Jose Peralta’s win in the closely watched special election this week for the State Senate seat vacated by the expulsion of Hiram Monserrate is another example of the importance of the backing of the Queens Democratic Party in an overwhelmingly Democratic district.
The election went on as scheduled following an appeals court ruling upholding the State Senate’s vote to expel Monserrate. Peralta won resoundingly, with 65 percent of the vote, to 27 percent for Monserrate and 7 percent for Republican administrative law judge Robert Beltrani.
Following Monserrate’s assault conviction, Queens Democratic Chair Congressmember Joseph Crowley and his executive committee consolidated behind then-Assemblymember Peralta, who had announced he would challenge Monserrate in this fall’s Democratic Primary.
The county organization also backed Peralta in the special election, forcing Monserrate, a Democrat, to form his own ballot line, “Yes We Can.”
Peralta has acquired almost all of the organizational support in the race, including from elected officials like Manhattan Senator Liz Krueger, whose staff members had been spotted circulating Peralta’s flyers. Monserrate, who voted against gay marriage, had been backed by many of the area’s clergy.
Turnout was only around 14 percent, about 15,000 voters of the 109,000 registered in the district. This is actually higher turnout than recent special elections in Queens, perhaps a result of the high profile nature of the race.
Monserrate has suggested that in the event of a loss he would run for Peralta’s old Assembly seat, which is now vacant. The governor has 30 days following Peralta’s certification as a Senator to call for a special election, which would take place 30 to 45 days later, meaning another election in the area in May or June.
Senate Democrats will be eager to have Peralta certified and seated as soon as possible, as Albany debates the upcoming year’s budget. While Peralta’s win slams the door on Monserrate’s senate career, for now, it does not mean the end of a long and turbulent period in northwest Queens politics.
Daniel Egers serves on the staff of Councilmember Dan Halloran, is Executive Director of the Queens County Republican Party, a Trustee of the Bayside Historical Society and President of the Friends of Oakland Lake. The views expressed in this column are his own.
