Julie Won
Julie Won | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 17, 1990 South Korea |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Years active | 2021–present |
| Known for | Member of the New York City Council from the 26th district |
| Spouse | Eugene Noh |
Julie Won (born April 17, 1990) is a Korean American elected official based in New York City. She represents the 26th district on the New York City Council, covering western Queens neighborhoods such as Sunnyside, Long Island City, Woodside, and Astoria.
Early life and education
Originally from South Korea, Won relocated to Queens with her family in 1998 when she was eight years old. Her parents, who were affected by the 1997 Asian financial crisis, found employment in small local enterprises. Raised in Long Island City, she completed her secondary education at Hewlett High School. Won holds a bachelor's degree from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.
Career
Prior to entering public service, Won’s professional background was primarily in consulting at IBM.
2021 City Council campaign
In October 2020, Won declared her candidacy for the 26th district seat on the New York City Council, which was open due to term limits affecting incumbent Democrat Jimmy Van Bramer. As a member of Queens Community Board 2, she cited her family’s hardships during the pandemic as a key impetus for running. Identifying as a progressive, she emphasized her experience in technology and advocated for citywide free WiFi, among other progressive initiatives.
The Democratic primary featured 15 contenders, many promoting progressive agendas, with no clear leader emerging early on. The crowded race led some endorsers to remain neutral; notable endorsements included Van Bramer and the influential Working Families Party, both backing Amit Singh Bagga, New York City Census deputy director.
On election night, Won held a slim lead over Bagga with 18.5% versus 17.7% of the vote; other candidates received less than 10%. After counting absentee ballots and applying ranked-choice voting, Won secured a 57-43% win over Bagga in the fifteenth round. She officially claimed victory on July 6 and faced minimal opposition in the November general election, winning comfortably.
2025 mayoral race
Won supported Zohran Mamdani during the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary. Her spouse, Eugene Noh—who previously managed Staten Island Congressman Max Rose's reelection bid—was appointed campaign manager for incumbent Mayor Eric Adams' challenging reelection campaign.
Personal life
Residing in Sunnyside, Queens, Won lives with her husband Eugene Noh, who serves as campaign manager for Mayor Eric Adams' 2025 reelection effort and formerly worked on Max Rose’s campaign team.
See also
- Individuals born in 1990
- New York (state) politicians active in the 21st century
- American female politicians of the 21st century
- Women of Korean heritage in American politics
- Asian-American members of the New York City Council
- Asian-American political figures in New York (state)
- Former IBM staff
- Alumni of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
- Democrats from New York (state)
- Members of the New York City Council
- Politicians originating from Queens, New York
- South Korean immigrants to the United States
- Female members of the New York City Council
- IBM employees