Abdelhamid, Jobaida submit petitions to contest AD36 special elections despite failing to secure Dem nomination

By Shane O’Brien Posted on January 13, 2026

Both Rana Abdelhamid and Mary Jobaida are both set to appear on the ballot in a special election to replace Mayor Zohran Mamdani in the State Assembly after the Queens Democratic Party chose to nominate Diana Moreno to appear on the Democratic line in the race.

Abdelhamid and Jobaida, who had sought the Democratic nomination in the race to replace Mamdani in the 36th Assembly District, both reached the required number of signatures to appear on the ballot for the Feb. 3 special election ahead of the Jan. 12 filing deadline.