NY State Senate · District 23
Jessica Scarcella-Spanton
NY State Senator, District 23 (since January 2023)DAffordable & Safe PartyINCUMBENT
- Race
- NY State Senate · District 23
- Result
- Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, projected winner
- Opponent
- Ruslan Shamal (R, C)
- Research
- In depth
Party line25 votes tracked
Broke with Democrats on
With party = voted the same way as most Democrats who voted.
Said vs. did0 statements · 25 votes
Jessica Scarcella-Spanton is the Democratic New York State Senator for District 23, covering Staten Island's North and East Shores and parts of southern Brooklyn, and won re-election on November 3, 2026, defeating Republican/Conservative nominee Ruslan Shamal. A Staten Island native, she worked in the state legislature for years, including as legislative director in the Assembly and director of operations for Senator Diane Savino, before winning the seat in 2022. She chairs the Senate's Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee.[1][2][3][4]
On the ballotNY State Senate · 23
2026-11-03
| Jessica Scarcella-Spanton DAffordable & Safe Party | incumbent |
| Ruslan Shamal RC | challenger |
Biography
Jessica Scarcella-Spanton is the Democratic New York State Senator for District 23, covering Staten Island's North and East Shores and parts of southern Brooklyn, and won re-election on November 3, 2026, defeating Republican/Conservative nominee Ruslan Shamal. A Staten Island native, she worked in the state legislature for years, including as legislative director in the Assembly and director of operations for Senator Diane Savino, before winning the seat in 2022. She chairs the Senate's Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee.[1][2][3][4]
Jessica Scarcella-Spanton was born and raised on Staten Island by parents who were both school teachers.[2][1] She began as an intern for the NYS Assembly in 2009 and rose to Legislative Director; according to her Senate biography, she was hired for that post before finishing her bachelor's degree, while Ballotpedia notes only that she earned one.[2][1] In 2012 she moved to Colorado Springs while her husband, a U.S. Army veteran, served, including a deployment to Afghanistan, and she later returned to Staten Island.[2]
Scarcella-Spanton served as Director of Operations for then-state Senator Diane Savino from 2017 to 2021, including work on the district's COVID-19 vaccine distribution and hospital-support advocacy, and she worked as Assistant Director of Government and Community Relations at the MTA before her election.[1][2] She won the open District 23 seat in the November 2022 general election, defeating Joseph Tirone, and took office on January 1, 2023; she was re-elected in 2024 over Marko Kepi.[1] She chairs the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee and also sits on the Civil Service and Pensions, Cultural Affairs/Tourism/Parks/Recreation, Disabilities, Labor, and Women's Issues committees and the Legislative Women's Caucus.[2]
Her Senate biography says she organized families to speak with their Assembly members on a stillbirth-related bill that gathered 148 sponsors and became law, and that an advocacy group recognized this work.[2] The same biography says she is married to Josh, a U.S. Army veteran, and that they have two children and live in West Brighton.[2] Scarcella-Spanton won the November 3, 2026 general election with 64.3% of the vote to Ruslan Shamal's 35.5%, according to unofficial results reported by Ballotpedia and Wikipedia.[3][4]
Recent votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Relates to information that residential health care facilities are required to disclose to residents and their familiesA10312-A · Passed Senate 39–21 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 1–21 |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Enacts the "police radio transparency act"A11199-A · Passed Senate 37–23 · official record ↗Democrats 36–1 · Republicans 0–22 |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Relates to license fees required to be paid by wholesale beer licensees to sell ciderA11437 · Passed Senate 47–13 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 9–13 |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Enacts the responsible data center development actA11560 · Passed Senate 43–17 · official record ↗Democrats 36–1 · Republicans 6–16 |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Requires the division of criminal justice services to study the technological viability of personalized firearmsA1191-B · Passed Senate 40–20 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 2–20 |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Promotes consumer choice by requiring manufacturers of digital electronic equipment to provide retail sellers with a one through ten repair score that will be displayed to consumers at point of saleA3058-C · Passed Senate 39–21 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 1–21 |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Relates to the taxation of vapor productsA4619-B · Passed Senate 52–8 · official record ↗Democrats 32–5 · Republicans 19–3 |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Relates to training for school security guardsA5079-E · Passed Senate 52–8 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 14–8 |
Showing the 8 most recent of 25 votes.
