NY State Senate · District 26
Andrew Gounardes
New York State Senator, District 26 (since 2023); previously District 22 (2019-2022)DWFPINCUMBENT
- Race
- NY State Senate · District 26
- Result
- Andrew Gounardes, projected winner
- Opponent
- Tom Stanten (R, C)
- Research
- In depth
Party line32 votes tracked
Broke with Democrats on
With party = voted the same way as most Democrats who voted.
Said vs. did6 statements · 32 votes
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.
Raise taxes on high earners or corporations
Compare statements with votes ›Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
Has publicly urged the state to implement congestion pricing in Manhattan, citing funding for transit accessibility projects.
Documented position[7]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Lists universal, free child care and expanded afterschool access as a top legislative priority.
Documented position[8]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
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.
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).[9]
- YESS2509-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.[10]
1 of 1 vote point the same way as the statement
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.
- YESS425-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.[13]
1 of 1 vote point the same way as the statement
an honest accounting of what's happening on the ground, and that includes the role our own government has played
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.[14]
- YESS6599 (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]
1 of 1 vote point the same way as the statement
Priorities include the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act, which would allow houses of worship to build affordable housing on their property.
Documented position[8]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- YESS6458 (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.[16]
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- YESS2451 (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.[17]
- YESS51001 (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.[18]
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- YESS240 (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.[19]
Biography
Andrew Gounardes is the Democratic and Working Families Party New York State Senator for District 26 in Brooklyn and won re-election on November 3, 2026, defeating Republican and Conservative Party candidate Tom Stanten. A Brooklyn-born lawyer and former aide to local officials, he lost a 2012 Senate race, won the seat in 2018, and has represented 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][3][4][5][6]
Andrew Gounardes was born in Brooklyn and raised in Bay Ridge, according to Wikipedia, and he graduated from Fort Hamilton High School.[3][2] He earned a B.A. in political science from Hunter College in 2006 and a J.D. from George Washington University Law School in 2010.[1] He 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.[1][2] His Senate biography says he began in public service as an aide to City Councilmember Vincent Gentile and served as counsel to Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams for five years, and that he later served as a trustee of the New York City Employees' Retirement System and, after Superstorm Sandy, co-founded the nonprofit Bay Ridge Cares.[2]
Gounardes ran for State Senate District 22 in 2012 on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines and lost to incumbent Republican Martin Golden.[1] He defeated Golden in the November 2018 general election to win the District 22 seat and took office in January 2019, and he has represented District 26 since 2023.[1][3] In the 2025-2026 session he chairs the Senate Budget and Revenue Committee and also sits on the Judiciary, Codes, Finance, Higher Education, Insurance, Ethics and Internal Governance, and Internet and Technology committees.[1][2] According to his campaign website, he has written more than 100 laws since taking office and is the father of three young children; his stated priorities include online safety for children, universal child care, and transit and street safety.[4] Gounardes won the November 3, 2026 general election with 83.2% of the vote to Tom Stanten's 16.6%, according to unofficial results reported by Ballotpedia and Wikipedia.[5][6]
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 32 votes.
All 32 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 | With partyvoted yes | 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 | Against partyvoted no | 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 |
| 2022-07-01 | Split partyvoted yes | Concealed Carry Improvement ActS51001 · Passed 43–20 · official record ↗Enacted after the Bruen decision: added training and character requirements for carry permits and barred guns in designated sensitive places. |
| 2021-04-06 | Split partyvoted yes | 2021–22 Budget Revenue Bill (raised taxes on income over $1M and corporate franchise tax)S2509-C · Passed 38–25 · 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. |
| 2020-07-22 | Split partyvoted yes | Protect Our Courts ActS425-A · Passed 42–18 · official record ↗Bars federal civil immigration arrests of people going to, attending, or leaving New York courthouses without a judicial warrant. |
| 2019-06-18 | Split partyvoted yes | Climate Leadership and Community Protection ActS6599 · Passed 41–21 · official record ↗Set statewide targets of 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and an 85% cut in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050. |
| 2019-06-14 | Split partyvoted yes | Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019S6458 · Passed 36–26 · official record ↗Made rent regulation permanent, ended vacancy decontrol and the vacancy bonus, and limited rent increases for major capital improvements. |
| 2019-01-29 | Split partyvoted yes | Extreme Risk Protection Orders (Red Flag Law)S2451 · Passed 42–21 · official record ↗Allows courts to temporarily bar people found to pose a danger to themselves or others from possessing firearms. |
| 2019-01-22 | Split partyvoted yes | Reproductive Health ActS240 · Passed 38–24 · official record ↗Moved abortion from the penal code to the public-health law and protected access to abortion under state law. |
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.
