Edward Braunstein
Edward Braunstein is the Democratic incumbent for NY State Assembly District 26, first elected in 2010. He chairs the Assembly Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee, which oversees utility and public-authority regulation, and also serves on the Health, Judiciary, Rules and Ways and Means committees.[1][2]
Floor votes in Albany
- YesProvides that a microbusiness licensee authorized to conduct retail sales may serve as a processor and cultivator for purposes of cannabis showcase event permits · S10113 · Passed Assembly 88–53 · 2026-06-05 official record ↗Provides that a microbusiness licensee authorized to conduct retail sales may serve as a processor and cultivator for purposes of cannabis showcase event permits.
- YesRelates to granting employees access to personnel records · S3460 · Passed Assembly 92–49 · 2026-05-19 official record ↗Grants employees access to personnel records; requires notice of negative information in such records and an opportunity for a review; permits employee to include certain information in personnel records.
- YesConcealed Carry Improvement Act · S51001 · Passed 90–52 · 2022-07-01 official record ↗Enacted after the Bruen decision: added training and character requirements for carry permits and barred guns in designated sensitive places.
- Yes2021–22 budget revenue bill · S2509 · Passed 88–61 · 2021-04-07 official record ↗Raised personal income tax rates on incomes above $1 million and raised the corporate franchise tax rate on large businesses, among other revenue measures.
- YesProtect Our Courts Act · A2176 · Passed 97–44 · 2020-07-20 official record ↗Bars federal civil immigration arrests of people going to, attending, or leaving New York courthouses without a judicial warrant.
- YesClimate Leadership and Community Protection Act · S6599 · Passed 111–35 · 2019-06-20 official record ↗Set statewide targets of 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and an 85% cut in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.
- YesHousing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 · S6458 · Passed 95–46 · 2019-06-14 official record ↗Made rent regulation permanent, ended vacancy decontrol and the vacancy bonus, and limited rent increases for major capital improvements.
- YesExtreme risk protection orders (red-flag law) · S2451 · Passed 100–37 · 2019-01-29 official record ↗Allows courts to temporarily bar people found to pose a danger to themselves or others from possessing firearms.
- YesReproductive Health Act · S240 · Passed 95–49 · 2019-01-22 official record ↗Moved abortion from the penal code to the public-health law and protected access to abortion under state law.
Votes on landmark laws since 2019, plus 2026 roll calls where at least five members voted on the losing side — read from the legislature’s official records.
On the record — official actions
- actionChairs the Assembly Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee (2025-2026), which has jurisdiction over the Public Service Commission and utility regulation; also serves on the Health, Judiciary, Rules, and Ways and Means committees. Previously chaired the Cities Committee (2021-2024).[2]
- bill2026-06-04 · Sponsored A08675 ("prevention of damage to critical infrastructure act"), restricting junk and scrap dealers from buying metals used by critical infrastructure providers; passed the Assembly on March 9, 2026, amended and repassed May 18, 2026, and was substituted into Senate companion bill S8302-D, which passed the Senate on June 4, 2026 and was returned to the Assembly.[4]
- bill2026-06-04 · Sponsored A10422, requiring that any Public Service Commission sanction or civil penalty against a utility be returned to ratepayers as a direct bill credit within 90 days; the Assembly bill was substituted by Senate companion bill S8908, which passed the Assembly on June 4, 2026.[5]
- billSponsored A02429, directing the Department of Public Service to report on the affordability of water services for residential and commercial customers; referred to the Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee, not enacted as of January 2026.[6]
- billSponsored A02047, establishing a property-tax abatement and exemption for capital improvements that reduce carbon emissions; referred to committee, not enacted as of this writing.[3]
Positions on the issues
- SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on S6599 (Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, 2019-06-20): Set statewide targets of 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and an 85% cut in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.[9]
What they say: Sponsored A02047, creating a real-property tax abatement and exemption for capital improvements that reduce carbon emissions, with co-sponsors including David Weprin and Nily Rozic.[3]
- SupportsStronger rent regulation and tenant protectionsFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on S6458 (Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, 2019-06-14): Made rent regulation permanent, ended vacancy decontrol and the vacancy bonus, and limited rent increases for major capital improvements.[8]
- SupportsStricter gun lawsFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on S2451 (Extreme risk protection orders (red-flag law), 2019-01-29): Allows courts to temporarily bar people found to pose a danger to themselves or others from possessing firearms. Voted yes on S51001 (Concealed Carry Improvement Act, 2022-07-01): Enacted after the Bruen decision: added training and character requirements for carry permits and barred guns in designated sensitive places.[10][11]
- SupportsProtect legal access to abortionFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on S240 (Reproductive Health Act, 2019-01-22): Moved abortion from the penal code to the public-health law and protected access to abortion under state law.[12]
- OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on A2176 (Protect Our Courts Act, 2020-07-20): Bars federal civil immigration arrests of people going to, attending, or leaving New York courthouses without a judicial warrant.[13]
- SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on S2509 (2021–22 budget revenue bill, 2021-04-07): Raised personal income tax rates on incomes above $1 million and raised the corporate franchise tax rate on large businesses, among other revenue measures.[14]
Background
- Earned a B.S. in Finance from the State University of New York at Albany in 2003 and a J.D. from New York Law School in 2008.[2]
- Worked as a legislative assistant to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver before his own election.[2]
- Served on Community Board 11, which covers Northeast Queens neighborhoods.[2]