NY State Senate · District 35

• 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.

• bill2026-08-14 · Sponsored S10564, establishing a school speed-zone camera demonstration program in the city of Yonkers; signed by the Governor August 14, 2026 (Chapter 233).[3]
• bill2026-06-26 · Sponsored S8859, extending the city of Yonkers' authorization to issue bonds and notes through negotiated sales to June 30, 2027; signed by the Governor June 26, 2026 (Chapter 134).[4]
• bill2026-06-17 · Sponsored S10637-A, a concurrent resolution amending the state constitution's independent redistricting commission provisions; passed both houses and delivered to the Secretary of State June 17, 2026, pending voter approval at a general election.[7]
• billSponsored S10634, which would let the city of Yonkers impose a surcharge of up to triple the standard tax rate on vacant and abandoned property; remained in Senate Rules Committee as of June 1, 2026.[8]
• action2024-12-01 · Re-elected Senate Majority Leader by the Democratic conference in December 2024, continuing as the chamber's presiding Democratic leader.[1]

• ✓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.[14]

  What they say: Voted yes on the GREAT Act (S9500-A), which passed the Senate 39–21 and establishes a virtual power plant program and incentives for distributed energy resources to reduce energy costs and grid strain.[5]

• ✓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.[15][16]

  What they say: Voted yes on S8455-B, which passed the Senate 35–25 and creates new criminal offenses restricting the sale of flare guns.[6]

• ✓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.[13]

• ✓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.[17]

• ✕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.[18]

• ✓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.[19]

• Lists education funding reform, voting reforms, and gun safety among her legislative priorities as Senate Majority Leader.[2]
• Lists reproductive rights protection, LGBTQ rights, and workplace harassment prevention among her legislative priorities.[2]
• Lists labor rights, tenant protections, and affordable housing initiatives among her legislative priorities.[2]
• "I appreciate the fact that people, over the years, have given me more and more responsibility, and I also believe that part of that is because I act responsibly with the power I get. So people trust me with more."[1]

• Earned a B.S. from Pace University and an M.P.A. from Pace University in 2008.[1]
• Worked as an English teacher, a journalist for Gannett, a human resources manager for Careerblazers, and a marketing professional for American Telephone & Telegraph before entering government.[1]
• Served as director of community affairs for the city of Yonkers from 1992 to 1996.[1]
• Represented District 16 on the Westchester County Board of Legislators from 1996 to 2006, serving as majority whip and later vice-chair; helped pass the county's 1999 Human Rights Law.[1]
• Served as acting Lieutenant Governor of New York for about two weeks in 2021, after Governor Andrew Cuomo's resignation and before Brian Benjamin was sworn in.[1]
• Elected Senate Democratic leader in December 2012 and became Senate Majority Leader in January 2019 after Democrats regained the chamber majority.[1]

• ✕OpposesRaise taxes on high earners or corporations

  Campaign focuses on reducing New York's overall tax burden, saying high taxes are driving residents and businesses out of the state; does not call for raising taxes on high earners.[10][12]

• ✓SupportsExpand immigration enforcement and deportations

  Criticizes state spending on housing and services for migrants, citing "$4.3 billion of your tax dollars to house illegal migrants" as a priority to redirect.[10]

  “$4.3 billion of your tax dollars to house illegal migrants”

• "Team Yonkers is united in fighting for better representation, lower taxes, safer streets, stronger schools, and real solutions that put Yonkers and Westchester families first."[11]
• "New Yorkers are being crushed by high taxes, soaring utility bills, unaffordable housing, rising insurance costs, and everyday expenses."[12]
• Describes himself as "a proven fighter for taxpayers" and says "government should work for the people, not special interests or political insiders."[10]

• Holds a B.S. in Accounting from St. John's University (1982) and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1987.[10]
• Worked in accounting and tax services for small and mid-sized companies in the Yonkers and Westchester County region.[10]
• Served as president of the Sprain Lake Knolls Civic Association before being elected to the Yonkers City Council for the 6th District in 2017, completing two terms.[10]