- 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.[20]
- 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.[21]
- 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.[22]
- 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.[14]
- 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.[11][12]
- actionChairs the Senate Budget and Revenue Committee in the 2025-2026 legislative session.[23]
- 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.[9]
In their own 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.[8]
- Pursue universal, free child care and expanded afterschool program access statewide.[8]
- Create more affordable housing, including via the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act enabling houses of worship to build affordable housing.[8]
- Protect kids online by requiring platforms to turn off open chat and public profiles by default for users under 18.[8]
- Advance "New York for All" legislation to limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.[8]
Campaign moneyNo FEC filing summary matched — state candidates file with their state, not the FEC.
Profile: /people/andrew-gounardes
Where they stood out
Voted with most of their party on all 638 party-divided votes on file.
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
- Yes
Requires cultural awareness and competence training for medical professionals
With 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 the purchase of claims by corporations or collection agencies
With most of their party · Passed Senate 36–22 · Yes 36–No 22 · Democrats 35–0, Republicans 0–22
Jun 4, 2025Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed Senate 36–22 · Yes 36–No 22 · Democrats 35–0, Republicans 0–22
Jun 4, 2025Official record ↗
Compare all 2 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Andrew S. Gounardes · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.About Andrew Gounardes (NY State Senate) · NYSenate.gov Official record
- 3.Andrew Gounardes — Wikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 4.Andrew Gounardes for State Senate (campaign website) · Andrew Gounardes campaign Candidate's own words
- 5.New York State Senate District 26 election results 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-11-09 Reference
- 6.New York State Senate election results 2026 · Wikipedia · 2026-11-09 Reference
- 7.Sen. Gounardes: Implement Congestion Pricing Before Trump Blocks Us · NYSenate.gov Candidate's own words
- 8.My Top Priorities for 2025 · Senator Gounardes' Community Portal Candidate's own words
- 9.Sen. Gounardes Unveils Legislation to Fight Trump Austerity and Close Unfair Tax Loopholes · NYSenate.gov · 2025-12-22 Candidate's own words
- 10.Senate floor vote: S2509-C — 2021–22 Budget Revenue Bill (raised taxes on income over $1M and corporate franchise tax) · New York State Senate · 2021-04-06 Official record
- 11.New York for All Act sponsorship (S2235A) · NYSenate.gov Candidate's own words
- 12.N.Y. Legislature approves measures to limit ICE cooperation · Spectrum News NY1 · 2026-05-21 News report
- 13.Senate floor vote: S425-A — Protect Our Courts Act · New York State Senate · 2020-07-22 Official record
- 14.Sen. Gounardes' Bill to Study State Role in Last-Mile Trucking Pollution Crisis Passes State Senate · NYSenate.gov · 2025-05-02 Candidate's own words
- 15.Senate floor vote: S6599 — Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act · New York State Senate · 2019-06-18 Official record
- 16.Senate floor vote: S6458 — Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 · New York State Senate · 2019-06-14 Official record
- 17.Senate floor vote: S2451 — Extreme Risk Protection Orders (Red Flag Law) · New York State Senate · 2019-01-29 Official record
- 18.Senate floor vote: S51001 — Concealed Carry Improvement Act · New York State Senate · 2022-07-01 Official record
- 19.Senate floor vote: S240 — Reproductive Health Act · New York State Senate · 2019-01-22 Official record
- 20.Landmark AI Safety Bill Signed Into Law · NYSenate.gov · 2025-12-19 Candidate's own words
- 21.Sen. Gounardes, AM Rozic's Bill to Require Warning Labels on Social Media is Signed into Law · NYSenate.gov · 2025-12-20 Candidate's own words
- 22.Sen. Gounardes' Bill to Protect Workplace Discrimination Victims Passes the State Senate · NYSenate.gov · 2025-06-12 Candidate's own words
- 23.Andrew S. Gounardes - Committee assignments, biography · Ballotpedia Reference