State Senator - District 26

Andrew S. Gounardes

DemocraticIncumbent

Represents the 26th State Senate District in western Brooklyn, covering neighborhoods from Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights to Downtown Brooklyn and Vinegar Hill, and was re-elected in 2024 with 78.5% of the vote.

Overview Issues Support Money Events Record

Transit and street safety

In coverage

Supports smart regulations, well-designed streets and transit investments to make travel safer and easier. Sponsored the law letting New York City put red-light cameras at up to 600 intersections, and was one of two senators to vote against requiring at least one conductor on city subway trains except where running without one is now allowed.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsored S2812, raising the number of New York City intersections that may have red-light cameras to 600; voted yes on S2812A on June 6, 2024, when it passed the Senate, and it was signed into law as Chapter 437 on Oct. 23, 2024. Voted no on S9586A, which bars running New York City subway trains without at least one conductor on board except where that is now allowed; it passed the Senate 58-2 on June 4, 2026, with Mark Walczyk casting the only other no vote.

Sponsor of S2812 and yes vote on S2812A; no vote on S9586A · 2024-06-06 to 2026-06-04 · S2812 signed into law as Chapter 437 on Oct. 23, 2024; S9586A passed the Senate 58-2 on June 4, 2026

NY Senate — S2812 (2023) ↗NY Senate — S9586 (2025) ↗

Andrew Gounardes for State Senate ↗

Public safety and policing

In coverage

Sponsored the 2026 law requiring sexual offense evidence to be collected and reported in the statewide tracking system within ten days after the alleged victim permits its release.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsored S8765, requiring sexual offense evidence to be collected and reported on the statewide electronic tracking system within ten days of the alleged victim's permission to release it; voted yes in the Senate floor vote on Jan. 29, 2026; it passed the Assembly on Feb. 5 and was signed into law as Chapter 47 on Feb. 13, 2026.

Sponsor of S8765; voted yes · 2026-01-29 to 2026-02-13 · S8765 signed into law as Chapter 47 on Feb. 13, 2026

NY Senate — S8765 (2025) ↗

Schools and public colleges

In coverage

Voted for the 2024-25 state budget bill carrying the education, labor, housing and family assistance parts of the budget. His campaign says he proposed the New Deal for CUNY and SUNY, legislation to make public higher education tuition-free and hire more faculty.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted yes on S8306C, which enacted major parts of the 2024-25 state education, labor, housing and family assistance budget, on April 19, 2024; it was signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024.

Yes vote on S8306C · 2024-04-19 · Signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024

NY Senate — S8306 (2023) ↗

Andrew Gounardes for State Senate — About ↗

Cost of living, housing and the state budget

In coverage

Supports universal child care, affordable housing, lower utility costs and the Working Families Tax Credit. Voted for a 2025 law barring knowingly or recklessly helping residential rental property owners or managers agree not to compete, including through coordinating software or algorithmic devices, a 2025 law on gas service to new customers, and the 2026-27 budget bill.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted yes on S7882, which bars knowingly or recklessly helping residential landlords or managers agree not to compete, including through software or algorithmic devices, on June 9, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 437 on Oct. 16, 2025. Voted yes on S8417, on gas service to new customers, on June 12, 2025, when it passed the Senate 34-25 with 4 excused; it was signed into law as Chapter 709 of the Laws of 2025 on Dec. 19, 2025. Voted yes on S9009C, carrying out the 2026-27 state fiscal plan, on May 27, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026.

Yes votes on S7882, S8417 and S9009C · 2025-06-09 to 2026-05-27 · S7882 signed into law as Chapter 437 on Oct. 16, 2025; S8417 signed into law as Chapter 709 of the Laws of 2025 on Dec. 19, 2025; S9009 signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026

NY Senate — S7882 (2025) ↗NY Senate — S8417 (2025) ↗NY Senate — S9009 (2025) ↗

Andrew Gounardes for State Senate ↗

Children's online safety and artificial intelligence

In coverage

Sponsored laws barring social media platforms from giving minors addictive feeds, creating the Child Data Protection Act, requiring warning labels on platforms with addictive feeds or infinite scroll, and regulating frontier AI models. Says they protect children from addictive algorithms and unregulated AI.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsored S7694, the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act; voted yes on S7694A on June 6, 2024; it passed the Assembly on June 7 and was signed into law as Chapter 120 on June 20, 2024. Sponsored S7695, the New York Child Data Protection Act; voted yes on S7695B as it passed the Senate 61-0 on June 6, 2024; it was signed into law as Chapter 121 on June 20, 2024. Sponsored S4505, requiring warning labels on social media platforms with addictive feeds, autoplay, infinite scroll, like counts or push notifications; voted yes on June 12, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 689 on Dec. 19, 2025. Sponsored S6953, on the training and use of frontier artificial intelligence models; voted yes on S6953B on June 12, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 699 on Dec. 19, 2025.

Sponsor of and yes vote on S7694, S7695, S4505 and S6953 · 2024-06-06 to 2025-12-19 · S7694 signed into law as Chapter 120 and S7695 as Chapter 121 on June 20, 2024; S4505 signed into law as Chapter 689 and S6953 as Chapter 699 on Dec. 19, 2025

NY Senate — S7694 (2023) ↗NY Senate — S7695 (2023) ↗NY Senate — S4505 (2025) ↗NY Senate — S6953 (2025) ↗

Andrew Gounardes for State Senate ↗

Workers' rights

In coverage

Sponsored laws setting protections for freelance workers under the Freelance Isn't Free Act and giving employees access to their personnel records, with notice of negative information in them and a chance for review.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsored S5026, protections for freelance workers under the Freelance Isn't Free Act; voted yes in the Senate floor vote on June 1, 2023; it was signed into law as Chapter 678 on Nov. 21, 2023. Sponsored S3460, giving employees access to their personnel records, notice of negative information in them and an opportunity for review; voted yes in the final Senate floor vote on April 22, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 293 of the Laws of 2026 on Sept. 9, 2026.

Sponsor of and yes vote on S5026 and S3460 · 2023-06-01 to 2026-09-09 · S5026 signed into law as Chapter 678 on Nov. 21, 2023; S3460 signed into law as Chapter 293 of the Laws of 2026 on Sept. 9, 2026

NY Senate — S5026 (2023) ↗NY Senate — S3460 (2025) ↗

NY Senate — S3460 (2025) ↗

Medical aid in dying and abortion

In coverage

Voted for the medical aid in dying act, which became law in February 2026. His campaign says that in his first term he voted to pass the Reproductive Health Act, which put Roe v. Wade protections into state law.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted yes on A136, the medical aid in dying act, in the Senate floor vote on June 9, 2025; it had passed the Assembly on April 29, 2025, and was signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026.

Yes vote on A136 · 2025-06-09 · Signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026

NY Senate — A136 (2025) ↗

Andrew Gounardes for State Senate — Issues ↗

Public campaign financing

In coverage

Voted against a 2023 bill changing the rules of the state's public campaign financing program; it passed the Senate 34-29 and was vetoed by the governor in December 2023.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted no on S7564, relating to public campaign financing, on June 9, 2023; it passed the Senate 34-29 that day and was vetoed by the governor on Dec. 27, 2023.

No vote on S7564 · 2023-06-09 · Passed the Senate 34-29 on June 9, 2023; vetoed by the governor on Dec. 27, 2023

NY Senate — S7564 (2023) ↗

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