Grace Meng: Career Timeline
Early Career as Public Interest Lawyer (2002 to 2008)
After earning her law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University in 2002, Meng worked briefly as a public interest lawyer and at a public relations firm . She also volunteered at her father Jimmy Meng's Flushing-area district office after his 2004 election to the New York State Assembly, eventually leading his constituent services operation .
First Assembly Run and Ballot Challenge (2006)
Meng ran for the New York State Assembly in 2006 to succeed her father, who had declined to seek reelection from the 22nd District. However, she was taken off the ballot when Democrat Ellen Young challenged her residency status . Young succeeded Jimmy Meng and took office in January 2007 .
Election to New York State Assembly (September 2008)
Meng ran again for the 22nd Assembly District in 2008, this time defeating incumbent Ellen Young in the Democratic primary by an 18-point margin . She went on to win the general election and took office in January 2009 .
State Assembly Tenure (2009 to 2012)
During her two terms in the Assembly, Meng focused on constituent services and community-level issues in a district centered on Flushing with significant Asian American populations . Her legislative work at the state level laid the groundwork for her later congressional campaign.
Congressional Primary Victory (June 26, 2012)
After 15-term Congressman Gary Ackerman announced in March 2012 that he would not seek reelection, Meng entered the race for the newly redrawn 6th Congressional District. She was backed by the Queens County Democratic Party under chairman Joseph Crowley and endorsed by the outgoing Ackerman . On June 26, she won the four-way Democratic primary with approximately 51 percent of the vote, defeating Assemblyman Rory Lancman (28 percent), City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (16 percent), and physician Robert Mittman (5 percent) . Notably, Joseph Crowley endorsed Meng over his own cousin Elizabeth Crowley .
General Election Victory (November 6, 2012)
Meng defeated Republican City Councilman Dan Halloran, Working Families Party candidate Rory Lancman, and Green Party candidate Evergreen Chou in the general election, becoming the first Asian American elected to the United States Congress from New York State . She was also the first female member of Congress from Queens since Geraldine Ferraro .
Father's Guilty Plea (November 2012)
During the same month as her general election victory, Meng's father pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges stemming from a bribery scheme . Meng stated that she had no involvement in or knowledge of her father's actions and described the episode as one of the hardest times of her life .
Assault and Robbery in Washington, D.C. (November 2013)
In her freshman term, Meng was attacked and robbed near Capitol Hill while walking to her apartment after dinner. A purse snatcher struck her in the back of the head, briefly knocking her unconscious, and fled with her handbag . She was treated at George Washington University Hospital for injuries to her head, chin, knee, and hand, and returned to legislative duties the following day .
Reelections Without Primary Challenge (2014 to 2018)
Meng ran unopposed in the 2014 general election . She won reelection comfortably in 2016 and 2018 against nominal opposition. She did not face a Democratic primary challenger in any of these cycles .
CAPAC Leadership PAC Chair (2016)
Meng was elected chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Leadership PAC, a federal political action committee supporting AAPI candidates, succeeding Representative Judy Chu .
Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee (2016)
Meng began serving as a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee .
First Primary Challenge Since 2012 (June 2020)
Meng faced her first contested primary since 2012 when Melquiades Gagarin and Sandra Choi challenged her in the June 2020 Democratic primary. She won decisively .
COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act Signed into Law (May 20, 2021)
President Biden signed Meng's COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act into law at a White House ceremony. The legislation, which she co-introduced with Senator Mazie Hirono, passed the Senate 94 to 1 and the House 364 to 62, representing a rare bipartisan achievement . Meng attended the signing alongside Vice President Kamala Harris .
January 6 Capitol Breach (January 6, 2021)
During the storming of the U.S. Capitol, Meng sheltered in her office for approximately five hours, barricading the door with furniture and donning gas masks. She documented the experience on social media, describing her fear and comparing the security response unfavorably to earlier Black Lives Matter protests .
Co-Chair of House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism (March 2021)
Meng was selected as a co-chair of the bipartisan congressional task force alongside representatives from both parties .
Reelections (2022 and 2024)
Meng won the 2022 general election against Republican Thomas Zmich . In 2024, she won reelection with approximately 60.7 percent of the vote against Zmich (37.6 percent) and independent Joseph Chou (1.7 percent) .
Elected CAPAC Chair (December 2024)
CAPAC unanimously elected Meng to serve as chair for the 119th Congress, succeeding Judy Chu, who had led the caucus for 14 years. The caucus reached a record 83 members under her leadership .
Ranking Member of Appropriations Subcommittee (January 2025)
Meng became Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies in the 119th Congress, while also serving on the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs . She is New York's senior member on the full Appropriations Committee .
2026 Democratic Primary Victory (June 23, 2026)
Meng defeated progressive challenger Chuck Park, a former U.S. diplomat, in the Democratic primary with approximately 57 percent of the vote to Park's 43 percent . Park had criticized Meng over her support for Israel, alleged absenteeism in the district, and refusal to debate. Meng's campaign raised approximately $1.69 million compared to Park's $445,000 .