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DAssembly Member · District 85
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: NY State Assembly · District 85
Emerita Torres is the Democratic and Working Families Party nominee for re-election in NY Assembly District 85, a South Bronx seat she has held since January 2025, and is running unopposed. A lifelong Bronx resident, she spent about a decade as a U.S. State Department diplomat, then worked at The Soufan Center and the Community Service Society before winning the seat in 2024. She sits on the Aging, Banks, Consumer Affairs and Protection, Economic Development, Education and Housing committees.[1][2][3][4]
Emérita Torres is a lifelong Bronx resident who, according to her Assembly biography, grew up with parents who relied on public assistance programs and rent-stabilized housing.[3] Her campaign website describes her as being of Puerto Rican heritage.[4] She was the first in her family to graduate from college, earning a B.A. in history from New York University and a master's degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.[1][3]
Torres served roughly a decade as a U.S. diplomat with the State Department, with postings including Brazil, Pakistan, Colombia, Washington, D.C. and the United Nations, working on labor rights, climate change, peacekeeping and protecting women's rights in conflict.[3][4] Her campaign website says she received three Meritorious Honor Awards and a Superior Honor Award.[4] She then served as Director of Policy Research and Programs at The Soufan Center, working on disinformation, terrorism and the rise of authoritarianism; her Assembly biography says her advocacy led to the sanctioning of the first white supremacist group in U.S. history.[3] Before her election she was Vice President of Policy, Research and Advocacy at the Community Service Society, where she worked on expanding New York's half-price MetroCard program, tenants' rights, homeownership and rental-assistance reform, and co-led the National True Cost of Living Coalition's efforts.[3][4]
Torres has served on the boards of the Bronx River Arts Center and the Women's Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco); her campaign website also lists her as a two-term State Committee member for the 85th Assembly District and a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.[1][3][4] Her Assembly biography says she organized deliveries of personal protective equipment and food to Bronx families during the COVID-19 pandemic and has mentored Bronx middle and high school students.[3]
Torres won the Assembly District 85 seat in the November 5, 2024 general election with 78.9% of the vote, defeating Republican Kelly Atkinson and Conservative Gary Lutz, after the previous member, Kenny Burgos, resigned over the summer.[1][5] She took office on January 1, 2025.[1][5] The district covers Hunts Point, Longwood, Soundview, Clason Point and Harding Park, and her Assembly biography says she lives in the Soundview section of the Bronx with her partner and two children.[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 ↗
Provides that an accusatory instrument or supporting deposition consisting of factual allegations by a deponent with limited English proficiency is not sufficient unless accompanied by a sworn statement from an interpreter affirming the accuracy of the English interpretation.
Apr 28, 2026 · Passed Assembly 83–53Official 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 ↗
Most contested
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 ↗
Enacts the low impact landscaping rights act
Enacts the low impact landscaping rights act, preventing homeowners' associations from adopting or enforcing any rules or regulations that would effectively prohibit, or impose unreasonable limitations on, the installation or maintenance of low impact landscaping.
Mar 30, 2026 · Passed Assembly 93–48Official 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 children enrolled in an overnight camp, summer day camp, or travelling summer day camp to be vaccinated against a specified list of diseases.
Apr 28, 2026 · Passed Assembly 90–47Official record ↗
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 ↗
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 with most of their party on all 107 party-divided votes on file.
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 83–53 · Yes 83–No 53 · Democrats 83–9, Republicans 0–44
Apr 28, 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.