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Portrait of Michael NovakhovPhoto: assembly.state.ny.us

NY · Officeholder

Michael Novakhov

RAssembly Member · District 45

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: NY State Assembly · District 45

Biography

Michael "Misha" Novakhov is the Republican and Conservative Party incumbent in Assembly District 45, which covers portions of Sheepshead Bay, Midwood, Manhattan Beach, Gravesend, and Brighton Beach in Brooklyn.[1][2][3] Originally from the former USSR, he worked in radio and co-founded the Russian-language station Freedom FM before winning the seat in November 2022 by defeating Democratic incumbent Steven Cymbrowitz.[1][2] His official biography says he plans to focus on crime, affordability of health care and housing, and quality of life.[1]

Novakhov is originally from the former USSR, and his official biography says he immigrated to the United States with his family; Ballotpedia lists him as born in the USSR and living in Brooklyn.[1][2] He worked for 20 years in the radio business, and in 2019 he co-founded Freedom FM, which his official biography describes as the most listened-to Russian-language radio station in the country.[1]

Novakhov won the Assembly seat on November 8, 2022, defeating Democratic incumbent Steven Cymbrowitz, 59.7% to 40.2%, and took office January 1, 2023.[2][1][4] He was re-elected in November 2024 over Democrat Joey Cohen-Saban, 15,383 votes (50.2%) to 15,151 (49.4%), a margin of 232 votes.[5] The Assembly website lists his committee assignments as Aging; Children and Families; Cities; Governmental Operations; Housing; and Small Business.[6] His official biography says he plans to work on rising crime, especially against Asian American Pacific Islander and Jewish communities, on making health care and housing more affordable, and on quality of life, and it describes Brooklyn as his hometown.[1]

  1. 1.Assemblymember Michael Novakhov - Biography · New York State Assembly Official record
  2. 2.Michael Novakhov · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  3. 3.New York State Assembly District 45 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  4. 4.Steven Cymbrowitz · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  5. 5.Joey Cohen-Saban · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  6. 6.Assemblymember Michael Novakhov - Committee Membership · New York State Assembly Official record

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.

On the ballot

Votes by issue

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

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 26 of 110 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (11), Climate & energy (6), Rights & public safety (5)

  • Enacts the responsible data center development act

    What it does: 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; prov…

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 93–3, Republicans 10–35

    Jun 4, 2026Official record ↗

  • Relates to establishing minimum standards for payment plans for eligible customers

    What it does: Relates to establishing minimum standards for payment plans for eligible customers; requires the public service commission to set standards for payment plans for certain customers including reasonableness of agreement…

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 94–1, Republicans 6–38

    Jun 4, 2026Official record ↗

  • Enacts the "freedom to read act"

    What it does: 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 o…

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 92–4, Republicans 22–23

    Jun 4, 2026Official record ↗

  • Relates to certain guilty pleas

    What it does: Relates to certain guilty pleas where the plea is in the interest of justice and which are entered into with both the permission of the court and the consent of the people.

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 88–8, Republicans 17–28

    Jun 4, 2026Official record ↗

  • Prohibits gas and electric corporations from recovering costs related to labor-related legal activity or workers' compensation loss adjustment expenses from ratepayers

    What it does: Prohibits gas and electric corporations from recovering labor-related legal costs or workers' compensation loss adjustment expenses from ratepayers through rates, charges, surcharges, adjustment mechanisms, riders, or…

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 92–1, Republicans 11–34

    Jun 1, 2026Official record ↗

How this is counted

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

See all their split votes

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.

S10001 · NY ASSEMBLY

Provides for a license to sell liquor at retail for consumption on certain premises

YesVOTED

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.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed Assembly 129–2·Substantive·Jun 5, 2026Roll call ↗
S10029 · NY ASSEMBLY

Increases the occupancy tax in the county of St. Lawrence

NoVOTED

Increases the occupancy tax in the county of St. Lawrence from three to five percent.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed Assembly 96–35·Substantive·Jun 5, 2026Roll call ↗
S1004-B · NY ASSEMBLY

Relates to determining the capacity of a defendant to stand trial

NoVOTED

Provides for the use of restoration services when determining the capacity of a defendant to stand trial.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed Assembly 83–49·Substantive·Jun 5, 2026Roll call ↗
S10058-C · NY ASSEMBLY

Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the village of Croton-on-Hudson

NoVOTED

Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the village of Croton-on-Hudson; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2031.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed Assembly 113–18·Substantive·Jun 5, 2026Roll call ↗
S10528 · NY ASSEMBLY

Relates to a license to sell liquor at retail for consumption on certain premises

YesVOTED

Relates to a license to sell liquor at retail for consumption on certain premises in the county of Greene.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed Assembly 129–2·Substantive·Jun 5, 2026Roll call ↗
S10643 · NY ASSEMBLY

Relates to labor peace agreements and the cannabis industry wage board; repealer

NoVOTED

Relates to labor peace agreements and the cannabis industry wage board.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed Assembly 98–34·Substantive·Jun 5, 2026Roll call ↗
S2667-C · NY ASSEMBLY

Prohibits the use of restraints on incarcerated individuals during labor, absent extraordinary circumstances, and on pregnant persons during a custodial interrogation

YesVOTED

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.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed Assembly 111–21·Substantive·Jun 5, 2026Roll call ↗
S3822 · NY ASSEMBLY

Makes conforming changes reflecting the previously authorized scope of practice of nurse practitioners

YesVOTED

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.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed Assembly 133–1·Substantive·Jun 5, 2026Roll call ↗
S5711-C · NY ASSEMBLY

Requires elections and terms of certain officials occur on even-numbered years except in the city of New York

NoVOTED

Requires certain elections take place in even-numbered years for certain municipal and judicial officials except in the city of New York.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed Assembly 82–52·Substantive·Jun 5, 2026Roll call ↗
S6047-A · NY ASSEMBLY

Permits the town of Monroe to impose a hotel and motel tax

NoVOTED

Permits the town of Monroe to impose a hotel and motel tax; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed Assembly 95–36·Substantive·Jun 5, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 313 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.