Further recommendations for New York City's Democratic primary election, 2026. (Early voting starts tomorrow: Saturday, June 13th. Tuesday June 23rd is the final day to vote.)

In this post I'll cover the Democratic Party position elections for District Leader and State Committee in a few central/western Queens districts: Assembly Districts 34, 35, and 39. In a post earlier today I covered the candidates for judge. Then in another post I'll move up the ballot to cover the statewide Comptroller race and state Assembly and Senate races.

I'm working from the official list of candidates from the New York Board of Elections, except in one race where their list still includes two people who won't be on the ballot tomorrow. That official list is particularly helpful because it groups pairs of people who are running together, as a slate.

Remember in my judicial candidates piece I went on and on about the perfidious Hiram Monserrate, who assaulted his girlfriend and stole taxpayer money, and is trying to infiltrate the rest of the governmental apparatus with his allies? That's also a prelude to this post, where the big dividing line between the candidates is whether or not they are Monserrate cronies. (Several times I'll mention donations made to New York state races; to confirm my claims, you can use the NYS Board of Elections "search contributions by contributor" interface, plug in the person's name, and check out their donations from the date I mention.)

• What are these roles?
• 34th Assembly District
• 35th Assembly District
• 39th Assembly District

What are these roles?

Democratic party State Committee and District Leader positions are divided up by state Assembly district, and in some cases "Part A" or "Part B" of that district. To find out what Assembly district and part you're in, go to https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/ , input your address and select "Find my site", then on the next page select "View sample ballot".

The State Committee is the organization that -- at least in theory -- provides oversight for the New York State Democratic Party. A representative to that committee serves a two-year term. To quote current committee member John G. Scott,

State Committee is responsible for steering the NY Democratic Party’s agenda, and creates the platform, rules and regulations for the state’s Democratic Party. State Committee members also vote on resolutions that impact the state party, as well as selecting the party leadership and set ethical standards.

As for District Leader, I'll quote Rachel Holliday Smith's article in The City Reporter:

New York has an extra layer of elected representatives who exist, in theory, to help run the political parties in each county, which correspond to each of the five boroughs.

Traditionally, their duties include voting for party leadership, choosing poll workers and nominating judges.

But the unpaid, volunteer role can be what you make of it, and some use the district leader position to register voters, lobby for policy changes or connect New Yorkers to services.

District Leaders are elected for two-year terms.

This recent investigative piece about corruption in judicial nominations in Queens helps illustrate why it would be good for the electorate to vote carefully for District Leaders.

The (mostly uninformative) website of the Queens Democratic Party lists the current District Leaders (but not how to get in touch with them).

Both District Leader and State Committee roles are elected in pairs, so one district or Part of a district elects two people for the role. Traditionally this has been one male and one female, but four years ago a law went into effect that changes those rules to make nonbinary people eligible too.

34th Assembly District

(most of Jackson Heights, parts of Corona, East Elmhurst and eastern and northern Astoria; map)

State Committee Member (to be elected: 2)

I recommend re-electing Carolina Maria Korth and John G. Scott, who are already on the State Committee, and not electing Monserrate ally Luis P. Montalvo. Montalvo donated to Monserrate's campaign on December 17th, 2025, and has donated to Monserrate ally Rosa Sanchez as well. Also, Scott told me that Montalvo joined forces with Monserrate in the previous petitioning signature-gathering season.

District Leader, 34th Assembly District, Part A (to be elected: 2)

I think all these choices seem fundamentally fine. Voters could re-elect Shawna Morlock: currently a district leader, and recognized as fairly powerful and part of the Democratic Socialist left. Or they could elect Carolina Maria Korth (bio), who seems more centrist (since she was Field Director for Evie Hantzopoulos's campaign, and Hantzopoulos was running against Tiffany Cabán).

For the other slot, Andreas Migias is running and I think he's fine. I met and spoke with him months ago, when he was running for Assembly, and thought he was thoughtful, a good listener, and motivated to improve processes.

All three of these candidates' campaign donation histories are unremarkable, as far as I could tell.

District Leader, 34th Assembly District, Part B (to be elected: 2)

Sorry, there are no good choices here. Incumbent District Leaders Andres Y. Vargas and Monica V. Valdes were removed from the ballot, because they failed a petition signature challenge (partially described in this court opinion). The remaining candidates: Rosa Sanchez (who works with Monserrate on the “Restore Roosevelt Coalition”) and Fausto Rodriguez (donated to Monserrate as recently as May 27, 2026). Bleh. If this is your district I suggest you write in two people you like. Feel free to make recommendations in the comments.

35th Assembly District

(East Elmhurst, LeFrak City, and parts of Corona, Elmhurst, Rego Park, Jackson Heights, and northern Astoria; map)

State Committee (to be elected: 2)

I recommend William A. Espinal and Trenise Jessica Fuller (whose political donations have been unremarkable), and not Lidia V. Alvarado (who donated to Monserrate in late 2025).

District Leader, 35th Assembly District, Part A (to be elected: 2)

Unfortunately the incumbents are Sonya Harvey and Hiram Monserrate, who are running for re-election as a pair. So I recommend their opponents, David Aiken and Larinda C. Hooks.

District Leader, 35th Assembly District, Part B (to be elected: 2)

I recommend Jose M. Morillo and Michelle Dunston, not James B. Fogle (who donated to Monserrate in 2022 and 2023).

39th Assembly District

(Corona, Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights, as well as portions of Middle Village, Rego Park and Maspeth; map)

State Committee (to be elected: 2)

I recommend Kevin I. Jusino and Yanna M. Henriquez, and not Alberto Ossa and Gabriela Perez (who petitioned with Monserrate, as illustrated by a photo in my previous post.) (That same petition lists two Monserrate-affiliated candidates seeking to run for District Leader in the 39th district; I think they failed to get enough signatures, and thank goodness for that.)

Next

I'm updating my state comptroller recommendation, and endorsing state Senate and Assembly candidates. In the next 10 hours.