Saturday, October 24Current Events

Candidates

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Candidates, Issues, Outreach

Debates with Democrat – October 15, 2026

Voters win if Republicans and Democrats are willing to debate.  Central Queens Republican Club invited all Democrats on the ballot in Queens with a Republican challenger to a debate.  To date, no Democrat replied to Club's invitation except one declination email from Claire Valdez's 7th Congressional District campaign. Location of the October 15, 2026 debate is at Grace Lutheran Church, 103-15 Union Turnpike, Forest Hills, Queens from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm.  You could watch the meeting live on YouTube from 7:30 to 9:30 pm! AGENDA 1. Pledge of Allegiance 7:30 2. Reading of club’s Mission Statement (Jim Strawhorn) 3. Roll call of officers and board members (Martha Rowen) 4. Reading of club’s 8/20 minutes (David Kemp) 5. Report of the Financial Secretary/Treasurer (Sophia Worrell) ...
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Candidates, Issues

Housing Issues and Candidates – August 20, 2026

Watch the meeting on YouTube. Mark Axinn, partner at Phillips Nizer LLP and a 46-year experienced housing attorney on coop and condo led the housing discussion with additional perspectives from Tzlil Levy, landlord; Cristina Fontanelli, State Assembly candidate (Republican and Save NYC)  in the 75th district; Melvin Rivera, Congressional candidate (Republican, Conservative, No Kings) in the 7th district; and Ed Lee, State Assembly candidate (Republican) in the 36th district. The next meeting is September 17, 2026.  
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Candidates, Issues

Candidates who ran in the Primary – July 16, 2026

YouTube video of the July 16, 2026 meeting. Martha Flores-Vasquez (Assembly 40 District Leader Part B); Ronald Eith; Julie Milner (Queens Civil Court Judge); David Bellon (Queens District Court Judge 4th); Larry Sharpe (Governor, Coalition); Marty Dolan (Congress 13, Dem ag AOC); Jonathan Rinaldi (Assembly 28 ag Andrew Hevesi); Brandon Castro (Assembly 30 ag Patrick Martinez); Ruben Cruz (Assembly 38 ag David Orkin) The next meeting is August 20, 2026 on housing issues and concerns with Coop and Condo lawyer, Mark Axinn.
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Candidates

NYC Charter Reform and Independent Candidates – May 21, 2026

Watch YouTube video of the meeting. Susanne Klebe led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Jim Strawhorn read the Mission Statement.  Martha Rowen did the roll call.  Isaiah Vega read the minutes. Jimmy Wagner and Elijah Diaz on We Reform NYC Charter Reform ballot proposals; Steven Gillen on the SAVE Act and state of the Republican party as related to the gubernatorial race; Charlotte Friedman, Republican candidate for State Senate, District 47 (Upper West Side, Erik Bottcher); Jose Vega, "Speak the Truth" candidate for Congress, District 15 (Bronx ag Richie Torres); Philip Sean Grillo, Republican candidate for State Assembly, District 26 (Primary against Robert Speranza); Thomas Barra, Republican/Conservative candidate for Queens Civil Court; David Rem; George Marsh, Republican/"Queens United...
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Candidates

2026 Republican Candidates and Primary – April 16, 2026

Watch the meeting on YouTube! Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30 led by Harold Tischler; reading of the Mission Statement and Minutes by Jim Strawhorn; Roll Call by Anton Trapman; Financial Report by Sophia Worrell.  Announcements:  Free Mets vs. Detroit tickets on May 12 (Tuesday) evening game; Moms of Liberty Ellis Island event on May 2nd. Guest speaker Rev. Keith Gadson.   Candidate speakers:  Harold Tischler (Senate 22); Zahava Durchin (Assembly 41); Marvin Williams (Congress 4); Yahemia Harris (Assembly 55); Greg Hach (Congress 3); Helen Qiu (Assembly 65); Phil Grillo (Assembly 26); Ed Lee (Assembly 36); Ruben Cruz (Assembly 38); Brandon Castro (Assembly 30); Veronica Gonzalez (Assembly 74); Jason Murillo (Senate 27); Darwin Shaw (Assembly 68); Sheryl Fetik (Senate 12...
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Candidates

Special Election – February 3, 2026, Republicans lost badly

Early Voting totals as of February 1, 2026 Proclaimed December 15, 2025 (50 days before election) 74th Assembly district to replace Harvey Epstein, who won  his race for City Council District 3 Keith Powers (D,WF) Joseph Foley (R,C) Proclaimed January 2, 2026 (32 days before election) 36th Assembly district to replace Zohran Mamdani, who won his race for Mayor. Diana Moreno (D,WF) Rana Abdelhamid (Queens for All) Mary Jobaida (People First) No Republican/Conservative candidate 47th Senate district to replace Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who won his race for Manhattan Boro President. Eric Bottcher (D,WF) Charlotte Friedman (R) Special Election is called for City Council District 3 to replace Eric Bottcher on April 28, 2026
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Candidates, Issues

Special Elections and 2026 Candidates – January 15, 2026

Watch the meeting on YouTube. Larry Block and Michael Ruiz played a few songs before the meeting.  Bernard Vaiselberg and Ronen Nahom led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Jim Strawhorn read the mission statement.  Danniel Maio did the roll call.  Juan Pagan read the December 18 minutes.  Sophia Worrell reported the club's bank balance. Announcements: Sophia Worrell on immigration; George Sarantopoulos on his 2024 City Council race and on "Vaunt", a Conservative online paper; Phil Grillo on his January 6 memorial event in Washington, DC.  Danniel Maio announced that the JFK Democrat Club invited Central Queens Republican Club for a debate on Monday, President's Day, February 16, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman will be the keynote speaker at Queens Village Republican Club's Lincol...
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Candidates, Outreach

Memorial for Joseph Maffia, Rinaldi on AI – December 18, 2025

Watch the meeting on YouTube.  Part 1 Saritha Komatireddy and Memorial for Joseph Maffia.  Part 2 Jonathan Rinaldi on AI. Mary Jo Maffia led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Saritha Komatireddy presented her candidacy for Attorney General.  In memory of Joseph Maffia who died in August 2025, Mary-Jo Maffia accepted tributes from Haris Bhattia, Christie Brown, Edwin dela Cruz, Isaiah Vega, Michael Zumblaskas, Danniel Maio, MJ Maffia and Nathaniel Gavronsky. Phil Grillo gave a J6 update. Jonathan Rinaldi presented how AI gave him press coverage. Meeting notice email dated December 14, 2025. Meeting notice email dated November 30, 2025.
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