Photo: assembly.state.ny.usNY · Officeholder
DAssembly Member · District 43
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: NY State Assembly · District 43
Brian A. Cunningham is the Democratic and Working Families Party incumbent in Assembly District 43, which covers Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, and Flatbush, and he has held the seat since winning a March 2022 special election.[1][2][3] A New York City native, he worked in nonprofit youth and anti-violence programs and as a staff member in the New York City Council and State Senate before entering the Assembly.[3][2] He won his June 2026 Democratic primary with 80.8% of the vote and is seeking re-election in November.[1]
Cunningham was born and raised in New York City to Jamaican immigrant parents in a working-class family, according to his official biography.[3] He worked as a youth advisor with organizations including CAMBA and NPower, and as an aide to President Obama's My Brother's Keeper Alliance.[3] Ballotpedia describes his career as including work as an advocate counselor with CAMBA, as a senior aide in New York State legislative offices, and as director of Neighbors in Action.[2] According to his official biography, he was the first person elected to run a Cure Violence site in New York City, working to reduce gun violence in Central Brooklyn.[3] Before the Assembly he also served as Chief of Staff in the New York City Council and as a Special Assistant in the New York State Senate.[3]
Cunningham won the March 22, 2022 special election for Assembly District 43 as the Democratic nominee, defeating Working Families Party candidate Jelanie DeShong with 62.28 percent of the vote, according to Board of Elections figures reported by Brooklyn Paper.[4] The seat was vacant because Diana Richardson had resigned to become a Deputy Borough President.[4] He took office on March 30, 2022, was elected to a full term in November 2022 on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines, and won the general election again in November 2024.[2]
For the 2025-2026 session, Cunningham serves on the Assembly Agriculture, Banks, Codes, Consumer Affairs and Protection, Economic Development/Job Creation/Commerce and Industry, and Transportation Committees.[5] He is First Vice Chair of the New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators, Inc., and was the inaugural Treasurer of the New York State Black Legislative Task Force.[3] His official biography says he has secured over $1 billion in state funding for the district since taking office, and that he lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Stephanie Cunningham, and their son.[3]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. How topics are assigned
Most contested
Relates to certain mandatory disclosures for job advertisements
Requires certain mandatory disclosures for printed or digital job advertisements by an employer or third-party job posting entity; provides for the imposition of a fine of $2,500 for violations.
Jun 2, 2026 · Passed Assembly 86–54Official record ↗
Relates to labeling requirements for gas stoves
Requires the display of certain labels and warnings on gas stoves sold, displayed for sale, or offered for sale at retail to a consumer in this state; authorizes the department of state to adopt regulations regarding the placement and format of such labels; provides for penalties; authorizes the attorney general to enforce such provisions.
Jun 1, 2026 · Passed Assembly 91–48Official record ↗
Relates to the payment of restitution by registered and unregistered repair shops
Establishes that if financial loss has been made and a registrant or unregistered repair shop fails to comply with an order to pay restitution, the commissioner shall, by order, increase the amount of the penalty assessed.
Jun 1, 2026 · Passed Assembly 92–47Official record ↗
Most contested
Facilitates appellate review of rulings that implicate issues of public concern
Relates to facilitating appellate review of rulings that implicate issues of public concern.
May 18, 2026 · Passed Assembly 81–56Official record ↗
Requires certain elections take place in even-numbered years for certain municipal and judicial officials except in the city of New York.
Jun 5, 2026 · Passed Assembly 82–52Official record ↗
Relates to determining the capacity of a defendant to stand trial
Provides for the use of restoration services when determining the capacity of a defendant to stand trial.
Jun 5, 2026 · Passed Assembly 83–49Official record ↗
Most contested
Relates to the effectiveness of provisions of law relating to providing that in the case of any application for gas service to a building which is not supplied with gas, a utility corporation or municipality shall be obligated to provide gas service to such building.
Mar 31, 2026 · Passed Assembly 83–61Official record ↗
Provides that the assignment, transfer, or modification of leases for exploration, development, and production of gas or oil in state forests, reforestation areas and wildlife management areas shall not allow expansion or extension of such provisions.
Mar 10, 2026 · Passed Assembly 93–50Official record ↗
Relates to portable solar generation devices
Defines "portable solar generation device"; exempts portable solar generation devices from interconnection or net metering requirements; requires the state energy conservation construction code to allow for portable solar generation devices to be connected to a building's wiring through an electrical outlet.
