are not endorsing any particular candidates. “We will give all candidates a fair hearing,” Phil Orenstein of the Queens Village Republican Club told Queens County Politics. Orenstein emphasized that whomever the Republican nominee will be in the upcoming elections, the primary challengers will rally behind the nominee.
“People are fed up enough [with Democrats]. It’s time to vote for a good, upstanding Republican,” he said.
