Queens voters will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of New York City government as all 51 City Council seats are up for grabs in the 2025 election cycle. With several incumbents term-limited and new challengers stepping into the spotlight, the borough is home to some of the city’s most closely watched and competitive races.
Candidates are vying to represent a borough that continues to grow in population and diversity, bringing new urgency to local issues like housing, public safety, transit, and education.
The primary election will be held on June 24, followed by the general election on November 4. Ranked-choice voting will once again be used in the primaries, giving voters the opportunity to rank up to five candidates in each race.
The 2025 race for New York City Council’s District 19 is shaping up to be one of Queens’ most closely watched contests, with four candidates vying to represent the northeast Queens district that includes College Point, Whitestone, Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, and parts of Flushing.
Incumbent Republican Council Member Vickie Paladino, first elected in 2021, will seek re-election against multiple challengers. The expanding field reflects the district’s swing nature, where voter turnout and shifting demographics have made races increasingly competitive in recent years.
Vickie Paladino: Incumbent Republican with conservative stances
Council Member Vickie Paladino, a lifelong Whitestone resident, is running for a second term. First elected in an upset victory over Democrat Tony Avella in 2021, Paladino has since established herself as one of the City Council’s most outspoken conservatives. In 2025, she was appointed Minority Whip by the Council’s Republican delegation.
Before entering politics, Paladino spent over 40 years as a small business owner and was involved in local civic groups. In the Council, she has prioritized small business recovery, public safety, and quality-of-life issues. She has also opposed congestion pricing, COVID-19 mandates, and the city’s migrant shelter expansion plans—stances that have made her a polarizing figure in both citywide and local politics.
Alexander Caruso: Democratic challenger with grassroots support
Democratic candidate Alexander Caruso, a substitute teacher and political organizer from Bayside, is one of the better-known challengers. Born to an Italian father and Colombian mother—both in the legal profession—Caruso has positioned himself as a progressive voice focused on housing, education, and civic participation.
Caruso has used social media to build name recognition and energize younger voters, presenting himself as a candidate who understands everyday struggles and will emphasize community engagement and transparency in policymaking.
Youn Jung: Educator and nonprofit advocate enters the race
Also running in the Democratic primary is Youn Jung, an educator and longtime advocate for immigrant families and multilingual learners. A Korean American and Queens resident, Jung has worked with local nonprofits and education coalitions, and is campaigning on a platform that emphasizes equity in education, mental health services, and immigrant rights. She previously ran for office in 2023, giving her name some recognition among active Democratic voters.
Ben Chou: Firefighter and community advocate
A Douglaston native and New York City firefighter, Chou brings a public service background shaped by firsthand experience on the front lines. The son of Chinese-Burmese immigrants, attended local public schools before earning a spot at Bronx Science and later completed a master’s degree at Baruch College while serving full-time as a firefighter.
His campaign focuses on restoring public trust, safety, and accountability in city government, prioritizing issues like crime, cost of living, mental health services, and local input in housing policy. He has spoken out against congestion pricing and top-down housing mandates that he says fail to reflect the needs of District 19 neighborhoods. His campaign emphasizes FDNY values of service, bravery, and honor as a model for leadership.
District demographics and political landscape
District 19 has a history of swing elections between Republicans and moderate Democrats. Tony Avella, a Democrat and former state senator, held the seat before Paladino’s victory in 2021. As such, the district has become a political bellwether in Queens, where shifts in voter turnout, demographics, and campaign messaging can significantly alter outcomes.
The district has a diverse population throughout its neighborhoods. The area is approximately 53% White, 28% Asian, 15% Hispanic, 2% Black, and 2% other. District 19 is mostly democratic, with 49.9% registered Democrats, 20.3% Republicans, and 25.9% without party affiliation.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include the full list of declared candidates in the 2025 City Council race for Queens District 19. An earlier version did not include all confirmed candidates. We regret the omission and apologize for the oversight.
