Queens DA Race: Judge Lets Tiffany Caban Continue Challenge On Melinda Katz's Primary Win
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Tiffany Caban went to court Wednesday to challenge the results of the Democratic primary for Queens district attorney, and had at least a partial victory.
A judge ruled he will review 28 ballots contested by the New York City Board of Elections that might narrow the 60-vote gap that separates her from front-runner Melinda Katz for the Democratic nomination.
On Monday the New York City Board of Elections declared Queens borough president Katz the winner.
"Our campaign is seeking to restore affidavit ballots and Caban votes that were wrongly invalidated by the Board of Elections," said Caban's attorney Jerry Goldfeder. "The Board of Elections and the Katz campaign are standing together to oppose our efforts to open and count ballots cast by eligible and registered voters. Both the interests of democracy and legal precedent demand that these inavlidated affidavit ballots and Caban votes be counted."
"From my perspective, we need to get to work," Katz said during her victory party Monday in Forest Hills. "You have a thousand people here who know that criminal justice reform needs to happen right here in Queens and they want to start going to work."
It has been a rollercoaster for both candidates since the primary election was held on June 25.
At the time, Caban, a political newbie backed by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, seemed to have pulled off a stunning upset.
But Katz took the lead after the Board of Elections conducted a manual recount of more than 90,000 votes. The veteran politician received the endorsement of moderate Democrats, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Web Extras:
Caban, however, says her fight is not over. With the certification of the votes, the court will now allow her to proceed with the legal challenges.
Her team will argue that more than 100 votes for her were thrown out because voters were deemed ineligible for various reasons.
