Vickie Paladino

Drag Queen Story Hour In March 2023, Paladino was removed from the City Council's Mental Health Committee in response to her 2022 comments about Drag Queen Story Hour, a program in which drag performers read storybooks to children at schools and public libraries. Paladino had referred to the program as "cultural indoctrination" and "child grooming". Paladino received death threats following her 2022 remarks.

Following the 2025 Bondi Beach shooting during the Hanukkah celebration, Paladino wrote an Islamophobic post calling for the "expulsion of Muslims from western nations." Paladino deleted the post following condemnations from her City Council colleagues and other politicians, including then-New York City Mayor-elect Mamdani. The progressive faction also called for Paladino to be reprimanded for her anti-Islamic posts on social media.

The New York City Council’s Standards and Ethics Committee filed disciplinary charges against Paladino in March 2026 for multiple social media posts she made, including posts regarding Mamdani. Paladino filed suit against the City Council and various councilmembers, claiming First Amendment violations and selective enforcement based on disfavored speech. In May 2026, Paladino and the City Council settled the proceedings. Pursuant to the settlement, Paladino was required to delete three of her X posts, publicly apologize, and remove mention of her job as Councilmember from her X display name. The City Council agreed to withdraw the disciplinary proceedings against Paladino.

Electoral history 2025

2023

2021

2018