Linda Lee Makes History, Named Bayside District 23 Council Winner

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — Linda Lee will make history and become the first Asian American woman to represent District 23, according to NY1 and the New York Times.

With over 72 percent of precincts reporting, Lee has 63.1 percent of the vote, cementing her win against Republican nominee James Reilly in District 23, which includes Bayside Hills, NY1 projections show.

“I am so honored to be elected as the first City Councilwoman for District 23. The opportunity to serve in that position is incredibly humbling, not only for what it means to me personally to break a glass ceiling, but also because I’m sending a message to other girls and women who aspire to public service," Lee wrote in an election night statement.

Based on these projections she will take over Council Member Barry Grodenchik's seat at the beginning of 2022 for two years instead of four — because of a city mandate to allow for redistricting after the census. She will also be among the first of two Korean Americans on the Council, alongside Julie Won, who was named the winner of Long Island City's Council seat.

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Lee told Patch that she would be "humbled" to hold this historic position, but, for her, identity has taken second place to conversation about priorities during the campaign.

"[My identity] quickly fades away once we start talking about the issues we all have in common. We want streets to be safe, we want District 26 schools to be good," she said.

Identity became central to the District 23 election in the weeks leading up to the primary, though, as Lee and fellow candidate Jaslin Kaur reported incidents of sexism from several of their male opponents.

Since the primary, many of the other Democrats who ran for office have endorsed Lee; Kaur is notably absent among them, and the two did not see eye-to-eye on many issues during the primary.

Lee, however, ultimately secured the Democratic nomination — a success that she chalks up, in large part, to her policy platform.

"I feel that the things I wanted to push and see in the district are very much in alignment with the values of the district," she told Patch.

The race for City Council isn't the only one that neighbors in Bayside voted on this Election Day: locals also weighed in on the race to replace Mayor Bill de Blasio, the Queens Borough President race, and five ballot measures.

Find out more about these races, and all the ones that Patch is following, here.