Tiffany Cabán

Cabán's 2019 campaign for Queens County District Attorney focused on criminal justice reform,[7] including ending mass incarceration and the War on Drugs. Cabán also called for the decriminalization of sex work.[8] Cabán was endorsed by The New York Times,[9][10] as well as progressive politicians such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Larry Krasner, as well as several progressive members of the New York State Legislature[10] and Suffolk County, Massachusetts DA Rachael Rollins.[11] The race drew national attention, drawing comparisons to Ocasio-Cortez's upset victory in the 2018 House primary election over Joe Crowley.[12][8]

Numerous progressive political organizations also endorsed her campaign, including Citizen Action of New York,[13] the Working Families Party,[14] the Democratic Socialists of America,[14] Make the Road, Real Justice,[15] and other community organizations in New York.[11]

Cabán faced Queens borough president Melinda Katz in the Democratic primary. The previous District Attorney, Richard Brown, had intended to retire after the election, but died in office shortly before the primary. On June 25, 2019, Cabán claimed victory over Katz, but with the margin of victory standing at just over one percentage point, Katz declined to concede the election.[16][17] On July 3, election officials said Katz pulled ahead in the final count with a lead of just 20 votes, triggering a recount.[18] On August 6, days after Katz was declared the ultimate victor by 60 votes, Cabán conceded the race.[2]