ASTORIA LIVE | January 28th, 2026

Hello Astoria,

So sorry for the late send this week! I figured everyone is hibernating at home if they can, and I needed a bit of extra time to put together some voting info for the special election underway to fill Zohran Mamdani's seat in the State Assembly (district 36). Scroll through to the end for the weekly event round up, as per usual. And forward this to your friends if they need some help learning about the election!

The New York State Assembly is the lower chamber of the New York State Legislature. Members introduce and vote on state laws, set budgets (including education, healthcare, transit), and represent local constituents’ interests in Albany.

Key Election Info

Find your poll site and preview a sample ballot here: https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/​

• Early Voting: Jan 24 – Feb 1, 2026 (subject to weather changes).
• Election Day: Feb 3 , 2026

This election is to fill Mamdani's vacated seat this year for the remainder of his term, but there will also be a primary in June, and then the general election in November.

The Candidates

We have three qualified, progressive, women of color running to fill Mamdani's seat! Read below for more about them and links to their websites.

1. Diana Moreno (Democratic Party / Working Families Party)https://dianaforqueens.com/​

• Immigrant rights organizer, longtime Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) leader in Queens, former nonprofit organizer and union advocacy worker.
• Organizer with New Immigrant Community Empowerment and New York State Nurses Association; co-chair of NYC-DSA Queens.
• Endorsed by: Zohran Mamdani, New York City DSA & Queens Democratic Party nomination, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, City Council Member Tiffany Cabán

2. Rana Abdelhamid (Queens For All)
​https://www.ranafromqueens.com/​

• Grassroots organizer, founder/executive director of Malikah (women’s self-defense and empowerment nonprofit).
• Community organizer focused on immigrant rights, housing protections, small business advocacy, and community safety programming.
• Endorsed by: Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, and City Council Member Julie Won

3. Mary Jobaida (People First Party)
​https://www.maryforassembly.com/​

• Bangladeshi American community leader in Queensbridge Houses; first to file for this Assembly seat.
• Local community activist emphasizing constituent services, environmental justice in NYCHA housing, and immigrant advocacy.
• Endorsed by: State Senator John Liu, Social Democrats of USA, Bangladeshi American Advocacy Group (BAAG)
  ​

A debate was recently held in Astoria - you can watch the recording here (it's long):

​

​

Other resources:

• ​https://qns.com/2026/01/d36-candidate-forum/​

Stay warm and happy voting!

Psst: You get a very cute sticker if you vote early!

Cheers,
Stacey

This week in Astoria

Around the Boroughs

Jackson Heights Insider: Local Events & Community Updates A weekly roundup of the best events, markets, and happenings in and around Jackson Heights. Perfect for neighbors who want to stay in the loop and support local life. Subscribe​

About Astoria Live My goal is to help Astoria residents connect in real life, support local creators and businesses, and celebrate everything that makes this neighborhood special. Thanks for being here! Support Astoria Live →

See you around the neighborhood!

If you liked this newsletter, tell your friends to subscribe :)

​​