NYC Primary Election Guide 2020

NEW YORK CITY — It's not just about Joe Biden. New York City Democrats this week will cast their ballots in a spate of local Democratic primary races that could decide who represents them in congress, state and city government.

The primary election, slated for June 23, is open to registered Democratic voters who may either request a mail-in ballot (which must be postmarked by the date of the election) or head to the polls.

Click here to find your poll site on Primary Day. Early voting is available from June 13 to June 21.

To help New Yorkers make up their minds, Patch has interviewed a slew of candidates in the neighborhoods we cover.

Read on to find out who's running in your area and why they think they deserve your vote.

CONGRESSIONAL RACES

New York Congressional District 5

Incumbent Gregory Meeks faces a challenge from community activist, rugby player and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Shaniyat Chowdhury.

New York Congressional District 6

Incumbent Grace Meng faces challenges from Sandra Choi, former director of economic development for Detroit's economic development agency, and a former congressional aide for U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, Mel Gagarin.

New York Congressional District 9

Incumbent Yvette Clarke hopes to defend her seat from challengers Adem Bunkeddeko, Brooklyn Council member Chaim Deutsch, Flatbush business owner Lutchi Gayot and housing organizer and retired U.S. Army veteran Isiah James.

New York Congressional District 10

Incumbent Jerry Nadler, who has served in Congress since 1992, faces challenges from former Cuomo special advisor Lindsey Boylan and Jonathan Herzog, a founding member of presidential candidate Andrew Yang's campaign.

New York Congressional District 12

Incumbent Carolyn Maloney, who has served in the House of Representatives since 1992, will face off against former Obama Administration staffer Suraj Patel, data analyst Lauren Ashcraft and CUNY professor Peter Harrison.

New York Congressional District 14

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faces off against former CNBC anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera and Badrun Khan, a financial controller who serves as a member of Queens Community Board 2.

ASSEMBLY RACES

New York Assembly District 36

Incumbent Aravella Simotas defends her seat from challenger Zohran Mamdani, a first-time candidate, foreclosure prevention counselor for the nonprofit Chhaya CDC and a member of the Queens branch of the Democratic Socialists of America.

New York Assembly District 37

Incumbent Catherine Nolan hopes to defend her seat from Danielle Brecker, a lead organizer for Empire State Indivisible, the local chapter of the progressive political organization Indivisible.

New York Assembly District 73

Incumbent Dan Quart faces off against recent Yale graduate and LeFrak family descendant Cameron Koffman.

New York Assembly District 56

Justin Cohen, a community activist, and Stefani Zinerman, a community advocate and staffer for state Sen. Velmanette Montgomery, both hope to claim the seat left vacant by Tremaine Wright, currently running for state Senate.

STATE SENATE RACES

New York State Senate District 12

Incumbent Michael Gianaris will have to defend his seat against challenger Iggy Terranova, an Astoria resident and retired sanitation worker.

New York State Senate District 27

Brad Hoylman faces off against Elizabeth Glass, a first-time challenger and teacher from the East Village.

New York State Senate District 31

Incumbent state Sen. Robert Jackson will compete against Tirso Santiago Pina, a challenger from Washington Heights who also ran against Jackson in 2018.

New York State Senate District 25

Jabari Brisport, Jason Salmon and New York Assembly member Tremaine Wright hope to scoop up Sen. Velmanette Montgomery's seat when she retires.

QUEENS BOROUGH PRESIDENCY

Queens Democrats will vote on their candidate for borough president, a position that opened up after former Queens Borough President Melinda Katz took office as Queens district attorney at the start of the year.

The winner of the primary election will face Queens GOP Chair Joann Ariola in November's general election to determine who will serve as borough president for the remainder of Katz's term, which is up at the end of 2021.

Candidates include City Council Members Costa Constantinides and Donovan Richards, former Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, retired NYPD sergeant Anthony Miranda, and Dao Yin, a business manager from Bayside.