State Assembly Member - District 23
Pesach Osina
Democratic nominee, who won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary over Mike Scala with 60.6% of the vote.
Where they stand
Public safety, bail and policing
Supports giving judges authority to weigh whether a defendant is dangerous, including criminal history and repeated arrests, when deciding bail, and lowering the state's felony retail-theft threshold with tougher penalties for repeat offenders and organized theft rings. Wants full NYPD funding and staffing.
Cost of living and taxes
Wants insurers to fully justify rate increases and supports a prior-approval rule so they cannot raise rates without state sign-off, plus a crackdown on no-fault insurance fraud. Supports expanding the Empire State Child Tax Credit and childcare tax credits, raising income limits for middle-class tax relief, and opposes new taxes that he says make it harder to live and work in New York.
Energy costs and climate rules
Wants stronger Public Service Commission oversight of utility rate increases and more transparency before they are approved, utility relief programs for middle-class families, and an end to unnecessary fees and mandates that raise energy costs.
Issues Pesach is raising
Housing and development
Wants residents to keep a real say in what gets built, opposes overdevelopment, and favors property tax relief and protections for homeowners.
Background
Based in Far Rockaway
A longtime political staffer from Far Rockaway, he has worked in the New York City Council Speaker's office, as Queens Borough Director for former city Comptroller Scott Stringer, and on the staff of former Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder.
- Won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary for Assembly District 23 over Mike Scala with 60.6% of the vote
- On the Democratic and Community First Party lines in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election
- Senior community liaison in the New York City Council Speaker's office
- Queens Borough Director for former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer
- Community liaison on the staff of former Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder, including Hurricane Sandy recovery work
- Community liaison on Council Member Donovan Richards' team after the 2013 election
- Appointee to the New York City Commission on Racial Equity
- Worked with the city's Community Assistance Unit
- Board member of the Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula
- Former executive board member of Ready Rockaway, an emergency responder group founded in 2008 to monitor local flooding
- Has served as a community liaison with the NYPD's 101st Precinct
- Ran for New York City Council District 31 in 2013, losing the special election to Donovan Richards by 80 votes, and in 2021, losing to Selvena Brooks-Powers in the final round of ranked-choice voting
- Elected student president in college; says he launched a catering and events business
- Originally from Bensonhurst; lived in Chicago before settling in Far Rockaway, where he and his wife are raising six children
- Member of the Orthodox Jewish community
Support
Stacey Pheffer Amato
“Serving this community has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I care deeply about who carries that work forward. I’ve known Pesach for years, I’ve seen his heart for this community, and I know he will always put our families first.”
— Stacey Pheffer Amato, Assembly member
Mark Levine
New York City Comptroller
Julie Menin
Speaker of the New York City Council
Joe Addabbo
“I’ve worked with Pesach for years and have seen his commitment to our communities firsthand. He understands the issues our families face, he knows how to bring people together, and most importantly, he knows how to get results.”
— Senator Joe Addabbo
James Sanders Jr.
“He understands our issues and shares our values. I know he’ll make an outstanding legislator and will deliver for his constituents on Day One.”
— James Sanders Jr., State Senator
Money
$99K
raised
Top donors: Simon Pelman, Stacey Pheffer Amato For Assembly 2026, Local 6 Committee on Political Education
Others running for State Assembly Member - District 23