NY State Senate · District 35
Andrea Stewart-Cousins
New York State Senate Majority Leader and President Pro Tempore, District 35 (senator since 2007, majority leader since January 2019)DWFPINCUMBENT
- Race
- NY State Senate · District 35
- Result
- Andrea Stewart-Cousins, projected winner
- Opponent
- Anthony Merante (R)
- Research
- In depth
Party line32 votes tracked
With party = voted the same way as most Democrats who voted.
Said vs. did1 statement · 32 votes
As Majority Leader, I am proud of the bold, sensible steps New York continues to take to reduce gun violence and save lives. The signing of this critical package of gun violence reduction legislation, demonstrates New York's continued commitment to public safety.
Stricter gun laws
Compare statements with votes ›On the ballotNY State Senate · 35
2026-11-03
| Andrea Stewart-Cousins DWFP | incumbent |
| Anthony Merante R | challenger |
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.
As Majority Leader, I am proud of the bold, sensible steps New York continues to take to reduce gun violence and save lives. The signing of this critical package of gun violence reduction legislation, demonstrates New York's continued commitment to public safety.
In a 2024 statement, welcomed Governor Hochul's signing of a package of gun-violence reduction laws, including measures on pistol converters and court-ordered firearm removal (ERPO) procedures.[5]
- 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.[6]
- 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.[7]
2 of 2 votes point the same way as the statement
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.[8]
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- 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.[9]
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.[10]
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- 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.[11]
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- 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.[12]
Biography
Andrea Stewart-Cousins is a Democratic and Working Families Party New York State Senator for District 35 and the Senate Majority Leader, and won re-election on November 3, 2026. A former Yonkers city official and Westchester County legislator, she was first elected to the Senate in 2006 and has been Majority Leader since January 2019. According to the nysenate.gov biography, she is the first woman and first African American woman to hold that post, and as of January 2026 Ballotpedia describes her as the longest-serving Democratic Senate majority leader in state history.[1][2][3][4]
Stewart-Cousins was born in New York City in 1950; the nysenate.gov biography says she was born and raised in New York and lives in Yonkers.[1][2] She earned a bachelor's degree from Pace University (1986, per Ballotpedia) and a Master of Public Administration from Pace in 2008; nysenate.gov also lists teaching credentials from Lehman College and honorary doctorates from Pace University (2024) and Sarah Lawrence College (2026).[1][2] She worked in customer service, sales and marketing for New York Telephone/AT&T for 13 years and later in journalism and education; her Ballotpedia profile lists roles as an English teacher at Lincoln High School, a journalist for Gannett and a human resources manager for Careerblazers.[1]
From 1992 to 1996, Stewart-Cousins was director of community affairs for the city of Yonkers, appointed by Mayor Terence Zaleski.[1] She was first elected in 1995 to the Westchester County Board of Legislators, where she represented District 16 from 1996 to 2006, serving as majority whip and later vice-chair and helping pass the county's 1999 Human Rights Law.[1]
In 2004 Stewart-Cousins lost a Senate race against incumbent Nicholas Spano by 18 votes after what Ballotpedia, citing the Times Union, calls the longest recount in New York history. She defeated Spano in 2006, 51.1% to 48.7%.[1] Senate Democrats elected her their leader in December 2012, and she became Senate Majority Leader on January 9, 2019, after Democrats regained the chamber majority; she was re-elected majority leader in December 2024. The nysenate.gov biography also lists her as chair of the Rules Committee.[1][2] In 2021 she served as acting Lieutenant Governor of New York for about two weeks, after Governor Andrew Cuomo's resignation and before Brian Benjamin was sworn in on September 9, 2021.[1] She won the November 3, 2026 general election with 75.2% of the vote to Anthony Merante's 24.8%, according to unofficial results reported by Ballotpedia.[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 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 | 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. |
| 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.
- 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).[13]
- 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).[14]
- 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.[15]
- 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.[16]
- action2024-12-01 · Re-elected Senate Majority Leader by the Democratic conference in December 2024, continuing as the chamber's presiding Democratic leader.[17]
In their own words
Priorities
- Lists education funding reform, voting reforms, and gun safety among her legislative priorities as Senate Majority Leader.[18]
- Lists reproductive rights protection, LGBTQ rights, and workplace harassment prevention among her legislative priorities.[18]
- Lists labor rights, tenant protections, and affordable housing initiatives among her legislative priorities.[18]
- "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."[17]
Campaign moneyNo FEC filing summary matched — state candidates file with their state, not the FEC.
Profile: /people/andrea-stewart-cousins
Where they stood out
Voted with most of their party on all 681 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 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.Andrea Stewart-Cousins · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 2.About Andrea Stewart-Cousins · NYSenate.gov Official record
- 3.NY State Senate District 35 election 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
- 4.2026 New York State Senate election · Wikipedia · 2026-11-09 Reference
- 5.Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins Hails New Gun Safety Laws Signed by Gov. Hochul · New York State Senate · 2024 Official record
- 6.Senate floor vote: S2451 — Extreme Risk Protection Orders (Red Flag Law) · New York State Senate · 2019-01-29 Official record
- 7.Senate floor vote: S51001 — Concealed Carry Improvement Act · New York State Senate · 2022-07-01 Official record
- 8.Senate floor vote: S6458 — Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 · New York State Senate · 2019-06-14 Official record
- 9.Senate floor vote: S6599 — Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act · New York State Senate · 2019-06-18 Official record
- 10.Senate floor vote: S240 — Reproductive Health Act · New York State Senate · 2019-01-22 Official record
- 11.Senate floor vote: S425-A — Protect Our Courts Act · New York State Senate · 2020-07-22 Official record
- 12.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
- 13.S10564: school speed zone camera demonstration program, city of Yonkers · New York State Senate · 2026-08-14 Official record
- 14.S8859: bonds and notes of the city of Yonkers · New York State Senate · 2026-06-26 Official record
- 15.S10637-A: constitutional amendment on the independent redistricting commission · New York State Senate · 2026-06-17 Official record
- 16.S10634: vacant and abandoned property tax surcharge, city of Yonkers · New York State Senate · 2026-06-01 Official record
- 17.Andrea Stewart-Cousins · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 18.About Andrea Stewart-Cousins · NYSenate.gov Official record