The Full Record

NY State Assembly · District 30

Western Queens, including Woodside, Maspeth, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

✓ Fact-checked 2026-09-25: 24 claims re-checked against their sources

A second, independent research pass re-opened every cited source for this race and corrected or removed anything the source didn’t support.

  • All facts, quotes, and the slate (Martinez D; Castro R/C/Arts & Culture Party/Reform Party) confirmed verbatim against Ballotpedia and Queens Daily Eagle sources; no changes needed.

On the ballot · 2 candidates

Patrick MartinezDBrandon CastroRCArts & Culture PartyReform Party

Where they stand — side by side

Only positions documented in a cited source are shown. Where an officeholder’s recorded votes speak to an issue, the votes set the position (marked “votes”). A dash means we found no clear public position — not that the candidate has none.

ISSUEPatrick Martinez
D
Brandon Castro
RCArts & Culture PartyReform Party
Stronger rent regulation and tenant protectionsSupports[4]—
Loosen zoning rules to build more housingMixed[4]Mixed[5]
Increase police funding and staffing—Supports[5]
Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)—Supports[5]

The candidates, in full

Patrick Martinez

D

Won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary by seven votes after an automatic recount.

Patrick Martinez is the Democratic nominee for the open NY State Assembly District 30 seat. A Democratic District Leader for the 30th Assembly District and member of Queens Community Board 2, he won a close three-way Democratic primary with backing from the Queens County Democratic Party and several labor unions.[1][3]

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsStronger rent regulation and tenant protections

    Says he will fight for stronger tenant protections and housing policies that stabilize the community, citing his work protecting Mitchell-Lama affordability on Queens Community Board 2.[4]

    “Rising rents are displacing long-time neighbors, and I will fight for stronger tenant protections and housing policies that stabilize our community.”
  • MixedLoosen zoning rules to build more housing

    Supports building more housing but says it should come through "sensible housing policies that increase supply without sacrificing the character of our neighborhoods."[4]

    “sensible housing policies that increase supply without sacrificing the character of our neighborhoods”

In their words — priorities

  • Tenant protections and housing affordability, including protecting Mitchell-Lama affordability, expanding property tax relief, and requiring deeply affordable units in new development.[4]
  • Public investment in schools, transit and infrastructure, including full funding for public schools, expanded after-school programs, accelerated subway and bus improvements, and climate resiliency against flooding.[4]
  • Workers' rights, including strengthening labor protections and supporting union growth.[4]

Background

  • Grew up in Elmhurst, Queens, attended local public schools, and graduated from Stuyvesant High School.[4]
  • Earned a bachelor's degree from Middlebury College in 2009, majoring in Latin American Studies, and a graduate degree from Baruch College in 2020.[1][4]
  • Worked in the tech startup world, including with Coalition for Queens on tech training and job placement for underrepresented groups; his career background includes work as a marketing director.[1][4]
  • Moved back to Woodside and joined Queens Community Board 2 in 2022, where he focuses on land use and the OneLIC task force; currently serves as Democratic District Leader for Assembly District 30.[4]
Shareable profile page

Brandon Castro

RCArts & Culture PartyReform Party

Brandon Castro is the Republican, Conservative, Arts & Culture and Reform Party nominee for the open NY State Assembly District 30 seat. A CUNY Queens College graduate and former NYC Small Business Services liaison, he previously ran against Steven Raga for this seat in 2024.[1][5]

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsIncrease police funding and staffing

    Says restoring safety requires "increasing NYPD manpower, investing in better training, and ensuring officers can protect our communities effectively and responsibly."[5]

    “increasing NYPD manpower, investing in better training, and ensuring officers can protect our communities effectively and responsibly”
  • SupportsPublic funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)

    Supports keeping the SHSAT admissions test and expanding merit-based financial aid rather than broader admissions changes.[5]

  • MixedLoosen zoning rules to build more housing

    Supports continued housing growth but says infrastructure investment (sewer, stormwater, transit) must keep pace, warning that "without investment in the foundation, we risk overburdening the very neighborhoods we are trying to grow."[5]

    “Without investment in the foundation, we risk overburdening the very neighborhoods we are trying to grow.”

In their words — priorities

  • Education and workforce reform, including investing in trade schools and vocational training, keeping the SHSAT, and expanding merit-based financial aid.[5]
  • Infrastructure investment, including upgrading sewer and stormwater systems and improving public transit, saying growth requires that "infrastructure and public safety must come first."[5]
  • Public safety, including increasing NYPD staffing and training to restore a visible police presence.[5]

Background

  • Born in New York City to Ecuadorian immigrant parents; educated in New York City public schools and Queens Technical High School.[5]
  • Earned a bachelor's degree from the City University of New York, Queens College, in 2023.[1][5]
  • Worked as a liaison for the NYC Department of Small Business Services, supporting and assisting small businesses.[5]
  • Ran unsuccessfully against incumbent Steven Raga for this seat in the 2024 general election.[1]
Shareable profile page

Research notes & limits

This is an open seat; neither candidate has held elected office, so there is no official voting or sponsorship record to include. Priorities and positions for both candidates come from their 2026 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses.

Sources · 5

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.New York State Assembly District 30 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Martinez Wins Assembly District 30 Primary by Seven Votes · Queens Daily Eagle · 2026-07-15 News report
  3. 3.Four compete for Raga's seat · Queens Chronicle News report
  4. 4.Patrick Martinez - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  5. 5.Brandon Castro - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words