Andrew Gounardes
Andrew Gounardes is the Democratic and Working Families Party incumbent seeking re-election to NY Senate District 26. First elected to the Senate in 2018 (District 22) and representing District 26 since redistricting in 2023, he chairs the Senate Budget and Revenue Committee and has sponsored legislation on AI safety, social media regulation for minors, tax credits for families, and immigration protections.[1][2]
Floor votes in Albany
- YesAssesses a separate tax on distributions from designated settlement funds · S10585 · Passed Senate 39–21 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Assesses a 100% tax on distributions from the federal anti-weaponization fund; provides that such tax shall not be reduced pursuant to any deduction, exemption or credit.
- 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 Senate 47–13 · 2026-06-01 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 winter road maintenance data collection and monitoring · S10094 · Passed Senate 44–16 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Establishes a standardized statewide system for collecting, recording, and monitoring winter road maintenance operational data in order to improve efficiency, enhance transparency, and support the protection of water resources in the state of New York; requires calibration of all deicing material application equipment used for winter highway maintenance on public roads.
- YesEstablishes the New York State grid reliability and energy affordability transition (GREAT) act · S9500-A · Passed Senate 39–21 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Establishes the New York State grid reliability and energy affordability transition (GREAT) act; establishes the virtual power plant program to help reduce energy costs and grid reliability risks; provides incentives to participants for supporting the grid by investing in distributed energy resources and reducing net energy costs.
- YesRelates to placing restrictions on the sale of flare guns · S8455-B · Passed Senate 35–25 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Establishes the crimes of criminal sale of a flare gun in the first and second degrees; sets restrictions on and requirements for the sale of flare guns.
- YesRequires certain construction project contracts to include siting of renewable energy systems, qualified energy storage systems, or electric major utility transmission facilities · S7898-A · Passed Senate 39–21 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Requires certain construction project contracts with a value of greater than or equal to five million dollars to include siting of renewable energy systems, qualified energy storage systems, or major electric transmission facilities.
- YesConcealed Carry Improvement Act · S51001 · Passed 43–20 · 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 (raised taxes on income over $1M and corporate franchise tax) · S2509-C · Passed 38–25 · 2021-04-06 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 · S425-A · Passed 42–18 · 2020-07-22 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 41–21 · 2019-06-18 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 36–26 · 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 42–21 · 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 38–24 · 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
- bill2025-12-19 · Sponsored the Responsible AI Safety and Education (RAISE) Act (S6953B), requiring frontier AI developers to implement safety protocols, report critical incidents within 72 hours, and undergo third-party risk evaluation; signed into law December 19, 2025.[9]
- bill2025-12-20 · Sponsored a bill (S4505) requiring social media platforms with addictive design features to display Surgeon General mental-health warning labels to users under 18; signed into law December 20, 2025.[10]
- bill2025-06-12 · Sponsored S.410, restricting judges' ability to reduce jury damage awards in workplace discrimination cases except in exceptional circumstances of prejudice or corruption; passed the Senate by June 12, 2025.[11]
- bill2025-05-02 · Sponsored S7738A, requiring the state to study its own permitting role in last-mile trucking air pollution in disadvantaged communities under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act; passed the Senate.[8]
- bill2026-05-21 · Sponsored the New York for All Act (S2235A) limiting state/local cooperation with ICE; related provisions (barring local jails from holding people for ICE, banning new 287(g) agreements, restricting ICE at sensitive locations without a warrant) passed as part of the FY2027 state budget.[6][7]
- actionChairs the Senate Budget and Revenue Committee in the 2025-2026 legislative session.[2]
- bill2025-12-22 · Introduced legislation in December 2025 decoupling New York's tax code from 2025 federal changes, including reversing an immediate-expensing benefit for corporations (projected to raise about $3 billion in 2026) and phasing out an expanded child/dependent care credit for high earners.[5]
Positions on the issues
- SupportsKeep congestion pricing in Manhattan
Has publicly urged the state to implement congestion pricing in Manhattan, citing funding for transit accessibility projects.[4]
- SupportsUniversal, publicly funded child care
Lists universal, free child care and expanded afterschool access as a top legislative priority.[3]
- SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on S2509-C (2021–22 Budget Revenue Bill (raised taxes on income over $1M and corporate franchise tax), 2021-04-06): Raised personal income tax rates on incomes above $1 million and raised the corporate franchise tax rate on large businesses, among other revenue measures.[20]
What they say: Introduced legislation decoupling New York's tax code from 2025 federal tax law changes, including a corporate expensing rollback and a phaseout of an expanded child-care tax credit for households earning over $500,000 ($1 million joint).[5]
“Trump took a hatchet to the federal tax code, carving out big benefits for his billionaire buddies while chopping up funds for crucial programs like Medicaid and food stamps.”
- OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on S425-A (Protect Our Courts Act, 2020-07-22): Bars federal civil immigration arrests of people going to, attending, or leaving New York courthouses without a judicial warrant.[19]
What they say: Sponsored the New York for All Act (S2235A), which would bar state and local agencies from using resources for civil immigration enforcement or sharing sensitive information with ICE without a judicial warrant; related restrictions on ICE cooperation passed as part of the FY2027 budget in May 2026.[6][7]
- SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on S6599 (Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, 2019-06-18): Set statewide targets of 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and an 85% cut in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.[15]
What they say: Sponsored a bill requiring the state Department of Environmental Conservation to account for its own permitting role in last-mile trucking pollution in disadvantaged communities, part of a broader climate and transit-investment agenda.[8]
“an honest accounting of what's happening on the ground, and that includes the role our own government has played”
- SupportsLoosen zoning rules to build more housing
Priorities include the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act, which would allow houses of worship to build affordable housing on their property.[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.[14]
- 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.[16][17]
- 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.[18]
In their words — priorities
- Expand the family safety net through a Working Families Tax Credit providing families up to $1,600 per child, and exempt school supplies from sales tax.[3]
- Pursue universal, free child care and expanded afterschool program access statewide.[3]
- Create more affordable housing, including via the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act enabling houses of worship to build affordable housing.[3]
- Protect kids online by requiring platforms to turn off open chat and public profiles by default for users under 18.[3]
- Advance "New York for All" legislation to limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.[3]
Background
- Earned a B.A. in political science from Hunter College (2006) and a J.D. from George Washington University Law School (2010).[2]
- Worked as an attorney, as counsel to the Brooklyn Borough President, as director of external affairs for the Citizens Committee for New York City, and as a staff assistant in the U.S. Senate before entering elected office.[2]
- Defeated incumbent Republican Martin Golden in 2018 to first win a State Senate seat (District 22), after previously losing to Golden in 2012.[2]
- Chairs the Senate Budget and Revenue Committee in the 2025-2026 session; also sits on the Judiciary, Codes, Finance, Higher Education, and Insurance committees.[2]