UPDATE, OCTOBER 2021: Here is who will be on your general election ballot for Queens Borough President:

Democratic – Donovan J. Richards Jr.
Republican/Save Our City – Thomas J. Zmich
Conservative – Thomas J. Zmich

Original pre-primary story:

On the heels of winning the Queens borough president's race (technically, the race began as a special election but COVID-19 upended those plans) to serve out former BP Melinda Katz, Donovan Richards is already defending his post as three Democrats have thrown their name into the June primary race.

Much like all the borough president races, the perks to the top executive post for The World's Borough (nickname for Queens) is somewhat symbolic, with some semi-powerful duties that involve picking members of a community district whose values reflect theirs, offering an advisory opinion to zoning challenges, and commanding a tiny portion of the city's budget.

Whether it's Donovan presiding over the borough or a successor, the Queens borough president will be tasked to advocate for a borough pummeled by the pandemic, which at one point became the outbreak's epicenter here. A borough whose population is emblematic of a true melting pot, Queens ranks as the most ethnically diverse borough in the city and the third most diverse in the country, according to a study by Axios. And it's marred by fears of overdevelopment and gentrification, given the massive Special Flushing Waterfront District the city has planned for Flushing Creek.

The borough has also seen a dramatic rise in the influence of anti-machine political groups such as the Democratic Socialists of America, which helped propel lawmakers such as Bronx/Queens Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Queens state Senator Jessica Ramos to office. The Democratic candidates have framed their platforms around progressive causes, which could hint at whether they're angling for such support.

Here are the candidates:

Stan Morse

A community organizer and an ultimate political outsider, Stan Morse's activist wheelhouse is centered on equity by improving the quality of life in public housing (which requires federal support), vanquish tax lien sales that can reduce homeownership, and provide nearly low-cost access to ride the MTA subways and buses, according to his website. Morse is also a major player at Justice for All Coalition, a housing group that's made the rounds in calling out poorly maintained properties belonging to the New York City Housing Authority.

Morse's campaign is not off to the best start as he's only pulled in $3,700 in donations.

Donovan Richards

Donovan Richards was sworn into office this month, becoming the first Black man to be voted borough president for Queens, and thus hasn't had time to execute his vision, which he says is ripe for "commercial development and real affordable housing," striking a more moderate tone than his rivals. That would've included bringing the Amazon HQ2 site to Queens, which fizzled following outcry by progressive left groups. Within his control, Donovan seeks to empower young people to get on community boards and support economic development for all corners of the borough. Beyond that, Donovan looks to hold the MTA accountable for providing reliable service, providing funding to immigrant legal services, and ensure the wheels are set in motion to close Rikers Island, according to his website.

Diana Sanchez

Diana Sanchez is the only woman (so far) running for borough president, and the longtime Queens resident looks to fix issues impacting women, such as confronting human trafficking, providing universal basic income for women in shelters, and free afterschool childcare programs for single mothers. On top of those issues, Sanchez looks to confront unemployment by hosting job forums, keeping the ever increased use of food pantries stocked, and limiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from entering schools, medical clinics, and houses of worship. She is also advocating for converting parkland into affordable housing.

Jimmy Van Bramer

About a year ago, Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer, who is term limited this year, had dropped out of the borough president's race after a private family matter kept him from focusing on the run. But he announced this month that he was back in the race even as his former Council colleague currently occupies the office. Arguably the most progressive Democrat in the race, Van Bramer voted against defunding the police and closing Rikers Island for four smaller jails because they both did not go far enough towards his vision for restorative justice. Van Bramer's website also signals support for small business aid, a Queens Green New Deal, and protecting small-time homeowners from losing their homes.

Van Bramer poses the greatest challenge to Donovan, having raised $805,313 for the race. After expenditures, Van Bramer's left with $384,210, three times more than Donovan, who has $114,231 still left.