By Phil Corso
Queens elected Democrats to all seven House seats open in the borough with two new faces ready to represent the county in Washington when the new term begins in January.
In the newly redrawn 3rd Congressional District, which will include Bay Terrace, Little Neck and Whitestone as well as parts of Long Island, Democratic incumbent Steve Israel (D-Hauppauge) bested three opponents with more than 56 percent of the votes, according to unofficial Newsday results. His Republican challenger, Stephen Labate, received roughly 43 percent of the votes, while Libertarian Michael McDermott accounted for half a percent of the votes and Constitution Party candidate Anthony Tolda received .11 percent, Newsday reported.
Israel was first elected to Congress in 2001 and has since become known as a staunch advocate for the middle class.
In the 5th Congressional District, which includes Elmont, Jamaica and the Rockaways, U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica) beat out Republican challenger Allan Jennings and Libertarian Catherine Wark with more than 87 percent of the votes, according to unofficial NY 1 results.
Meeks has been in Congress since 1998 and was on record as having supported President Barack Obama’s stimulus and health care bills.
In northeast Queens, the 6th Congressional District went to Assemblywoman Grace Meng (D-Bayside), who beat out City Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone), with nearly 67 percent of the votes against Halloran’s 31 percent. Green Party candidate Evergreen Chou also received nearly 2 percent of the votes, NY 1 said. Meng will replace retiring U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside).
Meng campaigned on giving women a greater voice in Congress, while Halloran’s platform included promoting small business and making the tax code more simple.
In the 7th District, which is also new to Queens, nearly 10-year incumbent U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez maintained her spot in the House, receiving nearly 94 percent of the votes against Conservative challenger James Murray, who received 6 percent. The 5th District includes Ridgewood, Woodhaven, and Greenpoint.
Velazquez has become known as an advocate for small business owners and is a national leader in the Latino community.
In western Queens, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Astoria) held onto her seat in Congress representing the 12th District. She received 82 percent of the votes to beat out her Republican challenger Christopher Wight, who received 18 percent.
Maloney was first elected to the House in 1993 and has been an advocate for women’s issues while in office.
In the 14th District, which covers College Point and Elmhurst, U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) bested Republican William Gibbons and Green Party challenger Anthony Gronowicz with 80 percent of the votes, according to unofficial NY 1 results. Crowley’s win brings him an eighth consecutive term after a tenure in which he said he has remained a middle-class and public education supporter.
As for southern Queens, state Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) beat out Green Party candidate Colin Beavan and Republican Alan Bellone with nearly 88 percent of the votes. His district includes Howard Beach.
Jeffries ran on a platform championing reforms to the New York Police Department’s stop-and-frisk policy and pushed legislation to provide more affordable housing.
Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
