Politics & Government
Melinda Katz Says She Won't Run As GOP Candidate For Queens DA
But the Queens GOP's leader insists the party never offered Borough President Melinda Katz the nomination in the first place.
QUEENS, NY — Queens Borough President Melinda Katz said Tuesday that she has declined the Republican nomination for Queens district attorney, but the leader of the Queens GOP says the party never offered her the spot.
Katz, who trails public defender Tiffany Cabán by about 1,200 votes in the Democratic primary for Queens DA, issued a statement Tuesday that she had ruled out running as a Republican in the November general election.
"All votes must be counted in the Democratic Primary for Queens District Attorney, but regardless of outcome, I have declined the Republican Party nomination for Queens District Attorney," Katz said. "I believe in Democratic principles and they have led my career."
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But Queens GOP Chair Joann Ariola called Katz's statement ridiculous, according to THE CITY.
"Why she would issue a statement like that is beyond me," Ariola said.
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@MelindaKatz just issued this statement saying she decined the GOP nomination for Queens DA. @Queens_GOP chair Joann Ariola said this is ridiculous and that she never offered her the line in the first place. "Why she would issue a statement like that is beyond me." pic.twitter.com/JjoFPkEeTX
— Christine Chung (@chrisychung) July 2, 2019
Cabán claimed victory in the six-person Democratic DA primary on June 25, but NY1 and The New York Times deemed the race too close to call with thousands of uncounted absentee and provisional ballots.
Katz previously said she won't concede the election until all votes are counted.
"With such an important office at stake, every voice throughout the borough needs to be heard and every vote needs to be counted," Katz said through a spokesman.
The NYC Board of Elections' manual count of over 6,000 absentee and affidavit ballots began Wednesday morning in Forest Hills.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face off against Republican candidate Dan Kogan in November, unless he steps aside for another candidate.
Kogan has said he would do so to allow longtime judge and prosecutor Greg Lasak to run as the party's nominee, according to the Queens Daily Eagle.
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