Who's running in New York's 5th congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Gregory Meeks currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Making government work for constituents, which his campaign frames as its central purpose.
Bipartisan legislating; his campaign describes him as a solutions-oriented lawmaker.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 5th District since 1998; fourteenth term.
Senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Advanced from the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary.
Arguments in favor
As the senior Democrat on Foreign Affairs he does the oversight work: he and Rep. Jared Huffman demanded answers on the administration using U.S. embassies to press foreign companies for money tied to presidential access, which "represents a significant departure from historical norms and raises profound questions about whether foreign nationals and companies are being offered inappropriate influence over U.S. government activities in exchange for cash payments."
— Gregory Meeks, in a letter with Rep. Jared Huffman
He argues his party should spend its money on the other side rather than on itself: "Instead of us making sure we put all of our resources to fight Republicans and to fight Donald Trump, we're using it to fight each other."
— Gregory Meeks, quoted by CNN
Arguments against
The Office of Congressional Ethics referred him to the House Ethics Committee over a May 2013 trip to Baku, Azerbaijan, which he disclosed as funded by a single private nonprofit when other entities — some of them barred by House rules from paying for congressional travel — appear to have funded or organised it, meaning he may have accepted an impermissible gift. The committee also took up an allegation that he failed to disclose a payment received in 2007 on time.
— Office of Congressional Ethics referral to the House Committee on Ethics
What we couldn’t verify
That referral dates from 2013 to 2015 and its final disposition was not established from the sources found; it is the only formal finding-adjacent criticism of him located.
The left of his own party is organising against the Queens County Democratic organisation he chairs, and he has called a primary against Hakeem Jeffries "foolish", but no criticism of Meeks by name from those challengers was found.
No National Republican Congressional Committee page about him by name was found, and no criticism of him from his opponent's campaign.
Modernising roads, bridges and water systems, and investing in public transit and safer streets.
Reducing regulatory barriers for small businesses.
Securing federal funding for community projects and support for working families, veterans and local organisations.
Expanding apprenticeships and vocational training in the skilled trades.
Lowering everyday costs for working families.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Worked in the New York City mayor's office.
Grew up in the Astoria Houses; in recovery from addiction for more than 35 years.
Runs on the Republican line and on a Queens United independent line.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Marsh by name could be found, and almost no published material about his campaign at all: not from Gregory Meeks or his campaign, not from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and not from Queens news coverage. Because no case against him exists on the record, none is presented for him either, rather than showing his own campaign's case unanswered.
His background, positions and fundraising were not reported in material available; sources could not consistently attribute biographical details to this candidate.
He is running on both the Republican line and a Queens United independent line; what that line represents was not established from the sources found.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
New York held its primary on June 23, 2026. Democratic incumbent Gregory Meeks faces George Marsh, who is running on the Republican line and on a Queens United independent line, in this southeast Queens district. New York allows fusion voting. The 2026 elections use the congressional map enacted on February 28, 2024. Meeks is the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and chairs the Queens County Democratic Party. Roster from the New York qualifying lists as reported by Politics1 and Wikipedia. Arguments are shown for Meeks. No published criticism of Marsh by name was found, and very little has been published about him at all, so neither column is filled for him; his positions are in his profile.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A New York ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at New York State Board of Elections.