May 28, 2026 · Passed Assembly 89–47Official record ↗
Most contested
Relates to requirements for the provision of medication for medical aid in dying
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.
Feb 4, 2026 · Passed Assembly 83–62Official record ↗
Relates to determining the capacity of a defendant to stand trial
Provides for the use of restoration services when determining the capacity of a defendant to stand trial.
Jun 5, 2026 · Passed Assembly 83–49Official record ↗
Relates to labeling requirements for gas stoves
Requires the display of certain labels and warnings on gas stoves sold, displayed for sale, or offered for sale at retail to a consumer in this state; authorizes the department of state to adopt regulations regarding the placement and format of such labels; provides for penalties; authorizes the attorney general to enforce such provisions.
Jun 1, 2026 · Passed Assembly 91–48Official record ↗
Most contested
Establishes a comprehensive electric vehicle fast charging station implementation plan; requires the New York state energy and research development authority to further establish a "Fast Charge NY working group" to develop such plan; makes related provisions.
Mar 18, 2026 · Passed Assembly 108–35Official record ↗
Provides that a rental vehicle company or peer-to-peer car sharing program administrator may act as an agent for an authorized insurer with respect to accident and health insurance that provides coverage to shared vehicle owners, shared vehicle drivers, or a combination thereof, and any other coverage that the superintendent of financial services may approve as meaningful and appropriate in connection with the sharing of a shared vehicle.
Feb 10, 2026 · Passed Assembly 101–42Official record ↗
Relates to adjudications and owner liability for a violation of traffic-control signal indications in the city of Ithaca.
Jun 2, 2026 · Passed Assembly 105–34Official record ↗
Most contested
Requires name and contact information to be provided in certain calls made to the statewide central register of child abuse and maltreatment.
Jan 29, 2026 · Passed Assembly 98–36Official record ↗
Enacts the "freedom to read act"
Requires each board of education to adopt a written policy for reconsideration of school library materials and make such policy available on its website; requires such policies to include provisions for the creation of a reconsideration committee to review complaints regarding school library materials; requires the commissioner of education to develop one or more model policies for school districts.
Jun 4, 2026 · Passed Assembly 114–27Official record ↗
Enacts into law major components of legislation necessary to implement the state education, labor, housing and family assistance budget for the 2026-2027 state fiscal year; relates to contracts for excellence, foundation aid, the homeless and foster count, renewable energy projects, zero-emissions school buses and to apportioning aid for universal prekindergarten; relates to reimbursement for the 2026-2027 school year and the maximum contract hours, withholding a portion of employment preparation education aid, and the effectiveness thereof; relates to the use of apportionments for the EXCEL program and the effectiveness thereof; relates to maximum class sizes for special classes for certain students with disabilities; provides for special apportionment for salary expenses; provides for special apportionment for public pension accruals; amends provisions relating to the apportionment amount for the Roosevelt union free school district; provides for set-asides from the state funds which certain districts are receiving from the total foundation aid; provides for support of public libraries; repeals certain provisions relating to the statewide universal full-day prekindergarten program (Part A); relates to evidence-based instructional practices in the subject of mathematics for students in kindergarten through grade five (Part B); relates to the eligibility of students enrolled in an approved program leading to a degree in a high demand field for the New York opportunity promise scholarship (Part C); allows for the chancellor of SUNY and CUNY to impose differential tuition rates on non-resident undergraduate and graduate students until the 2028-2029 academic year (Part E); relates to early childhood educator eligibility for the masters-in-education teacher incentive scholarship program (Part F); changes the name of the "New York state musical instrument revolving fund" to the "New York state music grant fund"; includes musical education in school districts and boards of cooperative educational services within not-for-profit musical entities incorporated in the state and organized for the purpose of the presentation of performing arts for the benefit of the public (Part G); extends provisions of law relating to restructuring financing for residential school placements (Part K); increases the standards of monthly need for aged, blind and disabled persons living in the community (Part L); utilizes reserves in the mortgage insurance fund for the neighborhood preservation program, the rural preservation program, the rural rental assistance program, and the New York state supportive housing program, the solutions to end homelessness program or the operational support for AIDS housing program (Part M); increases the number of land banks which can simultaneously exist in the state of New York from 35 to 45 (Part N); authorizes a tax abatement for alterations and improvements to multiple dwellings for purposes of preserving habitability in affordable housing (Part O); relates to establishing the crime of aggravated harassment of a rent regulated tenant (Part P); renumbers the disparate impact standard for housing and employment in the human rights law (Part Q); defines eligible multiple dwelling under the affordable New York housing program; includes a multiple dwelling that is located on a parcel of land which was part of a tract of land for which a special permit for a large scale general development was approved via the uniform land use review procedure on or before June 15, 2022, and such tract contains a multiple dwelling for which the commencement date is after December 31, 2015 and on or before June 15, 2022 and complies with certain affordability options (Part R).
