Diana Moreno's Assembly win marks first electoral victory for Mamdani as mayor
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America racked up their first victory of the 2026 cycle on Tuesday night, as Diana Moreno handily won the special election to represent Mamdani’s old Assembly district in western Queens.
Moreno, who ran on both the Democratic and Working Families Party lines, won 74% of the vote, according to election night results from the New York City Board of Elections while her independent challengers Rana Abdelhamid and Mary Jobaida won just 17% and 8% of the vote, respectively.
“Welcome to the People’s Republic of Astoria!” Diana Moreno said at her election night party Tuesday, referencing the neighborhood’s socialist leanings. Mamdani introduced her at the event at Ecuadorian restaurant Barzola as “a fellow member of the Democratic Socialists of America.”
“What makes us special is not who we are as individuals, it’s what we’re all fighting for together,” Mamdani said.
https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2026/02/diana-morenos-assembly-win-marks-first-electoral-victory-mamdani-mayor/411180/?oref=csny-homepage-river