At a Bayside Queens town hall, Chuck Park, a former member of the foreign service and a Democratic challenger to Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., was met with a packed room of supporters who had come to hear out the progressive candidate. As the June 23 primary approaches, Park, whose bid has operated in the shadow of high-profile progressive campaigns in other parts of New York City, is betting that a grassroots, volunteer-driven campaign will be able to win the day.
The town hall in Bayside was standing room only ahead of Park’s appearance, with about 140 voters packed into the Hana Adult Day Care center in northeast Queens. The crowd was a mix of older and younger supporters, who were excited to see a challenger to Meng, the 13-year incumbent in the district.