May 20, 2026 · Passed Assembly 119–25Official record ↗
Most contested
Prohibits landlords from including incorrect information relating to rent decontrol in certain leases and renewals thereof; imposes a violation punishable by a fine of $1000 for a violation by a landlord; requires the standardization of certain notices pertaining to units subject to the Affordable New York Housing Program.
May 5, 2026 · Passed Assembly 89–50Official record ↗
Requires the modification of restrictive covenants prior to the sale of real property
Requires the modification of restrictive covenants prior to the sale of real property when covenants, conditions and restrictions exist which discriminate on the basis of a protected class in violation of state or federal law.
Feb 3, 2026 · Passed Assembly 95–46Official record ↗
Requires that when a complaint is made to local code enforcement of a violation of the uniform fire prevention and building code or a local code which results in the issuance of a compliance order, the complainant shall also be provided a copy of such order.
Mar 30, 2026 · Passed Assembly 96–45Official record ↗
Most contested
Provides for the protection of health information
Provides for the protection of health information; establishes requirements for communications to individuals about their health information; requires either written consent or a designated necessary purpose for the processing of an individual's health information.
Jun 4, 2026 · Passed Assembly 96–45Official record ↗
Enacts the responsible data center development act
Places 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.
Jun 4, 2026 · Passed Assembly 103–38Official record ↗
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 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.
Jun 3, 2026 · Passed Assembly 105–35Official record ↗
Voted against most of their party on 1 of 108 party-divided votes on file.
Relates to immunization vaccines for children
What it does: Requires the administration of certain vaccines for children in accordance with regulations issued by the commissioner, utilizing generally accepted medical standards and based on recommendations of the American Acade…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 90–5, Republicans 0–43
Apr 21, 2026Official record ↗
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
Facilitates appellate review of rulings that implicate issues of public concern
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 81–56 · Yes 81–No 56 · Democrats 81–11, Republicans 0–45
May 18, 2026Official record ↗
Relates to requirements for the provision of medication for medical aid in dying
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 83–62 · Yes 83–No 62 · Democrats 83–17, Republicans 0–45
Feb 4, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 83–61 · Yes 83–No 61 · Democrats 83–17, Republicans 0–44
Mar 31, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 82–52 · Yes 82–No 52 · Democrats 82–9, Republicans 0–43
Jun 5, 2026Official record ↗
Relates to certain mandatory disclosures for job advertisements
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 86–54 · Yes 86–No 54 · Democrats 86–9, Republicans 0–45
Jun 2, 2026Official record ↗
Relates to determining the capacity of a defendant to stand trial
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 83–49 · Yes 83–No 49 · Democrats 83–6, Republicans 0–43
Jun 5, 2026Official record ↗
Enacts the "police radio transparency act"
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 78–62 · Yes 78–No 62 · Democrats 77–18, Republicans 1–44
Jun 3, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 83–51 · Yes 83–No 51 · Democrats 83–8, Republicans 0–43
May 28, 2026Official record ↗
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
Provides for a license to sell liquor at retail for consumption on certain premises at 22 N Main Street in the village of Florida, county of Orange.
Increases the occupancy tax in the county of St. Lawrence from three to five percent.
Provides for the use of restoration services when determining the capacity of a defendant to stand trial.
Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the village of Croton-on-Hudson; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2031.
Relates to a license to sell liquor at retail for consumption on certain premises in the county of Greene.
Relates to labor peace agreements and the cannabis industry wage board.
Prohibits the use of restraints on and the use of force against incarcerated individuals during labor and incarcerated individuals who have experienced different pregnancy outcomes, absent extraordinary circumstances, and on pregnant and post-pregnancy persons during a custodial interrogation; provides for certain exceptions for restraints to be used and in such case limits the use to wrist restraints.
Makes conforming changes reflecting the previously authorized scope of practice of nurse practitioners; adds nurse practitioners as persons who can authorize or make certain determinations authorized to be made or determined by physicians.
Requires certain elections take place in even-numbered years for certain municipal and judicial officials except in the city of New York.
Permits the town of Monroe to impose a hotel and motel tax; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.
Showing 10 of 313 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.