State Senator - District 17
Larry He
Chief of staff to Assemblyman William Colton and a Democratic district leader, first named Colton's co-chief of staff by January 2024.
Where they stand
Where homeless shelters go
Opposes the proposed homeless shelter in Bensonhurst. At a March 28, 2026 rally against it, raised concerns about transparency, construction safety and whether proper procedures were being followed.
Crime and public safety
Wants to expand the city's LockerNYC secure delivery lockers throughout the district to cut package theft, pushing the city Department of Transportation to use NYPD theft data to prioritize the area before its 2026 program review. Would require multilingual sign-up help in Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish at district sites.
Transit and commuting
Calls fighting for fewer delays and more consistent subway service one of his core promises, after asking residents how long they have waited for the D train.
Issues Larry is raising
Small businesses
Would introduce legislation creating a state "microbusiness" category for firms with 10 or fewer employees, with targeted grants, a 60-day period to fix non-dangerous violations before fines, and violation tracking by business size. Also wants contracting agencies to publicly report contract approval, invoice processing and reimbursement times, and to revive a Bensonhurst business improvement district on 86th Street.
Background
A first-generation immigrant, he holds a Ph.D. in ecological economics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and earlier worked in senior analyst roles at the New York and California Independent System Operators.
- Chief of Staff to Assemblyman William Colton; named co-chief of staff by January 2024
- Democratic District Leader
- Interned for Assemblyman William Colton in 2006
- Asian outreach director for Andrew Cuomo's 2025 mayoral campaign
- Former senior analyst roles at the New York Independent System Operator and the California Independent System Operator
- Former executive director, Global Asian Carp Coalition
- Former board chair and president, Chinese Community Center of the Capital Region of New York; former board member, United Chinese Americans
- Ph.D. in Ecological Economics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he served as a student senator
- First-generation immigrant
Support
Susan Zhuang
New York City Council Member
William Colton
New York State Assembly Member; Larry He serves as his chief of staff
Money
$201K
raised
Top donors: Fortuna Design & Construction INC, Shaxian Snacks LLC, No 2 Favor Taste Inc
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