All 25 recorded votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Relates to information that residential health care facilities are required to disclose to residents and their familiesA10312-A · Passed Senate 39–21 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 1–21Relates to information that residential health care facilities are required to separately disclose to residents and their families; requires such information to be posted on the residential health care facility's website. |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Enacts the "police radio transparency act"A11199-A · Passed Senate 37–23 · official record ↗Democrats 36–1 · Republicans 0–22Requires that any law enforcement agency in the state that encrypts any portion of its radio communications shall ensure that all of its radio communications, with the exception of sensitive information, may be monitored in real time by professional journalists, newscasters, and individuals employed by emergency services organizations. |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Relates to license fees required to be paid by wholesale beer licensees to sell ciderA11437 · Passed Senate 47–13 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 9–13Requires wholesale beer licensees to only need to pay a one time additional license fee to sell cider. |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Enacts the responsible data center development actA11560 · Passed Senate 43–17 · official record ↗Democrats 36–1 · Republicans 6–16Places a one year moratorium on the issuance of data center permits; requires utilities to establish an independent classification of service for large data centers; sets energy efficiency goals for data centers; provides for benefits for host communities; sets labor standards for the construction of data centers. |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Requires the division of criminal justice services to study the technological viability of personalized firearmsA1191-B · Passed Senate 40–20 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 2–20Enacts the "safer weapons, safer homes act"; requires the division of criminal justice services to study the technological viability of personalized firearms; defines personalized firearms; requires the division to report to the governor and the legislature on the results of the study. |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Promotes consumer choice by requiring manufacturers of digital electronic equipment to provide retail sellers with a one through ten repair score that will be displayed to consumers at point of saleA3058-C · Passed Senate 39–21 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 1–21Promotes consumer choice by requiring manufacturers of digital electronic equipment to provide retail sellers with a repair score that will be displayed to consumers at point of sale. |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Relates to the taxation of vapor productsA4619-B · Passed Senate 52–8 · official record ↗Democrats 32–5 · Republicans 19–3Relates to the taxation of vapor products; provides for the licensing of vapor products distributors; imposes certain tax return filing requirements on vapor products distributors; provides for enforcement powers. |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Relates to training for school security guardsA5079-E · Passed Senate 52–8 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 14–8Enacts the "school security guard training enhancement act"; provides that annual training where a security guard is employed or contracted by a school in this state shall require the completion of school specific-training. |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Relates to the municipal sustainable energy loan programA5404-C · Passed Senate 47–13 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 9–13Relates to the municipal sustainable energy loan program regarding qualifying water improvements, qualifying resiliency improvements and, in a city with a population of one million or more, the use of low carbon intensity building components. |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Relates to the contents of emergency response plans required to be submitted to the public service commission by electric corporationsA6285 · Passed Senate 53–7 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 15–7Relates to the contents of emergency response plans required to be submitted to the public service commission by electric corporations; requires such plans to include details of staffing, equipment, and ability to perform toward certain standards; requires the public service commission to establish a time-based restoration schedule. |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Establishes the artificial intelligence training data transparency actA6578-B · Passed Senate 54–6 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 16–6Establishes the artificial intelligence training data transparency act requiring developers of generative artificial intelligence models or services to post on the developer's website information regarding the data used by the developer to train the generative artificial intelligence model or service, including a high-level summary of the datasets used in the development of such system or service. |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Enacts "the construction reporting pay act"A6950 · Passed Senate 50–10 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 12–10Enacts "the construction reporting pay act"; provides that each laborer, worker or mechanic in the employ of a contractor who by request or permission of an employer reports for work on any day shall be paid no less than four hours at the prevailing rate of wages. |
| 2026-06-04 | Against partyvoted no | Permits funds collected from the Oswego county occupancy tax to be used on making tourism related capital improvementsA8143-A · Passed Senate 55–5 · official record ↗Democrats 34–3 · Republicans 20–2Permits funds collected from the Oswego county occupancy tax to be used on making tourism related capital improvements; removes such tax on permanent residents. |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Designates dog control officers of the village of Holley, named by the village board as constables, as peace officersA8235 · Passed Senate 47–13 · official record ↗Democrats 24–13 · Republicans 22–0Designates dog control officers of the village of Holley, named by the village board as constables, as peace officers. |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Provides liability protections for health care providers who issue vaccinesA9140 · Passed Senate 42–18 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 4–18Provides liability protections for health care providers who issue vaccines so long as such vaccination does not arise out of willful misconduct or gross negligence. |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Prohibits the use of surveillance pricingA9349-B · Passed Senate 39–21 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 1–21Prohibits the use of surveillance pricing, directly or indirectly; prohibits the collection, use, retention, or sharing of data to facilitate surveillance pricing; provides exceptions; provides for enforcement by the attorney general; makes related provisions. |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Requires covered businesses to annually report to the department of labor regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on hiring and the nature of artificial intelligence useA9581-B · Passed Senate 38–22 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 0–22Requires covered businesses to annually report to the department of labor regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on hiring and the nature of artificial intelligence use for the previous year; requires the department of labor to file an annual report on the impact of artificial intelligence on hiring and the nature of artificial intelligence use in the state; establishes penalties for covered business that fail to submit such reports. |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Amends a plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees for a certain appropriation for additional grants in aid for certain educational and not-for-profit institutionsR2343 · Passed Senate 49–11 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 11–11 |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Amends a plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees for a certain appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year for services and expenses of human services and veterans community services organizationsR2344 · Passed Senate 51–9 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 13–9 |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Amends a plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees for a certain appropriation for additional grants in aid certain educational and not-for-profit institutionsR2345 · Passed Senate 49–11 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 11–11 |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Amends a plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees for certain appropriations for services and expenses of economic development and community services organizationsR2346 · Passed Senate 50–10 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 12–10 |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Amends a plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees for a certain appropriation for aid for services and expenses of human services and veterans community services organizationsR2347 · Passed Senate 52–8 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 14–8 |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Amending a plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees for a certain appropriation for the 2025-26 state fiscal year for community adult and youth mental health programs and servicesR2348 · Passed Senate 50–10 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 12–10 |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Amends a plan establishing itemized list of grantees for 2025-2026 providing community safety and restorative justice programsR2349 · Passed Senate 50–10 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 12–10 |
| 2026-06-04 | With partyvoted yes | Amends a plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees for a certain appropriation for additional grants in aid for services and expenses of senate priorities for housing initiativesR2350 · Passed Senate 50–10 · official record ↗Democrats 37–0 · Republicans 12–10 |
Albany votes: landmark laws since 2019, plus the 25 most recent 2025–26 roll calls where at least five members voted on the losing side, from the legislature’s official records. Party line is scored for 2025–26 votes only.
