State Senator - District 22
Sam Sutton
Democratic state senator for the 22nd District in South Brooklyn since May 2025, when he won a special election to fill the seat left vacant by Simcha Felder; he chairs the Senate's Administrative Regulations Review Commission.
Where they stand
Housing costs, tenants and new construction
Wants to create and preserve affordable housing, protect tenants from unfair practices and expand assistance programs for first-time homebuyers. Has voted against a bill making technical changes to the state's good cause eviction law and against a bill setting rights for co-op owners when a building's ground lease expires.
School funding and nonpublic schools
Wants more school funding, smaller class sizes and expanded after-school programs, and supports both public and private education options for families. Sponsors bills to reimburse nonpublic schools for safety equipment grants and to provide state Dormitory Authority financing for a school building for Yeshiva Ohr Yoseph.
Issues Sam is raising
Health care and medical aid in dying
Supports expanded mental health services and more resources for seniors and vulnerable people. Voted against the Medical Aid in Dying Act, now law. Sponsors bills requiring insurance coverage of glucose monitors for children and newborn screening for Gaucher disease; his bill requiring coverage of backup devices for cochlear implant patients passed both houses and was vetoed in Dec. 2025.
Jobs, small business and the state budget
Supports reducing regulatory burdens on small businesses and creating incentives for local job creation. Sponsors a bill giving online marketplace sellers notice and a chance to respond before suspension, and a right to appeal. Voted against a bill prohibiting non-compete agreements and for the bill carrying out major parts of the 2026-27 state budget.
Public safety and local enforcement
Supports community-based approaches to public safety and more resources for first responders. Sponsors a bill making theft of packages from private carriers a class E felony, and sponsored a law barring tickets during certain weekend hours to residents who put trash out earlier than city collection rules allow.
LGBTQ rights
Voted against a bill that would stop judges in child custody cases from prohibiting a parent from undergoing gender reassignment, and against creating a 24-hour crisis hotline and website for LGBTQ+ people.
Background
Age 77
Before the Senate he led his family business for more than three decades and co-founded the Sephardic Community Federation and Teach NYS, which advocates for funding to nonpublic schools.
- New York State Senator, District 22, since May 2025; won the May 20, 2025 special election with 67.0% of the vote over Nachman Carl Caller
- First Sephardic Jew elected to the New York State Senate
- Chair, Senate Administrative Regulations Review Commission
- Member of the Senate committees on Aging, Disabilities, Education, Health, New York City Education, and Social Services
- Advanced without a vote when the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary for the seat was canceled
- Led his family business for more than three decades before selling it to an international conglomerate
- Ran a business importing women's accessories
- More than 30 years on the board of the social service organization Sephardic Bikur Holim, including five years as president
- Co-founder of the Sephardic Community Federation, where he has served as co-leader, and of Teach NYS, where he is board chair
- CUNY Board of Trustees, 2006–2012, nominated by Governor George Pataki; helped recruit the presidents of Brooklyn College and City College
- Former trustee of NYU Langone Medical Center; founding board member of the SAFE Foundation
- Graduated from Yeshiva of Flatbush in 1967 and Yeshiva University in 1971
- Born Solomon Sutton in New York City on Aug. 14, 1949; he and his wife, Nancy, took 14 foster children into their home
Support
New York State AFL-CIO
Statewide labor federation; lists him among its 2026 State Senate endorsements for District 22
Money
$410K
raised
Top donors: Yaakov Lefkowitz, Jack Cayre, Joey Shamah
Others running for State Senator - District 22
