Shamsul Haque’s Race Hinges on Two Votes

An extraordinary drama is unfolding in the Democratic primary for Queens’ Assembly District 30. On election night, Bangladeshi-American candidate Shamsul Haque trailed rival Patrick Martinez by 13 votes. But in subsequent counts, that gap has narrowed to just 2 votes- the Queens Board of Elections’ latest tally shows Martinez with 2,703 votes to Haque’s 2,701.

Because the margin is so narrow, an automatic manual recount is triggered under state law. Haque’s election attorney, Ali Najmi, says that while ballot counting has concluded, some ballot cures remain outstanding, and the campaign believes the recount could push the margin even tighter, potentially down to a single vote  once every valid ballot is examined. He notes that votes indicated clearly but not picked up by the scanner will be captured in the hand count.

Haque, a retired NYPD lieutenant commander, ran on a progressive platform  pledging to tax the wealthy, reform the criminal justice system, and make public universities tuition-free. Campaigning on a promise to advance Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s agenda in Albany, he earned endorsements from Senator Bernie Sanders and Assembly candidate Diana Moreno. He was also one of the most successful non-incumbent fundraisers in Queens this cycle.

Haque drew strong support from the diverse neighborhoods around Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, and Roosevelt Avenue. If he wins, he would make history as the first Bangladeshi-American elected to the state Legislature.

The official manual recount is expected to begin after the July 4th holiday. Until then, the final outcome of this razor-thin race remains uncertain.​​