Queens Democrats didn’t just win on Tuesday; they dominated the borough’s congressional races, securing all five House seats representing the area. While the rest of the state watched high-profile governor and Senate battles, the local results here were a landslide that keeps the delegation firmly in Democratic hands. Unofficial numbers from the New York City Board of Elections show the party retaining its grip with commanding margins across the board.
Rep. Tom Suozzi led the pack with a 10-point victory, a much tighter race than the others but still a clear win for his sixth term. He captured 53.8 percent of the total vote against Republican Mike LiPetri, who took 43.7 percent. In Queens specifically, Suozzi’s numbers were even stronger, pulling just over 60 percent of the borough’s vote. The other four representatives faced no real threat, with the lowest margin still exceeding a 30-point gap.
A United Front Against the Opposition
The wins weren’t just about numbers; they sent a message about party cohesion. Rep. Greg Meeks won his 14th term with an 80.5 percent share of the vote, while Rep. Grace Meng took her eighth term with 68.6 percent. Meng addressed the results on her campaign’s X page Wednesday morning, emphasizing that despite internal differences, the party stands together. “We don’t have to agree on everything but as you saw last night, we WILL unite against those who cheat and hurt the American people,” Meng said, according to amNewYork.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also cruised to her fifth term, securing 78.2 percent of the vote in the 14th District. The only real contest in the borough came down to Suozzi, while the other races saw Republican candidates failing to crack 31 percent in any district. Assemblymember Claire Valdez took the Seventh District with an estimated 83.3 percent of the vote, succeeding retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez.
Jeffries Declares Victory for the Party
With Democrats holding 239 districts leaning their way according to Sabato’s Crystal Ball on Wednesday morning, the path to the 218 seats needed for control looks clearer. Jeffries posted a blunt assessment of the political climate, writing, “MAGA extremists are on the run from sea to shining sea.”
The turnout in New York City was heavy, with nearly 1.8 million people casting ballots in person or by mail by 6 p.m. on Election Day. Statewide, early voting alone saw nearly 2 million participants, a 66 percent jump from four years ago. This surge in participation helped fuel the Democratic sweep across the city, reinforcing the party’s dominance in the urban centers while they fight for the majority in Washington.
What These Numbers Mean for New York
These results solidify the power of the current Democratic leadership, including allies of Mayor Zohran Mamdani who are now firmly entrenched in Congress. The victory for Valdez and the retention of Suozzi, Meeks, Meng, and Ocasio-Cortez means the borough’s voice in Washington remains unified and loud. While the national house race hangs in the balance with many districts still undecided, Queens has done its part to keep the Democratic count high.
The unofficial tallies from the Board of Elections will be finalized soon, but the outcome is already clear. The borough has rejected the Republican challengers across the board, sending a wave of Democratic representatives back to Capitol Hill. For New Yorkers, this means five more years of the same representatives who have championed the borough’s interests, backed by a record-breaking turnout that signals a hungry electorate.
This is opinion and commentary from the RapForMayor team.
