District 14 Congressional Primary: What Queens Needs To Know

QUEENS, NY -- Queens and Bronx voters will take to the polls on Tuesday to decide whether 14th Congressional District Representative Joe Crowley will stay in office.

Crowley, the fourth ranking Democrat in the House, will face off in the primary election against Alexandra Oscasio-Cortez, a former staffer on Bernie Sanders' campaign from the Bronx.

Crowley is the powerful chairman of the Queens Democratic Party and reportedly could be in line to succeed Rep. Nancy Pelosi as the House's Democratic leader. But the 10-term congressman recently came under fire from The New York Times editorial board for sending former City Councilwoman Annabel Palma to debate Oscasio-Cortez in his place.

His opponent, Oscasio-Cortez, is among left-wing Democrats who have worked to shift the party since Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential election loss. Crowley represents the entrenched establishment they're trying to throw out.

Also on the primary ballot in Queens is the seat in Congressional District 5 currently held by Rep. Gregory Meeks. This year two Democratic challengers - Mizan Choudhury and Carl Achille - are vying for his title representing the Southeast Queens district.

Meeks, a former state assemblyman, has held the spot since 1998. Achille, an NYPD detective and self-described "independent Democrat," says on his campaign website that the district has been "overtaxed, overlooked and underserved." Choudury, a technology manager, calls himself a progressive Democrat and says he wants to make the district a "technology hub."

When do I vote?

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26.

Who can vote?
Only registered Democratic voters who live in the 14th District — which covers Astoria, College Point, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights and Woodside in Queens and Morris Park, Parkchester, Pelham Bay and Throngs Neck in the Bronx — are eligible to vote in the election between Crowley and Oscasio-Cortez.

Registered Democrats who live in the Fifth District - which covers the Rockaway Peninsula, Cambria Heights, Hollis, Jamaica, Laurelton, the Broad Channel, Queens Village, Rosedale, Saint Albans, Springfield Gardens and South Ozone Park - are eligible to vote in the election between Meeks, Choudhury and Achille.

Where do I vote?
Registered voters can look up their polling places on the New York City Board of Elections website.

Where can I find out about other New York City races?

Check out Patch's citywide guide to Tuesday's primaries.

Where do I find the results?
Patch will report on the election results Tuesday night.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.