In competitive Queens Council race, a GOP firebrand's brashness is put to the test

City Councilmember Vickie Paladino, a Queens Republican, is facing off against a new political opponent: veteran firefighter Benjamin Chou, 34.

Paladino, 70, is a pro-Trump Republican in a swing district and one of four GOP councilmembers defending seats in Tuesday’s general election. Her race is one of the few considered competitive in the city. Since her election to the City Council in 2021, she has gained a reputation for her far-right stances and provocative social media posts — and is now appearing on the ballot for the third time in five years.

Chou is running as a moderate Democrat, offering an alternative to Paladino’s abrasive approach to politics. Voters and political observers Gothamist spoke to cited Paladino’s controversies as either a reason to vote for her or against her.