NYC Board of Elections to Certify Primary Results as Three Close Races Head to Manual Recounts

The NYC Board of Elections is preparing to certify nearly all 2026 primary election results, while three closely contested legislative races will proceed to manual recounts under New York election law. According to a report by NY1, the recounts involve two Democratic Assembly primaries in Queens and Manhattan, along with a Republican State Senate primary in Brooklyn. The developments underscore how every ballot can influence the outcome of NYC elections, particularly in highly competitive districts.

What Happened

The New York City Board of Elections is expected to certify all primary election results except for three legislative contests that remain too close to officially determine a winner.

The races headed for manual recounts include:

• Democratic Assembly District 30 in western Queens
• Democratic Assembly District 66 in Lower Manhattan
• Republican State Senate District 22 in Brooklyn

Under New York election law, a manual recount is required when the margin of victory is fewer than 20 votes or less than one-half of one percent of the total vote.

Election officials confirmed that the manual recount process is scheduled to begin on July 10, 2026.

Key Details From the Closest Races

Assembly District 30 (Queens)

The open-seat Democratic primary covers portions of Woodside, Maspeth, and Jackson Heights.

Following the completion of ballot counting, Patrick Martinez held a two-vote lead over Shamsul Haque. Election officials noted that remaining ballot cures had not yet been finalized before the recount process.

Martinez is backed by Assemblymember Steven Raga and several labor unions. Haque, a retired NYPD detective, received the endorsement of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders.

Assembly District 66 (Manhattan)

The Democratic primary for Assembly District 66 includes the West Village, Tribeca, Lower Manhattan, and portions of the East Village.

Unofficial results showed Jeannine Kiely leading David Siffert, though Siffert’s campaign argued that additional ballots still required review before certification.

Candidates and election attorneys from both campaigns are expected to participate throughout the manual recount process.

State Senate District 22 (Brooklyn)

A Republican primary in Brooklyn’s State Senate District 22 will also receive a manual recount after an exceptionally narrow unofficial margin.

Although the district is currently represented by Democrat Sam Sutton, the Republican nomination remains unresolved pending the recount.

How Manual Recounts Work in New York

Manual recounts allow election officials to review ballots individually rather than relying exclusively on machine tabulation.

Campaign representatives may challenge or defend ballots where voter intent appears clear but was not captured by scanning equipment.

Examples include:

• A voter circling a candidate’s name instead of filling the oval
• Marks placed outside the designated voting target
• Ballots requiring interpretation under state election law

The recount process helps ensure that every legally cast vote is accurately counted before election results become official.

Why This Matters for NYC Candidates

For candidates considering a run for office in New York City, these recounts demonstrate that even a handful of votes can determine the outcome of an election.

Several important lessons emerge:

• Every vote matters in local legislative races.
• Strong ballot access operations help maximize turnout before Election Day.
• Campaigns should prepare legal teams or election attorneys for close contests.
• Voter education can reduce ballot errors that may later require manual review.

Candidates should also understand that post-election procedures are part of campaign strategy. Maintaining accurate voter records, monitoring absentee and affidavit ballots, and preparing for potential recounts are increasingly important in competitive NYC elections.

To better understand turnout trends that influence close races, read NYC Primary Voter Turnout 2026.

For a broader overview of the election outcomes, see NYC Primary Results 2026: Incumbents Hold Seats.

Campaign Strategy Lessons

The recounts highlight several realities of modern political campaigns:

• Winning margins can be extremely small, particularly in district-level elections.
• Every stage of election administration matters, including ballot curing and recount procedures.
• Candidates should build campaign operations that extend beyond Election Day.
• Understanding election law can be just as important as fundraising and voter outreach.

For first-time candidates, knowing how recounts work can help campaigns prepare for every possible outcome in closely contested races.

What Happens Next

The New York City Board of Elections will certify the remaining uncontested primary results while conducting manual recounts in the three unresolved races beginning July 10.

Once the recounts conclude, official winners will be certified, completing another critical phase of the 2026 NYC election cycle.

For anyone planning to run for office, the close contests serve as a reminder that effective campaign organization, voter engagement, and attention to election procedures can ultimately make the difference between victory and defeat.