State Assembly Member - District 43
Brian-Christopher A. Cunningham
Democratic Assembly member for the 43rd District since winning a March 2022 special election, re-elected in 2022 and 2024.
Issues Brian-Christopher is raising
State budget and consumer protection
Voted for the state budget bills in 2024 and 2026, both signed into law, and for a 2026 law concerning the attorney general's ability to protect New Yorkers from unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices. Sponsored a 2024 law requiring telemarketers to give certain information within the first 30 seconds of a call.
Health care
Co-sponsored and voted for the Medical Aid in Dying Act, on terminally ill patients' requests for medication for medical aid in dying, which became law in Feb. 2026. Voted against A10711, which ties the state's childhood vaccine requirements to recommendations of medical groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics rather than to federal guidance; it became law in May 2026. Sponsored a 2024 law creating maternity care coordination for pregnant and postpartum veterans, and prime-sponsors a bill barring immigration arrests at hospitals.
Climate and energy
Voted for 2024 laws making companies that contributed significantly to climate-warming gases share the cost of climate adaptation and requiring EV charging in certain new construction, and for a 2026 law on gas service to new customers. Sponsored bills on EV charger reliability and on wireless carriers' renewable-energy plans.
Mental health crisis response
Sponsored a bill having the state study mobile crisis teams for children and young people, which passed both houses in June 2025 and was vetoed that December, and a bill providing that mobile crisis teams include any mix of behavioral health professionals and certified or credentialed peer advocates, which passed the Assembly 144-0 in June 2024.
Education access
Sponsored a bill letting homework count toward public assistance work requirements for recipients in education programs, which passed both houses in June 2025 and was vetoed that December, and a 2026 law extending CUNY tuition waivers for certain firefighters to July 1, 2028. Prime-sponsors a bill barring libraries from banning books.
Background
Based in Brooklyn
Born and raised in New York City to Jamaican immigrant parents, he earlier worked as a chief of staff in the New York City Council and a special assistant in the State Senate, and ran a Cure Violence site.
- Member of the New York State Assembly for District 43 since March 30, 2022, after winning the March 22, 2022 special election with 63.2% of the vote
- Re-elected without an opponent on Nov. 8, 2022 (99.5% of the vote) and on Nov. 5, 2024 (99.4%)
- Won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary over Ahron Gluck with about 81% of the vote; advanced on the Working Families line after that party's June 23, 2026 primary was canceled
- Member of the Assembly committees on Agriculture; Banks; Codes; Consumer Affairs and Protection; Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry; and Transportation
- Member of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus, the Black Task Force and the Task Force on Food, Farm & Nutrition Policy
- First Vice Chair of the New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators, Inc.; inaugural Treasurer of the New York State Black Legislative Task Force
- Former chief of staff in the New York City Council and special assistant in the New York State Senate
- His Assembly biography says he was the first person elected to run a Cure Violence site in New York City
- Former youth advisor with CAMBA and NPower, aide to President Barack Obama's My Brother's Keeper Alliance, and director of Neighbors in Action
- Ran for New York City Council District 40 in 2017, losing the Democratic primary and then running on the Reform line in the general election
- His Assembly biography credits him with securing over $1 billion in state funding for the 43rd Assembly District since taking office
- Lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Stephanie Cunningham, and their son; member of the Kappa Beta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
- Assembly records list him as Brian A. Cunningham
Support
New York Working Families Party
Also on your ballot on the Working Families Party line
Money
$305K
raised
Top donors: NYS Association of Electrical Workers, New Yorkers for Putting Students First, Cynthia Secunda
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