Northeast Queens’ newest Assemblymember is Ed Braunstein.
The 29-year-old Democrat handily defeated Republican Vincent Tabone by a 14,162-10,045 vote margin for the right to represent District 26 in the State Assembly.
“We out-worked our opponents,” said Austin Finan, campaign manager for Braunstein. “We had a great deal of support, but it was all earned.”
Being able to out-raise Tabone $231,567 to $115,161 Braunstein, was also helped by key endorsements from State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Congressmember Gary Ackerman and newly elected Governor Andrew Cuomo. This was Braunstein’s first political race and victory.
Tabone – who spent time as a high ranking official in the New York City Economic Development Corporation in both the Giuliani and Bloomberg administrations – ran his campaign based on a record of experience. He tried to paint Braunstein as an amateur politician, pointing out that he only passed the bar exam this year. The loss was described by Tabone’s spokesperson, Robert Hornak, as “a disappointment.”
Braunstein spent his election evening at Cascarino’s on Bell Boulevard in Bayside surrounded by family, friends and former Democratic candidates, Elio Forcina and John Duane.
“I’m thrilled he got elected,” said Duane. “He’s going to do great things for the community.”
“We worked hard,” said Braunstein, who ran on a platform of reforming Albany. “We got a nice bounce off the primaries. I think we will take a week to catch our breath and then take the next step.”
After 14 years representing the 26th District in the Assembly, Ann-Margaret Carrozza decided not to run for re-election.
