Grace Meng: Campaigns and Elections

2006 New York State Assembly (22nd District): Removed from Ballot

Meng's first campaign was a bid to succeed her father in the 22nd Assembly District. She was removed from the ballot after Democrat Ellen Young successfully challenged her residency status . Young went on to win the seat and took office in January 2007.

2008 New York State Assembly (22nd District): Won

Meng ran again for the 22nd Assembly District in the September 2008 Democratic primary, this time defeating incumbent Ellen Young by an 18-point margin . She won the general election and took office in January 2009, beginning the first of two terms in the state legislature .

2012 Congressional Primary (6th District): Won

After 15-term Congressman Gary Ackerman announced his retirement in March 2012, Meng entered the race for the newly redrawn 6th Congressional District. She secured the endorsement of the Queens County Democratic Party under chairman Joseph Crowley, who notably backed her over his own cousin, City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley . Ackerman also endorsed Meng, describing her as head and shoulders above the rest of the field . EMILY's List and the New York Times additionally endorsed her campaign . On June 26, 2012, Meng won the four-way Democratic primary with approximately 51 percent of the vote. Assemblyman Rory Lancman finished second with 28 percent, Elizabeth Crowley took 16 percent, and physician Robert Mittman received 5 percent . Meng had significant advantages in fundraising and name recognition in the district, where Asian Americans comprised approximately 40 percent of the population .

2012 General Election (6th District): Won

Meng defeated Republican City Councilman Dan Halloran, Working Families Party candidate Rory Lancman, and Green Party candidate Evergreen Chou in the November 6 general election in the heavily Democratic district . Her victory made her the first Asian American elected to the United States Congress from New York State, and the first female member of Congress from Queens since Geraldine Ferraro .

2014 General Election (6th District): Unopposed

Meng ran unopposed in the 2014 general election, securing the seat without a contest .

2016 General Election (6th District): Won

Meng won reelection against Republican Danniel Maio and independent Haris Bhatti with minimal opposition .

2018 General Election (6th District): Won

Meng defeated Republican Thomas Hillgardner in the general election .

2020 Primary and General Election (6th District): Won

Meng faced her first contested primary since 2012 when Melquiades Gagarin of Kew Gardens and Sandra Choi challenged her in the June 2020 Democratic primary. Gagarin positioned himself as a progressive alternative aligned with the insurgent wing of the party. Meng won decisively . She went on to win the general election.

2022 General Election (6th District): Won

Following redistricting after the 2020 census, Meng's district was redrawn but remained centered on Queens. She won the general election against Republican Thomas Zmich .

2024 General Election (6th District): Won

Meng won reelection with approximately 60.7 percent of the vote. Republican Thomas Zmich received 37.6 percent and independent Joseph Chou received 1.7 percent, out of a total of 198,036 votes cast .

2026 Democratic Primary (6th District): Won

Meng faced her most competitive primary challenge since 2012 from Chuck Park, a 41-year-old former U.S. diplomat who launched a grassroots, social-media-forward campaign. Park positioned himself as a progressive insurgent, criticizing Meng over her support for Israel, acceptance of AIPAC funding, alleged absenteeism in the district, and refusal to participate in a public debate . He rejected corporate and foreign lobby contributions and attracted support from young voters and those aligned with the broader progressive movement .

Meng's campaign raised approximately $1.69 million compared to Park's $445,000 as of early June 2026 . She won the June 23 primary with approximately 57 percent of the vote (18,080 votes) to Park's 43 percent (13,625 votes), a 14-point margin . The Associated Press called the race at 9:19 p.m. on election night . Meng celebrated at an election watch party at Prime Met Steakhouse in downtown Flushing .

Fundraising Profile

FEC records show Meng's authorized committee, Grace for New York, raised approximately $2,033,045 in total receipts for the 2025 to 2026 cycle as of June 30, 2026 . OpenSecrets data from the 2023 to 2024 cycle documented her fundraising from individual donors and PACs, with notable contributions from pro-Israel groups and real estate interests .