State Assembly Member - District 65
Illapa Sairitupac
A housing organizer at the Cooper Square Committee and a social worker with a master's degree from New York University, he won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary with 36.5% of the vote.
Issues Illapa is raising
Rent, tenant protections and new housing
Wants the state to create a Social Housing Development Authority to expand affordable housing, expand rent stabilization statewide through the REST Act, and let tenants buy their apartments through the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act. Also backs ending single-family zoning and parking requirements to allow more housing construction.
Immigration enforcement
Supports passing the New York for All Act to solidify protections against local and state law enforcement working with ICE. Pledges to support only candidates for federal office who are committed to the full abolition of ICE.
State taxes and what they pay for
Supports raising taxes on the wealthy to pay for affordable housing, health care and free universal child care.
Health care coverage and care workers
Supports the New York Health Act, which would provide comprehensive health care free at the point of service for state residents and retirees, and the Fair Pay for Home Care Act, to require fair pay and working conditions for care workers.
Energy, utilities and public power
Proposes requiring the New York Power Authority to develop, operate and own a majority stake in 15 gigawatts of renewable energy generation by 2030. Wants ConEd transformed into a publicly owned utility.
Background
Based in Lower Manhattan
He first ran for this seat in 2022, finishing second to Grace Lee in the Democratic primary with 34.5%.
- Tenant organizer at the Cooper Square Committee since 2022; also works with the This Land is Ours Community Land Trust in Lower Manhattan
- Worked at the St. Marks Place Institute for Mental Health from 2020 to 2022 and at Bellevue Educare from 2016 to 2019; earlier worked as a dog walker and an assistant teacher
- Master of Social Work, New York University Silver School of Social Work, 2021
- Co-chair of candidate recruitment for New York City Democratic Socialists of America until resigning to run for office
- Endorsed by New York City Democratic Socialists of America
- Says he has organized to pass the Build Public Renewables Act and to protect communities from ICE
- Says he was part of the End Warehousing Coalition, which supported a state bill signed into law in 2023
- Lost the June 28, 2022 Democratic primary for Assembly District 65 to Grace Lee with 34.5% of the vote (3,305 votes)
- Born in Mount Kisco, New York, and raised in Westchester and Dutchess counties; son of immigrants from Peru
- Says he has lived in Assembly District 65 for 14 years
- Openly gay and identifies as non-binary
Support
Bernie Sanders
U.S. senator.
Zohran Mamdani
Mayor of New York City.
Shahana Hanif
“Illapa has been a tireless fighter for tenants and against ICE. I’m thrilled to support a fellow socialist who knows immigrants make New York great, we all deserve affordable homes, and that a better New York is possible.”
— Shahana Hanif, New York City Council member
32BJ SEIU
Labor union.
NYC District Council of Carpenters
“We’re endorsing Illapa Sairitupac because he understands that a city is only as prosperous as the people who build it.”
— Paul Capurso, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, NYC District Council of Carpenters
Money
$96K
raised
Top donors: Hotel and Gaming Trades Council (HTC) Local 6, NYC District Council of Carpenters PAC, Allegra Rosenbaum
Others running for State Assembly Member - District 65