John Ciafone
John Ciafone (Democratic Party) ran in a special election for judge of the New York City Civil Court Queens County. He lost in the special Democratic primary on June 24, 2025.
Ciafone completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
John Ciafone was born in Astoria, New York. He earned a high school diploma from Long Island City High School, a bachelor's degree from New York University in May 1991 and a J.D. from St. John's School of Law in 1994. Ciafone's career experience includes working as an attorney. He is also a certified emergency medical technician. As of 2025, Ciafone was affiliated with the NYC Fraternal Order of Police.[1][2]
Elections
2025
See also: Municipal elections in Queens County, New York (2025)
General election
Special general election for New York City Civil Court Queens County (3 seats)
The following candidates ran in the special general election for New York City Civil Court Queens County on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Sheridan Chu (D) | 24.0 | 272,698 | |
| ✔ | Indira Khan (D) | 22.1 | 250,279 | |
| ✔ | Oma Phillips (D) | 21.2 | 240,466 | |
| Susan Silverman (R / Conservative Party) | 11.3 | 127,849 | ||
 | William Shanahan (R / Conservative Party) | 11.3 | 127,780 | |
| Thomas Barra (R / Conservative Party) | 10.0 | 113,507 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 1,836 | ||
| Total votes: 1,134,415 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Stephen Dachtera (R / Conservative Party)
- Mary-Ann Maloney (R / Conservative Party)
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Indira Khan and Oma Phillips advanced from the special Democratic primary for New York City Civil Court Queens County.
Democratic primary election
Special Democratic primary for New York City Civil Court Queens County (3 seats)
Sheridan Chu defeated John Ciafone in the special Democratic primary for New York City Civil Court Queens County on June 24, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Sheridan Chu | 59.6 | 107,811 | |
 | John Ciafone | 40.3 | 73,011 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 185 | ||
| Total votes: 181,007 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Stephen Dachtera, Mary-Ann Maloney, and William Shanahan advanced from the special Republican primary for New York City Civil Court Queens County.
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Stephen Dachtera, Mary-Ann Maloney, and William Shanahan advanced from the special Conservative Party primary for New York City Civil Court Queens County.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Ciafone in this election.
2023
See also: Municipal elections in Queens County, New York (2023)
General election
Special general election for New York City Civil Court Queens County 6th Municipal Court District
Evelyn Gong defeated William Shanahan in the special general election for New York City Civil Court Queens County 6th Municipal Court District on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Evelyn Gong (D) | 51.7 | 20,135 |
| William Shanahan (R / Conservative Party / Common Sense Party) | 47.9 | 18,632 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 142 | ||
| Total votes: 38,909 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Special Democratic primary for New York City Civil Court Queens County 6th Municipal Court District
Evelyn Gong defeated John Ciafone and Steven Beard in the special Democratic primary for New York City Civil Court Queens County 6th Municipal Court District on June 27, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Evelyn Gong | 57.1 | 7,427 |
| John Ciafone | 21.4 | 2,788 | |
 | Steven Beard | 20.9 | 2,723 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 65 | ||
| Total votes: 13,003 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. William Shanahan advanced from the special Republican primary for New York City Civil Court Queens County 6th Municipal Court District.
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. William Shanahan advanced from the special Conservative Party primary for New York City Civil Court Queens County 6th Municipal Court District.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Ciafone in this election.
2021
See also: City elections in New York, New York (2021)
General election
General election for New York City Council District 22
Tiffany Cabán defeated Felicia Kalan and Edwin DeJesus in the general election for New York City Council District 22 on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tiffany Cabán (D) | 63.4 | 12,884 |
 | Felicia Kalan (R / Conservative Party / Save Our City Party) | 30.6 | 6,209 | |
 | Edwin DeJesus (G) | 5.8 | 1,172 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 53 | ||
| Total votes: 20,318 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic Primary for New York City Council District 22
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Tiffany Cabán in round 3 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.
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Total votes: 16,240 |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Felicia Kalan advanced from the Republican primary for New York City Council District 22.
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Felicia Kalan advanced from the Conservative Party primary for New York City Council District 22.
2020
See also: Municipal elections in Queens County, New York (2020)
General election
General election for New York City Civil Court Queens County (2 seats)
Jessica Earle-Gargan and Nestor Diaz won election in the general election for New York City Civil Court Queens County on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jessica Earle-Gargan (D) | 53.4 | 522,025 |
| ✔ | Nestor Diaz (D) | 46.0 | 449,405 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 6,232 | ||
| Total votes: 977,662 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Joseph Kasper (R / Conservative Party)
- Kevin Hanratty (R)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New York City Civil Court Queens County (2 seats)
Jessica Earle-Gargan defeated John Ciafone in the Democratic primary for New York City Civil Court Queens County on June 23, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jessica Earle-Gargan | 73.4 | 122,695 |
| John Ciafone | 26.2 | 43,823 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 691 | ||
| Total votes: 167,209 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Nestor Diaz advanced from the Democratic primary for New York City Civil Court Queens County.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Kevin Hanratty and Joseph Kasper advanced from the Republican primary for New York City Civil Court Queens County.
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Joseph Kasper advanced from the Conservative Party primary for New York City Civil Court Queens County.
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
John Ciafone completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ciafone's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am an award winning Trial Attorney practicing over 30 years I am an Administrative Law Judge and Judicial Hearing Officer and Certified Mediator and Arbitrator. I am a NYS EMT awarded the Healthcare Hero Award for my First Responder activity during COVID19
I am a NYS Chaplain serving Schools, Hospitals and Senior Centers- Enforcing Bail Laws for Public Safety
- Supporting Marriage Equality and Universal Marriage
- Supporting Pro Choice and women’s Reproductive Rights
East Elmhurst Democrats
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2023
John Ciafone did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
2021
John Ciafone did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
John Ciafone completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ciafone's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Ciafone was born, raised and continues to live in Queens with his wife and three children.
Ciafone is a product of public schools and Served from Secretary to President of Community School Board 30 serving the neighborhoods of Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, Corona, Astoria, LIC, Sunnyside and Woodside. Ciafone won the School Board elections with the highest number of votes, had a perfect attendance record and created the largest increase in seats and schools in the district
Ciafone has been on Steinway Street Serving the needs of the community and is a Trial Attorney, NYS Small Claims Arbitrator, NYS Certified Mediator and has been appointed by several Supreme Court Justices to serve as Referee and Guardian Ad Litem in the Supreme Court. Ciafone served as an Intern for Governor Mario Cuomo and was recently appointed Administrative Law Judge/Hearing Officer for OATH by Former NYC Chief Administrative Law Judge and Commissioner Fidel DelValle.
Ciafone conducts free seminars and webinars to the public and writes a weekly law news column and is an EMT/Paramedic trained EMS first responder who has volunteered during the Covid19 pandemic.
- Why do we allow our Judiciary to be corrupted by politics? I'm obligated to the people, not the political machine, party boss' or politicians.
- I will help and inform every individual who comes before the court for assistance by advising them of their rights.
- Why do we deny justice to some and give it freely to others? Why do we allow affluent people justice and deny it to individuals who cannot afford high-powered attorneys. Why are some individuals disadvantaged and others given special advantages in court?
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Second Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of New York, Western District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of New York, Western District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York
State courts:
New York Court of Appeals • New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division • New York Supreme Court • New York County Courts • New York City Courts • New York Town and Village Courts • New York Family Courts • New York Surrogates' Courts • New York City Civil Court • New York City Criminal Courts • New York Court of Claims • New York Problem Solving Courts
State resources:
Courts in New York • New York judicial elections • Judicial selection in New York
