NY-AD36: Queens Democratic Party nominates Diana Moreno to succeed Mamdani

The Queens Democratic Party has formally nominated democratic socialist Diana Moreno as the party’s nominee in a special election sprint to succeed Mayor Zohran Mamdani in the 36th Assembly District next month.

Moreno, one of four candidates running to replace Mamdani in western Queens, will now appear on the Democratic Party line for the special election, which Gov. Kathy Hochul has set for Feb. 3.

An Ecuadorian-born organizer and a member of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Moreno, one of three DSA members running for Mamdani’s seat, is the clear frontrunner to succeed the mayor in New York’s 36th Assembly District. Since launching her campaign in October, she has also been endorsed by the DSA and Mamdani himself.

Democratic district leaders for Assembly District 36 met with Queens County Democratic Party Chair Gregory Meeks Monday morning to officially designate Mereno as the party’s nominee for February’s special election, which Moreno described as the “honor of a lifetime.”



https://qns.com/2026/01/queens-democratic-party-nominates-diana-moreno/