News Americas, WASHINGTON, Friday, June 28, 2019: The New York City Board of Elections started recounting the votes Thursday in the Democratic primary race for District Attorney of Queens, NY because it is too close to call between the Caribbean roots’ apparent non-establishment Democratic winner and the machine anointed Melinda Katz. So who is this non-establishment candidate that has caused such a too close to call election? Here are 8 things to know about her:
1: She is Tiffany Cabán, who was born in Richmond Hill, Queens to Puerto Rico parents.
2: Caban, 31, is a public defender who has already claimed victory in the election. She is leading by over 1,000 votes but there are some 3,400 paper ballots outstanding which is what has triggered the recount.
3: She has been endorsed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who shocked the national political scene with her primary upset win against powerful House Democrat Joe Crowley, as well as Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren, Cabán.
4: Caban ran on a platform of “people-powered justice,” including ending cash bail, not prosecuting subway turnstile jumping, prosecuting the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, closing Rikers Island and decriminalizing sex work. It marks a massive departure from the traditional tough-on-crime, prosecutorial approach of even the longtime Queens DA, Richard Brown.
5: She is an alumnus of PS 62 and JHS 210 as well as the St. Francis Preparatory School.She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pennsylvania State University, where she majored in studies of crime, law, and justice and subsequently earned a Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School.
6: Caban’s parents were both raised in NYCHA’s Woodside Houses in Queens. Her father was an elevator mechanic and her mother is a caretaker of children.
7: She identifies as queer and is a resident of Astoria, Queens.
8: If the recount confirms her as the Democratic Primary winner, she would face Republican Daniel Kogan on November 5th for the post.
