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 candidates for the District 25 seat on the City Council, which covers Jackson Heights and Elmhurst, include incumbent Council Member Shekar Krishnan, Queens Community Board 4 Member Mac Merchan and Retired NYPD Officer Ricardo Pacheco on the Democratic side and Paralegal Abubakar Ashiq, Community Activist Ramses Frias and World Human Rights Development USA Founder Shah Haque on the Republican side.
Shekar Krishnan(D), after being elected in 2021, became the first Indian-American elected to the New York City Council. As the Chair of the Council’s Committee On Parks and Recreation, Krishnan managed to negotiate the highest budget for NYC Parks. Other notable efforts he has made while in office include advocating for protections for taxi workers in the city, securing much-needed resources for public hospitals, including Elmhurst Hospital in his district, working to ensure housing is treated as a human right in the city, pushing for an end to solitary confinement at Rikers Island and expanding public space, especially within neighborhoods where public space is at a premium.
Krishnan has championed the 34th Avenue Open Street, which consists of 26 blocks of pedestrian space in his district. One ongoing project that he is involved in is a new infectious disease clinic at Elmhurst Hospital. He has also been successful in advocating for the Parks Department to select the Frank O’Connor Playground for a complete renovation under the Community Parks Initiative. Additionally, he has brought a dog run to the community he oversees.
Mac Merchan (D) has served as a member of Queens Community Board 4 since 2022. In addition to serving the Elmhurst and Corona communities in this capacity, Merchan also contributes to the community through his work as a community liaison worker for NYC Health + Hospitals.
A former member of the United States Marine Corps and NYPD, Ricardo Pacheco (D) has maintained a dedication to serving the community even after retiring in 2016. He is the President of the Jackson Heights Coops Alliance, prioritizing collaboration and transparency with members of the community. By helping to organize neighborhood events and lead discussions on the development of the community, Pacheco has shown a deep dedication towards amplifying the concerns of residents. This dedication is also reflected in his involvement with the local PTA and the SELFHELP/NORC Advisory Board, where he advocates for educational equity and senior support services, respectively. Public safety, education and healthcare are the most important issues that he hopes to improve if elected.
Abubakar Ashiq (R) graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is also pursuing a Master’s degree in Human Rights. Justice and equity are two very important aspects to him, leading to his career path in law. In addition to helping attorneys and clients resolve cases as a paralegal, Ashiq has also served as a legislative intern for New York State Assembly Member Anil Beephan. He credits that internship for improving his abilities in advocacy, legislative research and public policy.
The five main pillars around Ashiq’s campaign are supporting local businesses, ensuring public safety, advocating for equality and opportunity, access to affordable healthcare and investing in education and workforce development. He has outlined policies on his campaign site that he believes can help achieve these goals.
Ramses Frias (R) has centered his campaign around public safety and sanitation. Born and raised in Elmhurst, Frias hopes to help make the district a much better place. Among his key visions for the area are restoring quality of life for residents and local businesses, educating the community for growth and understanding, building a safer and better future for all, uniting everyone to achieve a shared success, instilling a sense of pride and respect among those in the community, making sure everyone’s voices are heard and driving small business engagement with the community to achieve economic growth.
He believes crime is a major problem in the area that must be dealt with to ensure families’ safety in the district. One key concern he highlighted was the presence of illegal brothels, which often reopen after efforts are made to shut them down. He believes more law enforcement in the area and stricter penalties for offenders could help immensely.
When it comes to sanitation, Frias wants to clear out the garbage and unsanitary behavior on Roosevelt Avenue. He wants to create a stronger sense of organization among the local agencies to clean Roosevelt Avenue, along with the rest of the district.
Frias also advocates for more affordable housing in the district while also voicing his opposition to the “City of Yes” initiative, which calls for a higher housing density and more housing being developed in residential areas. He believes the initiative could lead to unwanted commercial development that disrupts the residential character of the neighborhoods in the district.
He has also been vocal in his opposition to congestion pricing. Frias believes it unfairly targets working-class families, many of whom already bear a heavy tax burden.
Shah Haque (R) visions and priorities in his campaign are to combat crime to make the neighborhoods safer and more peaceful, promoting responsible immigration, revitalizing the local economy by eliminating red tape and supporting local businesses and lowering taxes to alleviate the financial burden among families in the area while also stimulating economic growth. Human rights, community empowerment and social justice are very dear to him and his campaign.
Haque has been a steadfast advocate for the rights of immigrants in New York City for more than three decades. His extensive career in community activism includes supporting and empowering immigrant communities and participating in voluntary activities to promote social justice and equality.
Since immigrating to the United States in 1985, Haque has collaborated with numerous local leaders and community organizations to advance the well-being of his constituents. He has helped local small businesses navigate challenges by providing them with the support needed to thrive. He has also focused on delivering relief to underserved populations in local communities, ensuring that everyone there has access to much-needed resources and opportunities. His efforts reflect a deep commitment to addressing critical social issues, including advocating for individuals who are often overlooked.
