3 NY Dems Announce Bids for Rep. Ackerman's Seat

Three elected officials in Queens have announced plans to compete against each other in the Democratic primary to fill the seat of Rep. Gary Ackerman, who announced his retirement last week.

Democratic leaders in Queens on Monday threw their support behind Assemblywoman Grace Meng. If elected, Meng would become New York's first-ever Asian American member of Congress.

Also on Monday, Assemblyman Rory Lancman and Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, a cousin of Rep. Joseph Crowley, the Queens Democratic chairman, both announced their bids for the seat.

So far, there are no announced Republican candidates. The primary election is slated for June 26

Ackerman, who has represented diverse communities in Queens and part of Long Island for over three decades, announced Thursday that he would be leaving office after 15 terms.