NY State Senate · District 30
Cordell Cleare
New York State Senator, District 30 (since November 2021)DWFPINCUMBENT
- Race
- NY State Senate · District 30
- Result
- Cordell Cleare, projected winner
- Opponents
- Unopposed
- Research
- In depth
Party line26 votes tracked
With party = voted the same way as most Democrats who voted.
Said vs. did0 statements · 26 votes
Cordell Cleare is a Democratic and Working Families Party New York State Senator for District 30, which covers Harlem, East Harlem, and adjoining Manhattan neighborhoods, and won re-election unopposed on November 3, 2026. A Harlem native, she was a tenant organizer, school board leader and longtime chief of staff to State Senator Bill Perkins before winning a 2021 special election to the seat. She chairs the Senate Aging Committee.[1][2][3][4][5]
Compare statements with votes ›On the ballotNY State Senate · 30
2026-11-03
| Cordell Cleare DWFP | incumbent |
Unopposed; no Republican or third-party opponent has filed for the general election.
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.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- 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.[6]
Biography
Cordell Cleare is a Democratic and Working Families Party New York State Senator for District 30, which covers Harlem, East Harlem, and adjoining Manhattan neighborhoods, and won re-election unopposed on November 3, 2026. A Harlem native, she was a tenant organizer, school board leader and longtime chief of staff to State Senator Bill Perkins before winning a 2021 special election to the seat. She chairs the Senate Aging Committee.[1][2][3][4][5]
Cleare was raised in Harlem, where, according to her official biography, her family has lived for four generations. She attended New York City public schools, including Brooklyn Technical High School.[3] She worked as a tenant organizer and chaired the New York City Coalition to End Lead Poisoning, whose work her official biography credits with shaping the city's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act (Local Law 1 of 2004).[3] She also served as Board President of Community School District 3, which covers the Upper West Side and Central Harlem, and then as President of its Community Education Council.[3]
Beginning in 1997, Cleare served as chief of staff to Bill Perkins during his time on the New York City Council and in the State Senate.[2][3] She was also a Democratic District Leader representing parts of East and Central Harlem and co-founded the Michelle Obama Democratic Club; per her official biography, she was among the first Democratic Party officials in New York State to support Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.[3] In the June 2021 Democratic primary for New York City Council she placed fourth of 14 candidates, according to her official biography.[3]
Cleare won the Democratic nomination through the County Committee and then a November 2, 2021 special election for the State Senate seat vacated when Brian Benjamin was appointed Lieutenant Governor, taking about 89% of the vote (88.6% per Ballotpedia). She took office on November 30, 2021, and was re-elected in 2022 and 2024.[1][2][3] In the Senate she sits on committees including Education, Housing, Construction and Community Development, Social Services, and Investigations and Government Operations, in addition to chairing Aging.[2][3] According to her official biography, during the COVID-19 pandemic she ran a food pantry operation, distributed personal protective equipment, and registered voters; the biography lists her as a 2026 Women of Distinction honoree and a 2026 New York State Senate Veterans' Hall of Fame honoree.[3] She was unopposed in the November 3, 2026 general election, according to Ballotpedia and Wikipedia.[4][5]
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 26 votes.
All 26 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 | 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 |
| 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. |
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.
- billSponsored S10548, the Citizens Utility Board Act, which would create a board funded by voluntary consumer dues to represent residential utility ratepayers before the Public Service Commission, with a $1 million state appropriation for startup; in Senate Finance Committee as of May 20, 2026.[7]
- billSponsored S10578, extending brownfield redevelopment tax credits for a stalled project at 1800 Park Avenue in East Harlem; in Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee as of May 26, 2026.[8]
- billSponsored S10341, establishing the Harlem Unified Community Planning urban renewal agency to enable community-driven local economic development planning; referred to the Senate Local Government Committee as of May 14, 2026.[9]
- actionChairs the Senate Aging Committee in the 2025–2026 session and also sits on the Cities 1, Education, Corporations Authorities and Commissions, Housing, Investigations and Government Operations, and Social Services committees.[10]
In their own words
Priorities
- Reparations and economic, environmental, restorative and racial justice.[11]
- "Truly affordable housing" and housing safety in her district.[11]
- Quality schools and equitable education, including accountability for charter schools.[11]
- Access to healthy foods for district residents.[11]
- Ending gun violence and domestic violence, and supporting workforce development and job creation.[11]
Campaign moneyNo FEC filing summary matched — state candidates file with their state, not the FEC.
Profile: /people/cordell-cleare
Where they stood out
Voted against most of their party on 2 of 681 party-divided votes on file.
Relates to requirements for the provision of medication for medical aid in dying
What it does: Relates to requirements for medical professionals and health care facilities that provide medication to patients for medical aid in dying; extends the initial effectiveness of certain provisions relating thereto.
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 33–6, Republicans 0–22
Feb 4, 2026Official record ↗
Relates to the medical aid in dying act
What it does: Relates to the medical aid in dying act; relates to a terminally ill patient's request for and use of medication for medical aid in dying.
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 34–6, Republicans 0–21
Jun 9, 2025Official 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
- 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 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 ↗
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.New York State Senate District 30 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 2.Cordell Cleare · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 3.About Cordell Cleare · NYSenate.gov Official record
- 4.NY State Senate District 30 election 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
- 5.2026 New York State Senate election · Wikipedia · 2026-11-09 Reference
- 6.Senate floor vote: S51001 — Concealed Carry Improvement Act · New York State Senate · 2022-07-01 Official record
- 7.S10548: Citizens Utility Board Act · New York State Senate · 2026-05-20 Official record
- 8.S10578: brownfield tax credit extension, 1800 Park Avenue · New York State Senate · 2026-05-26 Official record
- 9.S10341: Harlem Unified Community Planning urban renewal agency · New York State Senate · 2026-05-14 Official record
- 10.Cordell Cleare · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 11.About Cordell Cleare · NYSenate.gov Official record