The 2024 judicial elections across New York City yielded few surprises, as Democrats secured victories in every borough, dominating the judicial races.
Most contests were non-competitive, with the number of candidates matching the number of open positions, leading to virtually guaranteed outcomes.
BRONX COUNTY
In the Bronx, Matthew Parker-Raso, a Democrat, ran unopposed for the sole Supreme Court 12th Judicial District seat and won. Similarly, all six Democratic candidates for Civil Court judge positions were elected, as the number of candidates equaled the number of open seats. Brenda L. Rivera, the only candidate for a Civil Court judgeship in District 2, also won unchallenged.
Winning candidates:
- Civil Court Bronx 2nd Municipal Court District: Brenda Rivera (D)
- Supreme Court 12th Judicial District: Matthew Parker-Raso (D)
- Civil Court Bronx County (6 seats filled): Angel Cruz, Esq.; Diomarys Escaño-Bell, Dawn Guglielmo, Scott Krompinger, Deidra Moore and Eliezer Rodriguez (all Democrats)
NEW YORK COUNTY
Manhattan followed the same pattern. All candidates on the ballot were Democrats, and every race resulted in their victories. With no opposition, these outcomes were essentially predetermined.
For instance, the Democratic candidates running for Civil Court judgeships in the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 10th municipal districts were elected unopposed. There were six spots open for a Civil Court judgeship for the county, and those slots were filled by the six Democrats on the ballot. Meanwhile, the two Democratic incumbents running for Supreme Court both won.
Winning candidates:
- Civil Court 1st Municipal Court District: Ilona Coleman (D)
- Civil Court 2nd Municipal Court District: Alice Tam Tien (D)
- Civil Court 5th Municipal Court District: Ralph L. Wolf (D)
- Civil Court 8th Municipal Court District: Jose Padilla Jr. (D)
- Civil Court 10th Municipal Court District: J. Machelle Sweeting (D)
- Civil Court New York County (6 seats filled): Harold Bahr, Allison Greenfield, Louis Nock, Malaika Scott-McLaughlin, Elizabeth Shamahs and Crystal Villaseñor (all Democrats)
- Supreme Court 1st Judicial District (2 seats filled): Cynthia Kern (D) and Gerald Lebovits (D)
QUEENS COUNTY
In Queens, the elections were slightly more contested. In a head-to-head race for Surrogate’s Court, Cassandra A. Johnson, a Democrat, defeated her Republican opponent, Stephen Weiner (R-Conservative), securing 63% of the vote.
For the Supreme Court 11th Judicial District, seven Democrats triumphed over two Republican challengers to fill all seven open seats. In the Civil Court races, five Democrats faced off against three Republicans for five open seats. All Democratic candidates prevailed, maintaining the borough’s trend of Democratic dominance.
Winning candidates:
- Surrogate’s Court: Cassandra Johnson (D)
- Civil Court 4th Municipal Court District: Elizabeth Newton (D)
- Civil Court Queens County (5 seats filled): Melissa Deberry (D), Amish R. Doshi (D), Glenda M. Hernandez (D), Peter F. Lane (D/R), Sharifa Milena Nasser Cuéllar (D)
- Supreme Court 11th Judicial District (7 seats filled): John Katsanos (D), Claudia Lanzetta (D/R/C), Lumarie Maldonado-Cruz (D), Delsia Marshall (D), Sandra M. Munoz (D), Andrea Ogle (D), Alan Schiff (D/R/C).
KINGS COUNTY
Brooklyn, or Kings County, saw similar outcomes. All seven Democratic candidates for the Supreme Court 2nd Judicial District won their races, filling the available seats. The six candidates for Civil Court judgeships, all Democrats, were also elected unopposed.
In the Civil Court’s 5th Municipal District, three candidates competed for two open positions. The lone non-Democrat in the race failed to secure a seat, with the two Democratic candidates winning easily.
Winning candidates:
- Civil Court 5th Municipal Court District (2 seats filled): Hemalee Patel (D) and Jacob Zelmanovitz (D/C)
- Civil Court 6th Municipal Court District (2 seats filled): Norma Jennings (D) and Janice Robinson (D)
- Civil Court Kings County (6 seats filled): Tehilah Berman, Turquoise Haskin, Mark Kagan, Alexis Riley, Tawanna St. Louis and Abayomi Whint (all Democrats)
- Supreme Court 2nd Judicial District (7 seats filled): Keisha Alleyne (D/C), Sharen D. Hudson (D/C), Lisa Lewis (D), Inga O’Neale (D/C), Adam Perlmutter (D), Christopher Robles (D/C), Jeffrey S. Sunshine (D/C).
PARTY DYNAMICS AND JUDICIAL SELECTION
Most Democratic candidates ran unopposed, having been chosen through party conventions or primary elections. For Supreme Court seats, party delegates picked the candidates, while Civil Court and Surrogate’s Court candidates advanced through traditional primaries.
The results highlighted the Democratic Party’s stronghold on New York City’s judicial races, with Republican and Conservative candidates unable to gain much support in the heavily Democratic city.
