John Ricottone

Ricottone earned a high school diploma from John Dewey High School and an associate degree from Ashworth College in 2005.[1] He is a retired NYPD officer, and Ballotpedia lists his profession as retired as of 2026.[1][2] He describes himself as President of Community Education Council District 20, where he says he worked to improve school safety, helped obtain $50,000 in City Council funding for one of his liaison schools, and pushed for school safety agent hiring and more after-school funding.[2]

Ricottone advanced from the Conservative Party primary on June 23, 2026, and the Republican primary for the seat was canceled.[1] He was on the November 3, 2026 ballot as the Republican, Conservative and Stop Mamdani Party candidate.[1] During the campaign, his stated priorities, according to his Ballotpedia survey, were safer and cleaner streets, affordability and education.[2] In the November 3, 2026 general election, Ricottone lost to William Colton, according to unofficial results from the NYC Board of Elections and Wikipedia.[3][4]