Donovan Richards
Donovan Richards | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Richards in 2025 in Queens | |
| 21st Borough President of Queens | |
| Assumed office December 2, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Sharon Lee (acting) |
| Member of the New York City Council from the 31st district | |
| In office February 20, 2013 – December 2, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | James Sanders Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Selvena Brooks-Powers |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 9, 1983 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | Nyack College Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology |
Donovan J. Richards Jr.[1] (born April 9, 1983) is an American politician serving as the Borough President of Queens. He is also a former New York City Council member, having represented the 31st district from 2013 to 2020. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
His former district includes portions of Arverne, Bayswater, Broad Channel, Cambria Heights, Edgemere, Far Rockaway, Howard Beach, Jamaica, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Laurelton, Rockaway Beach, Rosedale, South Ozone Park and Springfield Gardens in Queens.
Richards was the Democratic nominee for Queens Borough President in the November 3, 2020 general election. He defeated the Republican nominee Joann Ariola and independent candidate Dao Yin. Richards was sworn in as Queens Borough President on December 2, 2020.
Life and career
[edit]Richards was born and raised in southeast Queens. When he was young, he served with a mission in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on behalf of St. Albans Congregational Church.
He attended Redemption Christian Academy in Troy, New York later graduating from Jamaica High School in Queens.[2] He subsequently attended Nyack College, then Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in Queens.[2]
New York City Council
[edit]In June 2011, Richards became the chief of staff for New York City Councilman James Sanders, Jr., and when Sanders was elected to the New York State Senate, Richards won a 2013 special election to succeed him. Richards was appointed chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection.[citation needed] Richards was appointed to be the chair of the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises.[citation needed]
| Election history | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Year | Election | Results |
| NYC Council District 31 |
2013 | Special | √ Donovan Richards 29.11% Pesach Osina 28.24% Jacques Leandre 13.38% Michael R. Duncan 11.18% Selvena Brooks 11.14% Marie Adam-Ovide 2.08% Saywala Kesselly 1.87% |
| NYC Council District 31 |
2013 | Democratic Primary | √ Donovan Richards 51.60% Michael R. Duncan 35.83% Ricardo A. Brown 12.57% |
| NYC Council District 31 |
2013 | General | √ Donovan Richards (D) 91.77% Scherie S. Murray (R) 5.45% Ricardo A. Brown (Jobs & Education) 2.68% |
Queens Borough President bids
[edit]In June 2020, Richards secured the Democratic nomination for Borough President of Queens.[3] On November 3, 2020, Richards won the special election for Borough President of Queens.[4] Richards won reelection in 2021[5] and 2025.[6]
2020 election results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Donovan Richards | 518,840 votes | 70% | ||
| Republican | Joann Ariola | 205,893 | 27.7% | ||
| Red Dragon Party | Dao Yin | 17,166 | 2.3% | ||
| Write-in | 168,037 | 21.2% | |||
| Total votes | 794,498 | 100.0% | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
2021 election results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Donovan Richards (incumbent) | 181,947 | 66.86% | −2.99% | |
| Republican | Thomas Zmich | 80,353 | 29.53% | +5.01% | |
| Conservative | Thomas Zmich | 9,292 | 3.41% | +1.18% | |
| Total | Thomas Zmich | 89,645 | 32.94% | +5.22% | |
| Write-in | 538 | 0.20% | |||
| Total votes | 272,130 | 100.0% | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
2025 election results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Donovan Richards (incumbent) | 322,312 | 70.01 | ||
| Republican | Henry Ikezi | 130,518 | 28.35 | ||
| United Alliance | Henry Ikezi | 6,599 | 1.43 | ||
| Total | Henry Ikezi | 137,117 | 29.78 | ||
| Write-in | 979 | 0.21 | |||
| Total votes | 460,408 | 100% | |||
References
[edit]- ^ "About Borough President Donovan Richards – Office of the Queens Borough President". Retrieved 2022-11-12.
- ^ a b Coltin, Jeff (March 15, 2020). "Can Donovan Richards find himself?". City & State NY.
- ^ "Borough President". web.enrboenyc.us. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
- ^ Brand, David (November 4, 2020). "Donovan Richards wins race for Queens Borough President". Queens Daily Eagle. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ^ Max, Ben (November 3, 2021). "Rundown: 2021 New York City Election Results". Gotham Gazette. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ^ DeLorenzo, Renee (November 7, 2025). "Queens BP Richards wins re-election, promotes three staff members". QNS. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ^ "General Election 2020 - Queens County" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. November 29, 2021.
- ^ "General Election 2021 - Queens County" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. November 29, 2021.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
z276was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Unofficial Election Night Results". vote.nyc. New York City Board of Elections. November 5, 2025. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
External links
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- 1983 births
- 20th-century African-American politicians
- 21st-century African-American politicians
- 21st-century New York (state) politicians
- African-American New York City Council members
- African-American people in New York (state) politics
- Living people
- New York (state) Democrats
- New York City Council members
- Queens borough presidents