Donovan Richards is reelected as Queens borough president

Tim Balk

After pulling out a nail-biter victory in the Democratic primary, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards could breathe easy in the general election on Tuesday, gliding to reelection in the deep-blue borough.

Richards, a former city councilman who has focused heavily on public safety, first won the post in a special election a year ago after former Queens Borough President Melinda Katz became the district attorney for Queens County.

Queens borough president Donovan Richards
Queens borough president Donovan Richards


Queens borough president Donovan Richards (Barry Williams/)

He fought off Elizabeth Crowley, another former City Council member, in primaries last year and this year. In the June 22 primary this year, he won by less than 1 percentage point in the third and final ranked-choice round, according to the Board of Elections.

See the full results of the 2021 New York City Elections

But Richards, 38, coasted past Thomas Zmich, the far-right Republican candidate, in the general election.

Voters cast their ballots at a voting center in Brooklyn, New York on Nov. 2, 2021. New Yorkers head to the polls in a mayoral election that is virtually guaranteed to elect Black former policeman Eric Adams as the next leader of America's biggest city.
Voters cast their ballots at a voting center in Brooklyn, New York on Nov. 2, 2021. New Yorkers head to the polls in a mayoral election that is virtually guaranteed to elect Black former policeman Eric Adams as the next leader of America's biggest city.
People cast their vote on Election Day at P.S. 11 Purvis J. Behan Elementary on Nov. 02, 2021, in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. New Yorkers head to the polls today to decide who will become the 110th mayor of NYC. Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Adams is the frontrunner ahead of Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
People cast their vote on Election Day at P.S. 11 Purvis J. Behan Elementary on Nov. 02, 2021, in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. New Yorkers head to the polls today to decide who will become the 110th mayor of NYC. Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Adams is the frontrunner ahead of Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
Curtis Sliwa arrives to vote at Frank McCourt High School on W. 85th St. on Nov. 2, 2021, in Manhattan, New York.
Curtis Sliwa arrives to vote at Frank McCourt High School on W. 85th St. on Nov. 2, 2021, in Manhattan, New York.
Curtis Sliwa votes at Frank McCourt High School on W. 85th St. on Nov. 2, 2021, in Manhattan, New York.
Curtis Sliwa votes at Frank McCourt High School on W. 85th St. on Nov. 2, 2021, in Manhattan, New York.
Curtis Sliwa brings his cat to vote at Frank McCourt High School on W. 85th St. on Nov. 2, 2021, in Manhattan, New York.
Curtis Sliwa brings his cat to vote at Frank McCourt High School on W. 85th St. on Nov. 2, 2021, in Manhattan, New York.
Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Adams vote for himself as the next New York City Mayor Tuesday morning in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn.
Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Adams vote for himself as the next New York City Mayor Tuesday morning in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn.
Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Adams checks in with poll workers before voting himself as the next New York City Mayor Tuesday morning, Nov. 2, 2021.
Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Adams checks in with poll workers before voting himself as the next New York City Mayor Tuesday morning, Nov. 2, 2021.
New York Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Adams prepares to cast his vote at a voting center in Brooklyn, New York on Nov. 2, 2021.
New York Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Adams prepares to cast his vote at a voting center in Brooklyn, New York on Nov. 2, 2021.
NYPD 81st Precinct Officer Orsini stands outside PS 81, the polling place of Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Adams, in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.
NYPD 81st Precinct Officer Orsini stands outside PS 81, the polling place of Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Adams, in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.
People file their voting ballot on Election Day at P.S. 11 Purvis J. Behan Elementary on Nov. 2, 2021, in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn.
People file their voting ballot on Election Day at P.S. 11 Purvis J. Behan Elementary on Nov. 2, 2021, in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Poll workers assist voters at a voting site at a YMCA in Brooklyn on Nov. 02, 2021, on Election Day in New York City. Over 30,000 New Yorkers have already cast their ballots in early voting in New York for a series of races including for the election of the next mayor of the city.
Poll workers assist voters at a voting site at a YMCA in Brooklyn on Nov. 02, 2021, on Election Day in New York City. Over 30,000 New Yorkers have already cast their ballots in early voting in New York for a series of races including for the election of the next mayor of the city.
New York Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Letitia James carries her ballot on Election Day at P.S. 11 Purvis J. Behan Elementary on Nov. 02, 2021, in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn.
New York Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Letitia James carries her ballot on Election Day at P.S. 11 Purvis J. Behan Elementary on Nov. 02, 2021, in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn.
A man checks in as he prepares to vote on Election Day at P.S. 11 Purvis J. Behan Elementary on Nov. 02, 2021, in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn.
A man checks in as he prepares to vote on Election Day at P.S. 11 Purvis J. Behan Elementary on Nov. 02, 2021, in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn.
People check in as they prepare to vote on Election Day at P.S. 11 Purvis J. Behan Elementary on Nov. 02, 2021, in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn.
People check in as they prepare to vote on Election Day at P.S. 11 Purvis J. Behan Elementary on Nov. 02, 2021, in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn.

The city’s borough presidents hold largely ceremonial roles, but they promote their boroughs and wield a small slice of the city’s budget.

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