Queens D.A. Primary Too Close to Call, as Cabán Narrowly Leads Katz

It was billed as a contest of criminal justice reformers, a Democratic primary for district attorney in Queens that would serve as an adjustment to the tough-on-crime policies that have long typified this working-class borough of New York.

All six candidates in Tuesday’s race had backed proposals to get rid of bail for low-level offenses, move away from prosecuting sex workers and form a conviction-integrity unit.

But as the polls closed at 9 p.m., it remained to be seen just how far voters in Queens were willing to entertain major changes to the borough’s criminal justice system.

Most of the attention in the race has gone to three candidates: Tiffany Cabán, a 31-year-old public defender; Melinda Katz, the Queens borough president, who has captured the institutional support of the Queens County Democratic machine; and Greg Lasak, a former judge who worked as a senior prosecutor in the borough.

Ms. Cabán has captured the endorsements of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.