Eon Tyrell Huntley
Won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary, defeating incumbent Stefani Zinerman
Eon Tyrell Huntley is a retail worker, former PTA president, and democratic socialist running for the open Assembly District 56 seat. He defeated incumbent Stefani Zinerman in the June 2026 Democratic primary and is unopposed in the November general election.[1][2]
Positions on the issues
- SupportsUniversal, publicly funded child care
Backs passing the Universal Child Care Act to build out state childcare infrastructure so care is not priced- or means-tested and childcare workers are paid fairly.[2]
“We must pass the Universal Child Care Act to guarantee the best possible start for every child.”
- SupportsStronger rent regulation and tenant protections
Supports Mayor Mamdani's rent freeze, wants to expand tenant protections and freeze rents statewide, and opposes housing being treated as a commodity.[2]
“Eon supports Mayor Mamdani's rent freeze and wants to expand tenant protections and freeze rents across New York State.”
- SupportsLoosen zoning rules to build more housing
Supports creating a public Social Housing Development Authority, as proposed by Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, to build permanently affordable housing.[2]
“Eon supports AM Gallagher's plan to create a Social Housing Development Authority to build hundreds of thousands of units of permanently sustainable & rent-controlled housing.”
- OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportations
Advocates severing all ties between New York State and ICE, including a moratorium on immigrant detention facilities in the state.[2]
“he has always advocated for severing all ties between New York State and ICE, including a moratorium on immigrant detention facilities in our state”
- SupportsExpand public health coverage
Lists healthcare, alongside education and childcare, as a basic right that should be guaranteed regardless of immigration status.[2]
“Eon believes in healthcare, education, childcare, and the Good Life for all, regardless of where they were born or their immigration status.”
In their words — priorities
- "We must pass the Universal Child Care Act to guarantee the best possible start for every child. This act will invest in building out our state's childcare infrastructure and put us on the path toward a truly universal system, where every family in our state has quality care, nobody gets priced or means-tested out, and childcare workers are treated with dignity and compensated generously."[2]
- "Housing is a human right... Eon supports Mayor Mamdani's rent freeze and wants to expand tenant protections and freeze rents across New York State. He believes in decommodifying housing, standing up to bad landlords, and dramatically increasing funding for NYCHA," including support for Assemblymember Gallagher's plan to create a Social Housing Development Authority.[2]
- "Eon believes an injury to one is an injury to all... he has always advocated for severing all ties between New York State and ICE, including a moratorium on immigrant detention facilities in our state."[2]
Background
- Huntley grew up in East New York and in NYCHA's Pink Houses; his father immigrated from Guyana and his mother is a second-generation Brooklynite.[2]
- He attended New York City public schools and the Parsons School of Design before working as a fashion designer and, currently, a retail clothing salesman.[2]
- As a member of the bargaining committee for Workers United Local 340, he fought for and won healthcare coverage for fellow workers.[2]
- He served three terms as PTA president at his daughters' school and co-founded a mobile food pantry that fed hundreds of Brooklyn residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has lived in Bedford-Stuyvesant for 19 years with his wife Rebecca, a public school teacher.[2]