Christian Celeste Tate
Defeated incumbent Erik Dilan 61.9%–37.9% in the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary; running unopposed in the general election.
Christian Celeste Tate is a community organizer and democratic socialist who won the Democratic and Working Families Party nominations for the open NY State Assembly District 54 seat, defeating incumbent Erik Dilan in the June 2026 primary. He is running unopposed in the November general election.[1][2]
Positions on the issues
- SupportsStronger rent regulation and tenant protections
Supports creating a state Social Housing Development Authority, passing the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, expanding Good Cause eviction protections, and defending rent stabilization.[2]
“We will support tenant organizing through the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act. We will expand Good Cause protections and defend rent stabilization.”
- OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportations
Opposes expanded immigration enforcement; supports barring state agencies from cooperating with ICE, guaranteeing immigration lawyers in deportation cases, and prohibiting immigration detention facilities in New York.[2]
“We will pass New York for All to prohibit state agencies from collaborating with ICE.”
- OpposesIncrease police funding and staffing
Frames public safety primarily as a matter of community investment and prevention — youth programming, workforce development, violence interruption, and mental-health and substance-use services — rather than increased police funding or staffing.[2]
“Real public safety comes from community investment and prevention. We have to do more than just respond to crime when it happens; we have to address the generational cycles of poverty and inequality that cause crime in the first place.”
- SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporations
Lists organizing campaigns to "tax the rich" among his community organizing work and campaign goals.[2]
In their words — priorities
- Housing: create a state Social Housing Development Authority to build permanently affordable homes statewide; support tenant organizing through the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act; expand Good Cause eviction protections; defend rent stabilization; renew the Bushwick/East New York cease-and-desist zone; and tax speculative home flipping.[2]
- Immigration: pass "New York for All" to bar state agencies from collaborating with ICE; adopt "Access to Representation" to guarantee immigration lawyers in deportation cases; and pass "Dignity Not Detention" to bar immigration detention facilities from operating in New York.[2]
- Public safety: invest in youth programming and workforce development, expand violence interruption programs, and increase access to school counseling, mental healthcare and substance-use treatment, framing these as addressing root causes of crime rather than only responding to it.[2]
Background
- Is a member of Brooklyn Community Board 4, NYC-DSA, the East New York Community Land Trust, and New York Communities for Change.[2]
- Has organized with neighbors against landlords he describes as among the city's worst, stood with neighbors in court to fight deed theft, and organized campaigns to tax the wealthy, freeze rents, and create a public bank.[2]
- Defeated three-term incumbent Erik Dilan and a third candidate, Paperboy Prince (who withdrew before the primary), in the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary.[1]