A New York appellate court has ruled to invalidate the candidacy of Kenneth C. Paek for the Republican nomination for the New York State Assembly's 25th District. This decision, made on May 14, 2026, directly impacts the upcoming primary election scheduled for June 23, 2026. The ruling affects Paek, who was seeking to run for public office, and could potentially alter the political landscape in the district.

The case, titled Matter of Forrestal v. Paek (Docket No. 2026-04458), arose after Jacqueline Forrestal and Nily D. Rozic filed a petition to challenge Paek's designating petition. Their objections were based on concerns regarding the validity of the signatures collected to support Paek's candidacy. The court's decision emphasizes the importance of adhering to election laws and the integrity of the electoral process.

Background

The parties involved in this case are Jacqueline Forrestal and Nily D. Rozic, who are petitioners and opponents of Kenneth C. Paek, the appellant. The dispute centers around the validity of Paek's designating petition, which was filed with the New York City Board of Elections on April 6, 2026. Paek's petition aimed to secure his candidacy for the Republican primary election.

Forrestal and Rozic raised objections to Paek's petition, claiming that there were issues with the signatures he submitted. The case was brought to the Supreme Court of the State of New York, where a series of hearings and reviews took place. Initially, the Board of Elections determined that Paek had submitted 498 valid signatures, surpassing the required 494. However, the petitioners contested this finding, leading to further legal proceedings.

The Ruling

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York upheld the lower court's decision to invalidate Paek's designating petition. The ruling confirmed the findings of a court attorney referee who reviewed the signatures and determined that 10 of them were invalid. This left Paek with only 488 valid signatures, which was below the necessary threshold for candidacy.

The court ruled, "The incorporation by reference of the objections into the petition was sufficient... the petitioners thus provided Paek with 'all the information necessary to identify clearly the contested signatures involved.'"

The judges involved in this decision were Lara J. Genovesi, Deborah A. Dowling, Lillian Wan, Carl J. Landicino, and Susan Quirk. They concluded that Paek's motion to dismiss the petition was properly denied and that the objections raised by the petitioners were valid and adequately specified.

Impact

This ruling has significant implications for the upcoming primary election in New York's 25th Assembly District. With Paek's candidacy invalidated, it opens the door for other candidates within the Republican Party to seek the nomination. The decision reinforces the importance of compliance with election laws and the need for candidates to ensure that their petitions are accurate and complete.

The ruling also serves as a reminder to candidates about the scrutiny they may face regarding their petitions. It underscores the role of the courts in maintaining the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that only qualified candidates appear on the ballot. This case may set a precedent for future election-related disputes in New York, particularly regarding the handling of designating petitions and the validity of signatures.

What's Next

Following this ruling, Kenneth Paek has the option to appeal the decision to a higher court if he chooses. However, details regarding any potential appeal were not available in the court filing. The outcome of this case may also influence other candidates in similar situations as they prepare for upcoming elections.