BY JACK DELANEY | jdelaney@queensledger.com
Patrick Martinez appears poised to win an incredibly tight primary in Assembly District 30, besting Shamsul Haque by only seven votes after three weeks of uncertainty.
“I’m humbled and honored to have been elected to be the Democratic nominee,” said Martinez in a statement, thanking his opponents for their “positive” campaigns. “Whether you voted for me or not, I will represent all of you: every family, every block, and every corner of this district.”
Martinez, a former teacher and local community board member, held control of the race by a mere 13 votes — a number which later shrunk to two — after polls closed on June 23, triggering an automatic recount that took place on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
Martinez’s final tally was 2,784 votes, with Haque posting 2,777 votes and a third candidate, the Nepali activist Somnath Ghimire, ending with 718 votes.
If the result stands, Martinez will now face GOP candidate Brandon Castro in the November general election.
The AD 30 seat, encompassing Woodside, Maspeth, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and part of East Elmhurst, came up for grabs late last year when the incumbent, Steven Raga, launched an ultimately unsuccessful bid for the nearby 12th State Senate District.
Though Martinez and Haque shared similar platforms — such as pushing back against ICE, improving climate resiliency, and funding universal childcare — their endorsements diverged along lines that have become increasingly common in Western Queens elections.
Martinez, whose uncle Joe Crowley served in Congress for 20 years before an upset defeat to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, secured support from the mainstream of the Queens Democratic Party. His backers included outgoing Rep. Nydia Velazquez, retired Councilmembers Jimmy Van Bramer and Danny Dromm, and an array of prominent unions.
Haque, a former Lieutenant Commander for the NYPD who canvassed for Mamdani during his mayoral campaign, was boosted by progressives like newly-elected Western Queens rep Diana Moreno, while landing a high-profile endorsement from Sen. Bernie Sanders.
“While this outcome we hoped for, I’m deeply grateful for your support, generosity, and belief in me,” Haque wrote on social media following the announcement. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
