Helen Qiu
R
Advanced from the Republican primary unopposed; third run for elected office (2022 Assembly, 2025 City Council).
Helen Qiu is a former engineering project manager and pastor running as the Republican nominee for this open seat, focused on public safety, repealing cashless bail, and opposing what she calls government overreach.[3]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Positions on the issues
- SupportsIncrease police funding and staffing
Supports repealing cashless bail and increasing funding for the NYPD.[4]
“Repeal Cashless Bail reform, improve prison conditions, fund NYPD”
- OpposesKeep congestion pricing in Manhattan
Opposes congestion pricing, listing it among taxes she would stop.[4]
“stop congestion price taxes”
- OpposesStronger rent regulation and tenant protections
Frames her housing position around defending small landlords' property rights rather than expanding tenant protections.[4]
“Defend small landlords as small businesses, protect private property”
In their words — priorities
- Public safety: repeal cashless bail reform, fund the NYPD, and improve prison conditions.[4]
- Housing: preserve NYCHA from sale and prioritize affordable housing for seniors and single-parent families.[4]
- Education: uphold merit-based admissions and defend the SHSAT and Gifted & Talented programs.[4]
- Small businesses: reduce regulations and taxes and protect small landlords' property rights.[4]
Background
- Earned a bachelor's degree from Zhongshan University (1990), a graduate degree from Reformed Seminary (2007), and a graduate degree from Columbia University (2010).[3]
- Career experience includes working as a pastor, teacher, engineer and engineering manager.[3]
- Affiliated with the New York City Education Council.[3]
- Ran for this Assembly seat in 2022, losing to Grace Lee 76%-23.7%, and for New York City Council District 1 in 2025, losing to Christopher Marte 71.6%-28%.[3]