State Assembly Member - District 43

Brian-Christopher A. Cunningham

DemocraticIncumbent

Democratic Assembly member for the 43rd District since winning a March 2022 special election, re-elected in 2022 and 2024.

Overview Issues Support Money Events Record

State budget and consumer protection

In coverage

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.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted yes on the Aid to Localities budget bill (A8803) on April 19, 2024; it passed the Assembly 91-55 and was signed into law as Chapter 53 on May 1, 2024. Voted yes on S9009, a budget bill carrying major parts of the 2026-27 state fiscal plan, on May 27, 2026; signed as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026. Voted yes on S8811, which relates to the attorney general's ability to protect New Yorkers from unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices, on Feb. 25, 2026; signed as Chapter 94 on March 27, 2026. Sponsored A7939 on telemarketer disclosures and voted yes on June 3, 2024; signed as Chapter 539 on Nov. 25, 2024.

Voted yes on budget bills A8803 and S9009 and on S8811; sponsor of A7939, on which he also voted yes · April 19, 2024 (A8803); June 3, 2024 (A7939); Feb. 25, 2026 (S8811); May 27, 2026 (S9009) · All four signed into law: Chapter 53 (May 1, 2024), Chapter 539 (Nov. 25, 2024), Chapter 94 (March 27, 2026) and Chapter 59 (May 28, 2026)

New York State Assembly — A8803 (2023-24), Aid to Localities budget ↗New York State Assembly — S9009 (2025-26), 2026-27 budget bill ↗New York State Assembly — S8811 (2025-26), attorney general's authority on unfair business practices ↗New York State Assembly — A7939 (2023-24), telemarketer disclosures ↗

New York State Assembly — A8803 (2023-24) bill record and floor votes ↗

Health care

In coverage

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.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Co-sponsor of the Medical Aid in Dying Act (A136); voted yes on April 29, 2025; signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026. Voted no on 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, on April 21, 2026; signed as Chapter 115 on May 15, 2026. Sponsor of A8162, establishing a maternity care coordination program for pregnant and postpartum veterans; voted yes on May 30, 2024; signed as Chapter 623 on Dec. 21, 2024.

Co-sponsor of and yes vote on A136; no vote on A10711; sponsor of and yes vote on A8162; prime sponsor of the hospital immigration-arrest bill · May 30, 2024 (A8162); April 29, 2025 (A136); April 21, 2026 (A10711); the hospital bill's date is not given on his sponsor list · A136 signed as Chapter 714 (Feb. 6, 2026); A10711 signed as Chapter 115 (May 15, 2026) over his no vote; A8162 signed as Chapter 623 (Dec. 21, 2024); the hospital bill's status is not shown on his sponsor list

New York State Assembly — A136 (2025-26), Medical Aid in Dying Act ↗New York State Assembly — A10711 (2025-26), immunization vaccines for children ↗New York State Assembly — A8162 (2023-24), maternity care coordination for veterans ↗New York State Assembly — Brian Cunningham sponsored legislation ↗

New York State Assembly — A136 (2025-26) bill record and floor votes ↗

Climate and energy

In coverage

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.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted yes on S2129, the climate change adaptation cost recovery program, on June 8, 2024; signed as Chapter 679 of 2024 on Dec. 26, 2024. Voted yes on S1736, requiring electric vehicle charging stations and EV-ready parking in certain new construction, on June 5, 2024; signed as Chapter 643 on Dec. 21, 2024. Voted yes on S8812, on provisions of law on gas service to new customers, on March 31, 2026; signed as Chapter 101 on April 10, 2026. Sponsored A1721, setting reliability reporting and standards for electric vehicle charging stations; it passed the Assembly on June 8, 2023 and the Senate on June 9, 2023, and was vetoed on Dec. 22, 2023. Sponsored A4098, directing the wireless industry to report on plans to use renewable energy to power cell sites, and voted yes on June 6, 2024; signed as Chapter 612 on Dec. 21, 2024.

Voted yes on S2129, S1736 and S8812; sponsor of A1721 and of A4098, on which he also voted yes · June 8-9, 2023 (A1721 passage); June 5-8, 2024 (S1736, A4098, S2129 votes); March 31, 2026 (S8812) · S2129 signed as Chapter 679 of 2024 (Dec. 26, 2024); S1736 signed as Chapter 643 (Dec. 21, 2024); S8812 signed as Chapter 101 (April 10, 2026); A4098 signed as Chapter 612 (Dec. 21, 2024); A1721 passed both houses and was vetoed on Dec. 22, 2023

New York State Assembly — S2129 (2023-24), climate change adaptation cost recovery program ↗New York State Assembly — S1736 (2023-24), EV charging in new construction ↗New York State Assembly — S8812 (2025-26), gas service to new customers ↗New York State Assembly — A1721 (2023-24), EV charging station reliability ↗New York State Assembly — A4098 (2023-24), wireless industry renewable energy study ↗

New York State Assembly — S2129 (2023-24) bill record and floor votes ↗

Mental health crisis response

In coverage

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.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsor of A4276, directing the commissioner of mental health to study child- and youth-targeted mobile crisis outreach teams; voted yes on June 6, 2025, when it passed the Assembly; it passed the Senate on June 10, 2025 and was vetoed on Dec. 5, 2025. Sponsor of A8016, providing that mobile crisis teams include combinations of behavioral health professionals and certified or credentialed peer advocates; voted yes on June 7, 2024, when it passed the Assembly 144-0; it was then committed to the Senate Rules Committee, with no later action shown.

Sponsor of A4276 and A8016; voted yes on both · June 7, 2024 (A8016 Assembly vote); June 6, 2025 (A4276 Assembly vote) · A4276 passed both houses and was vetoed on Dec. 5, 2025; A8016 passed the Assembly 144-0 on June 7, 2024 and was committed to the Senate Rules Committee

New York State Assembly — A4276 (2025-26), study of youth mobile crisis outreach teams ↗New York State Assembly — A8016 (2023-24), mobile crisis team members ↗

New York State Assembly — A4276 (2025-26) bill record and floor votes ↗

Education access

In coverage

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.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsor of A4502, allowing homework required by an educational institution to count toward public assistance work activity requirements; voted yes on June 10, 2025; it passed the Senate on June 12, 2025 and was vetoed on Dec. 19, 2025. Sponsor of A11005, extending tuition waivers for certain firefighters and fire officers at CUNY until July 1, 2028; voted yes on May 12, 2026; it passed the Senate on June 1, 2026 and was signed as Chapter 145 on June 26, 2026.

Sponsor of A4502 and A11005, voting yes on both; prime sponsor of the library book-ban bill · June 10, 2025 (A4502 Assembly vote); May 12, 2026 (A11005 Assembly vote); the library bill's date is not given on his sponsor list · A4502 passed both houses and was vetoed on Dec. 19, 2025; A11005 signed as Chapter 145 on June 26, 2026; the library bill's status is not shown on his sponsor list

New York State Assembly — A4502 (2025-26), educational activities for public assistance recipients ↗New York State Assembly — A11005 (2025-26), CUNY tuition waivers for firefighters ↗New York State Assembly — Brian Cunningham sponsored legislation ↗

New York State Assembly — A4502 (2025-26) bill record and floor votes ↗

1 of 7

Others running for State Assembly Member - District 43

ASAnna Shpilkovskaya