Katz Wins Democratic Primary for Queens Borough President

Former state Assemblywoman Melinda Katz has defeated Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. in the race for Queens borough president.

Katz, who also formerly represented Forest Hills on the City Council, received 44 percent of the vote, while Vallone earned 33 percent, the New York Times reported.

Everly Brown received 12 percent and state Sen. Tony Avella earned nine percent, despite having dropped out of the race in August.

In the race for Councilman James Gennaro’s seat, Rory Lancman took 61 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary, while Andrea Veras earned 21 percent and Mujib Rahman took 17 percent.

The Council seat covers a sliver of Forest Hills.

And in northeast Queens, Flushing attorney Paul Vallone, who is the brother of Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., bested former state Assemblyman John Duane, former Halloran chief of staff Chrissy Voskerichian, community activist Paul Graziano and Austin Shafran, formerly of Empire State Development, in the Democratic primary for Councilman Dan Halloran's seat.

Vallone will now face off in the Nov. 5 general election against Republican Dennis Saffran, a Douglaston attorney.