State Assembly Member - District 49

Lester Chang

RepublicanIncumbent

Republican Assembly member for District 49 since Jan. 1, 2023, after unseating Democrat Peter Abbate Jr. in 2022; re-elected unopposed in 2024.

Serving as Assembly Member

Overview Issues Support Money Events Record

Crime, bail and street safety

In coverage

Wants to fix the state's bail and parole laws. Sponsors bills setting prison sentences for crimes committed on public transit and requiring inspections of buildings that store or repair e-bikes, and voted against the Keep Police Radio Public Act and a bill changing how close cannabis dispensaries may be to schools and houses of worship.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsors A11222, which would impose certain prison sentences for offenses committed while using public transportation and create the offense of reckless endangerment on public transportation as a class A-I felony; referred to the Assembly Codes Committee on May 1, 2026. Sponsors A4852, requiring periodic inspections of commercial buildings where bicycles with electric assist are repaired, sold, rented or stored; in the Assembly Governmental Operations Committee as of Jan. 7, 2026. Voted no on A3516, the Keep Police Radio Public Act, on June 5, 2025; it passed both houses and was vetoed by the governor on Dec. 19, 2025. Voted no on S9155, which changes the rules limiting how close retail adult-use cannabis dispensaries may be to schools and houses of worship, on Feb. 11, 2026; it was signed into law that day.

Sponsor of A11222 and A4852; voted no on A3516 and S9155 · 2025-06-05 to 2026-05-01 · A11222 referred to Assembly Codes May 1, 2026; A4852 in Assembly Governmental Operations as of Jan. 7, 2026; A3516 passed both houses and was vetoed Dec. 19, 2025; S9155 signed into law Feb. 11, 2026

NY Assembly — A11222 (2025) actions ↗NY Assembly — A4852 (2025) actions ↗NY Assembly — A3516 (2025) floor votes and actions ↗NY Assembly — S9155 (2025) floor votes and actions ↗

NY Assembly — Lester Chang member page (About) ↗

Schools, class sizes and school choice

In coverage

Supports lifting the state's cap on charter schools and opposes mandated curriculum for private schools. Sponsors a bill to delay the state's class size reduction plans to September 2031 and add exemptions to class size targets.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsors A7358, which would delay the implementation of class size reduction plans to September 2031 and add exemptions for programs including gifted and talented and advanced placement classes; referred to the Assembly Education Committee on Jan. 7, 2026.

Sponsor · 2026-01-07 · Referred to the Assembly Education Committee on Jan. 7, 2026

NY Assembly — A7358 (2025) actions ↗NY Assembly — Lester Chang sponsored bills ↗

NY Assembly — Lester Chang member page (About) ↗

Homeless shelters and affordable housing

In coverage

Opposed placing an 80-room homeless shelter in Boro Park without community input in March 2025. In March 2026 rallied against the proposed integration of homeless transient tenants with residents of Borough Park apartments, and in May 2026 called for an investigation into reports of a fraudulent asbestos inspection at a proposed 86th Street shelter in Bensonhurst.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsors A6909 in the 2025-2026 session, which would bar homeless shelters within 500 feet of a transit facility or in a building with a rent-controlled or rent-stabilized apartment; held for consideration in the Assembly Cities Committee on May 21, 2026.

Sponsor · 2026-05-21 · Held for consideration in the Assembly Cities Committee on May 21, 2026

NY Assembly — A6909 (2025) actions ↗

NY Assembly — Lester Chang press releases ↗

Health care and services for seniors

In coverage

Voted against New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act in 2025 and against a 2026 bill on immunization vaccines for children; both became law.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted no on A136, the Medical Aid in Dying Act, on April 29, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026. Voted no on A10711, relating to immunization vaccines for children, on April 21, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 115 on May 15, 2026.

Voted no on A136 and A10711 · 2025-04-29 to 2026-04-21 · A136 signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026; A10711 signed into law as Chapter 115 on May 15, 2026

NY Assembly — A136 (2025) floor votes and actions ↗NY Assembly — A10711 (2025) floor votes and actions ↗

NY Assembly — A136 (2025) floor votes and actions ↗

Small business and the state budget

In coverage

Supports fewer business regulations. Voted against the 2024 Aid to Localities budget bill and a 2024-25 fiscal year budget bill; both became law.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted no on A8803, the Aid to Localities budget bill, on April 19, 2024; it was signed into law as Chapter 53 on May 1, 2024. Voted no on S8306, the budget bill for education, labor, housing and family assistance for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, on April 20, 2024; it was signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024.

Voted no on A8803 and S8306 · 2024-04-19 to 2024-04-20 · A8803 signed into law as Chapter 53 on May 1, 2024; S8306 signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024

NY Assembly — A8803 (2023) floor votes and actions ↗NY Assembly — S8306 (2023) floor votes and actions ↗

NY Assembly — Lester Chang member page (About) ↗

Climate and energy

In coverage

Voted against creating a state climate change adaptation cost recovery program and fund in 2024, and against a 2026 bill on gas service to new customers that became law.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted no on S2129, which establishes the climate change adaptation cost recovery program and the climate change adaptation fund, in the Assembly floor vote on June 8, 2024. Voted no on S8812, relating to provisions of state law on gas service to new customers, on March 31, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 101 on April 10, 2026.

Voted no on S2129 and S8812 · 2024-06-08 to 2026-03-31 · S8812 signed into law as Chapter 101 on April 10, 2026; S2129's status after the June 8, 2024 Assembly vote was not confirmed

NY Assembly — S2129 (2023) floor votes and actions ↗NY Assembly — S8812 (2025) floor votes and actions ↗

NY Assembly — S2129 (2023) floor votes and actions ↗

Equal rights and immigrant communities

In coverage

Sponsors bills to make Asian Lunar New Year a state public holiday, to study Asian American and Pacific Islander employment in the public workforce, and to rename the 8th Avenue subway station the 8th Avenue - Brooklyn Chinatown station.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsors A4743, which would identify the date of Asian Lunar New Year and declare it a public holiday each year; in the Assembly Governmental Operations Committee as of Jan. 7, 2026. In February 2023, he announced that he had introduced a Lunar New Year holiday bill. Sponsors A4851, directing the Department of Civil Service to study Asian American and Pacific Islander employment in the public sector workforce; referred to the Assembly Governmental Employees Committee on Jan. 7, 2026. Sponsors A11621, renaming the 8th Avenue subway station the 8th Avenue - Brooklyn Chinatown station; in the Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions as of July 29, 2026.

Prime sponsor of A4743, A4851 and A11621 · 2023-02-03 to 2026-07-29 · A4743 in Assembly Governmental Operations as of Jan. 7, 2026; A4851 referred to Assembly Governmental Employees Jan. 7, 2026; A11621 in Assembly Corporations, Authorities and Commissions as of July 29, 2026

NY Assembly — A4743 (2025) actions ↗NY Assembly — A4851 (2025) actions ↗NY Assembly — A11621 (2025) actions ↗NY Assembly — Lester Chang sponsored bills ↗NY Assembly — Lester Chang press releases ↗

NY Assembly — Lester Chang sponsored bills ↗

1 of 7

Others running for State Assembly Member - District 49

Joyce Xiaoqiong Xie