On the record
Official actions: bills, executive acts, filings and court records.
- bill2026-05-15 · Sponsored S10515, the "Wireless Security Enforcement (WiSE) Act," which would make manufacturing, importing, or selling wireless signal jammers a class D felony; in the Senate Internet and Technology Committee as of May 15, 2026, not yet passed by either chamber.[5]
- bill2026-06-01 · Sponsored S10151-A, which would direct the state veterans' services commissioner to establish a registry of service members, veterans, and family members who may have experienced hazardous substance exposure at military installations; amended and recommitted to the Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee on June 1, 2026.[6]
- actionChairs the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee.[7]
In their own words
Priorities
- Has pushed for Staten Island to be included in citywide pre-K ("2-K") expansion, arguing the borough's children were being excluded from a program other boroughs received.[8]
- Has made veterans' issues a focus of her legislative work, including sponsoring a registry for service members and veterans who may have been exposed to hazardous substances at military installations.[6]
Campaign moneyNo FEC filing summary matched — state candidates file with their state, not the FEC.
Profile: /people/jessica-scarcella-spanton
Where they stood out
Voted against most of their party on 32 of 673 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (11), Rights & public safety (9), Transportation (7)
Extends the effectiveness of the authority of the town of Red Hook to impose real estate transfer taxes and to deposit revenue from such taxes into a community preservation fund
What it does: Extends the effectiveness of the authority of the town of Red Hook to impose real estate transfer taxes and to deposit revenue from such taxes into a community preservation fund.
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 35–3, Republicans 7–15
Jun 3, 2026Official record ↗
Relates to personal income taxes in the city of New York
What it does: Extends certain provisions of law relating to tax rates and the imposition of income taxes in the city of New York.
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 35–3, Republicans 5–17
Jun 2, 2026Official record ↗
Requires cultural awareness and competence training for medical professionals
What it does: Requires cultural awareness and competence training for medical professionals, including two hours of course work or training encompassing minority healthcare issues; provides an exemption for certain individuals; req…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 36–1, Republicans 0–22
Jun 1, 2026Official record ↗
Their votes on the most contested roll calls
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
- No
Requires cultural awareness and competence training for medical professionals
Against most of their party · Passed Senate 34–24 · Yes 34–No 24 · Democrats 33–2, Republicans 0–22
Jun 4, 2025Official record ↗
- Yes
Relates to the closure of nursing homes
With most of their party · Passed Senate 32–20 · Yes 32–No 20 · Democrats 32–0, Republicans 0–20
May 15, 2025Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed Senate 35–23 · Yes 35–No 23 · Democrats 34–1, Republicans 0–22
Jun 4, 2025Official record ↗
- Yes
Relates to commissaries and canteens at correctional institutions
With most of their party · Passed Senate 36–22 · Yes 36–No 22 · Democrats 35–0, Republicans 0–22
May 29, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed Senate 36–22 · Yes 36–No 22 · Democrats 35–0, Republicans 0–22
May 29, 2026Official record ↗
Compare all 2 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Jessica Scarcella-Spanton · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.About Jessica Scarcella-Spanton · NYSenate.gov Official record
- 3.New York State Senate District 23 election results 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-11-09 Reference
- 4.New York State Senate election results 2026 · Wikipedia · 2026-11-09 Reference
- 5.Senate Bill S10515, the Wireless Security Enforcement (WiSE) Act · NYSenate.gov · 2026-05-15 Official record
- 6.Senate Bill S10151-A, hazardous substance exposure registry · NYSenate.gov · 2026-06-01 Official record
- 7.About Jessica Scarcella-Spanton · NYSenate.gov Official record
- 8.NYC promises future Staten Island 2-K seats but offers little clarity on initial exclusion · NYSenate.gov (reprint) News report