State Senator - District 16
John C. Liu
Has represented Senate District 16, which covers parts of Flushing, Fresh Meadows and Bayside in Queens, as a Democrat since 2023, and chairs the Senate Committee on New York City Education.
Issues John is raising
New York City schools
Sponsored a 2023 law on New York City's plan, developed with the teachers' and principals' unions, to reduce class sizes starting in September 2023 and reaching all classes by September 2028, and a 2025 law authorizing a survey of instruction on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander history and creating an advisory committee. Voted for the 2024-25 education budget bill.
Health care and insurance coverage
Sponsors a bill requiring certain health insurance policies to cover diabetes and prediabetes screening, which passed the Senate and the Assembly in 2026. Voted for the Medical Aid in Dying Act, signed into law in February 2026, and against a 2024 bill changing physician assistant practice standards, which became law.
Consumer protection and data privacy
Sponsors a biometric identifier privacy act, which passed the Senate 41-20 in June 2026, and a bill protecting minors featured in paid video content that earns money on social media. Sponsored a 2024 law on notices warning of electronic benefit card scams and voted for a 2026 law on the attorney general's power over unfair business practices.
Policing and traffic safety
As New York City comptroller from 2010 to 2013, was an early opponent of stop-and-frisk police tactics, pointing to the risks to communities and taxpayers from damaged police-community relations. Sponsored the 2024 law prohibiting reckless driving in parking lots.
Campaign finance and court appointments
Voted against a 2023 bill changing thresholds and procedures in the state's public campaign financing program, which the governor vetoed, and against a 2023 bill on filling Court of Appeals associate judge vacancies created when the governor appoints a chief judge, which became law.
Background
Based in Flushing, Queens
He was New York City Comptroller from 2010 to 2013 and a City Council member for Flushing and northeast Queens from 2002 to 2009, and teaches municipal finance and public policy at Columbia University.
- Chair of the New York State Senate Committee on New York City Education
- State Senator for District 16 since 2023; won the seat in 2022 with 57.7% of the vote and was re-elected in 2024 with 79.4%
- New York City Comptroller, 2010–2013; as Comptroller created CheckbookNYC.com, an online tool showing city government spending
- New York City Council member for Flushing and northeast Queens, 2002–2009; chaired the Council's Transportation Committee
- Candidate for Mayor of New York City in 2013
- First Asian American to win legislative office in New York and the first to win citywide office
- Worked 14 years as an actuary, most recently as a manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Teaches municipal finance and public policy in a graduate program at Columbia University; previously taught at the City University of New York
- Immigrated from Taiwan at age five; attended Hunter College High School and the Bronx High School of Science, and earned a degree in mathematical physics from Binghamton University
- Lives in Flushing with his wife, Jenny, and their son, Joey
Support
New York Working Families Party
Also on your ballot on the Working Families Party line
Money
$342K
raised
Top donors: TWU Local 100 PAC, Alison Fung, IBEW New York PAC