Abdelhamid, Jobaida submit petitions to contest AD36 special elections despite failing to secure Dem nomination - QNS

""You stood in the cold, knocked on doors, talked to our community, and believed in this campaign even when people said it couldn't be done," Abdelhamid said in a post on Instagram."

"Moreno, an Ecuadorian-born organizer and a member of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is the clear frontrunner to replace Mamdani after securing the Queens Democratic Party nomination earlier in January."

"Abdelhamid, a prominent community organizer with non-profit Malikah, announced on Monday that she had received 2,871 petition signatures for the race, crediting the 150 campaign volunteers who had persistently knocked on doors since she officially launched her campaign in November."

"But Abdelhamid and Jobaida, who are also members of the DSA, signaled their intent to contest the special election on a third-party ballot line and have both reached the required threshold of 1,500 signatures."

A Feb. 3 special election will fill the 36th Assembly District seat vacated by Zohran Mamdani. The Queens Democratic Party placed Diana Moreno on the Democratic line. Moreno, an Ecuadorian-born organizer and DSA member, has endorsements from the DSA, Mamdani, and the Working Families Party and is viewed as the frontrunner. Rana Abdelhamid and Mary Jobaida both reached the required petition thresholds to appear on the ballot on third-party lines. Shivani Dhir withdrew from the special election to focus on the June primary. Abdelhamid reported 2,871 petition signatures and credited volunteers for outreach.

Read at QNS