Pesach Osina

Pesach Osina is the Democratic and Community First Party nominee for the open NY State Assembly District 23 seat. He is a Rockaway resident and father of six who worked for years in government offices, including a Council Speaker's office, the city comptroller's office and a former Assembly member's district office, and who previously ran for City Council in 2013 and 2021. According to his campaign, he is focused on affordability, public safety and transportation in South Queens and the Rockaways.[1][2][3][4][5]

Osina's parents owned and operated a nursing and elder-care business serving elderly residents; according to his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, they faced faith-based discrimination, which he says his father fought and won through the legal system.[2] Osina says he was elected student body president in college, where he built student leadership structures, and later became an entrepreneur who launched a catering and events business.[2]

He worked for years in government offices: in the district office of former Assemblymember Phil Goldfeder, for former Comptroller Scott Stringer, and for the past several years as lead senior liaison in the City Council Speaker's Office, according to the Queens Chronicle.[5] The Queens Daily Eagle describes him as a longtime political staffer who worked in the City Council and the comptroller's office.[3] The Adams administration appointed him to the city Commission on Racial Equity, on which he serves according to the Queens Chronicle, which reports that he has focused on civil rights issues and combating hate crimes.[3][5]

Osina ran for the City Council District 31 seat in a 2013 special election, finishing second to Donovan Richards, and again in a 2021 special election, losing to Selvena Brooks-Powers by about 1,200 votes, according to the Queens Daily Eagle.[2][4] He launched his Assembly campaign in January 2026 with the endorsement of outgoing Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato, who has said she will not seek re-election, and won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary over attorney Mike Scala, 60.6% to 38.9%, according to Ballotpedia.[2][3] Osina describes himself as politically moderate; he is a Rockaway resident and a father of six.[2][6][5]

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