State Senator - District 47
Erik D. Bottcher
Democratic state senator for District 47 since Feb. 4, 2026, after winning a Feb. 3 special election with 91.7% of the vote.
Where they stand
Crime, policing and gun safety
Has introduced a state bill requiring gun stores to display graphic warning imagery about the lethal risks of firearms in the home, and wants every gun store in New York to carry such public health warnings. Says he passed a City Council bill requiring gun stores to post graphic images of those dangers.
Issues Erik is raising
Housing and tenant protections
Sponsors bills to make New York City marshals file eviction notices electronically within one business day of serving them, to date rent reductions for cut building services from when service actually dropped, and to allow state-authorized housing preferences for artists.
Mental health care
Names expanding mental health care as one of his top legislative priorities in the State Senate, and sponsors a bill on hospitalization, care coordination and assisted outpatient treatment for people with mental illness.
Health care and public health
Sponsors a bill, passed by the Senate in June 2026, letting pharmacists dispense HIV prevention medication, and the Public Health Modernization Act, which would replace a section of state health regulations with new licensing rules for certain businesses. Voted for 2026 laws on medical aid in dying and on childhood vaccines.
Climate and the environment
Would support a cap-and-invest program, decarbonizing buildings and transportation, offshore wind and other renewable energy, cleaner water and climate-resilient communities, according to the New York League of Conservation Voters, which also lists his support for congestion pricing and protected bike lanes.
The Trump administration and federal funding
Names countering federal funding cuts and opposing the Trump administration's agenda among his top legislative priorities in the State Senate.
Background
Based in Chelsea · Age 47
He represented City Council District 3 from 2022 to 2026 and earlier was chief of staff to City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (2015–2021).
- New York State Senator, District 47, since Feb. 4, 2026
- Chair, Senate Standing Committee on Cities 1
- New York City Council member, District 3, Jan. 1, 2022 to Feb. 4, 2026
- Chief of staff to City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, 2015–2021
- Statewide LGBTQ community liaison in the Governor's Office
- City Council LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS community liaison, starting in 2009
- Democratic County Committee member and Community Board 3 public member, as listed in his VOTE411 candidate entry
- Planned to run for the U.S. House seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) before switching to the State Senate race; he did not appear on the June 23, 2026 congressional primary ballot
- B.A., George Washington University; Harvard Kennedy School's Senior Executives in State & Local Government program
- Raised in Wilmington, N.Y., in the Adirondacks; graduated from Lake Placid High School
- Born May 9, 1979; lives in Chelsea
Support
New York State AFL-CIO
Lists him among its 2026 State Senate endorsements for District 47
Civil Service Employees Association
His VOTE411 voter-guide biography lists CSEA among his campaign endorsements
Uniformed Fire Officers Association
His VOTE411 voter-guide biography lists the Uniformed Fire Officers Association among his campaign endorsements
New York League of Conservation Voters
Environmental advocacy group; NYLCV Gives Green named him among its 2026 endorsements for State Senate District 47 in an announcement dated June 4, 2026
Open New York
His VOTE411 voter-guide biography lists Open New York among his campaign endorsements
Money
$58K
raised
Top donors: NYS Laborers PAC, Daniel Lowy, Charles Miller
Others running for State Senator - District 47
