Donovan Richards Holds Lead In Queens Borough President Race

QUEENS, NY — City Council Member Donovan Richards is leading Tuesday's primary for Queens borough president, but with tens of thousands of absentee ballots still not counted, the race isn't yet over.

Richards, who represents southeastern Queens in the City Council, holds about 37 percent of the 112,000-some votes that have been counted as of Wednesday afternoon.

Former City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley sits in second place with 28 percent of the vote, followed by City Council Member Costa Constantinides, who has 15 percent, according to NYC Board of Elections tallies.

"I’m encouraged by the results coming in for our campaign for Queens Borough President," Richards said in a statement Wednesday. "While we want to ensure that every vote is counted, I’m looking forward to the race in November and ultimately serving all of our communities as Queens Borough President."

As with most other races that were up for a vote Tuesday, the winner of the borough president election likely won't be called for days or weeks, as election officials count the unprecedented number of absentee ballots cast by New Yorkers amid the coronavirus crisis.

Queens voters had mailed in an estimated 41,000 absentee ballots to the NYC Board of Elections as of Tuesday, according to the agency.

The eventual winner of the borough president primary will face Queens GOP Chair Joann Ariola in November's general election to determine who will fill the remainder of former Queens Borough President Melinda Katz's term, which is up at the end of 2021.

Katz vacated the position after taking office as Queens district attorney at the start of the year.