General Election
NY Assembly · Assembly District 27
Sam Berger is the only candidate on the ballot for this seat. You can also write in a candidate whose name isn't printed on the ballot.
Sam Berger, in the Assembly since 2023, is the only candidate
Sam Berger won a September 2023 special election for the seat with 55.3% of the vote and was re-elected in 2024 with 57.3%. His 2026 Democratic and Conservative primaries were canceled, and he is the only candidate on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Issues
6 issues · 1 candidate · every claim sourced
Health care and medical aid in dying
Central to the raceA medical aid in dying law, which passed the Assembly 81-67 in April 2025, was signed in February 2026, and a law on immunization vaccines for children was signed in May 2026 after a 90-48 Assembly vote.
Sam Berger
In coverageVoted against the Medical Aid in Dying Act in April 2025 and against a 2026 law on protections for legally protected health activities, including barring professional liability insurers from denying coverage or raising rates solely over the legal prescription of certain gender-affirming care drugs, and voted for a 2026 law on immunization vaccines for children. Sponsored a 2024 law requiring driver pre-licensing courses to explain how to register as an organ and tissue donor.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted no on A136, the Medical Aid in Dying Act, on April 29, 2025, when it passed the Assembly 81-67; it passed the Senate June 9, 2025 and was signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026. Voted no on S8807, which bars professional liability insurers from denying coverage or raising rates solely based on the legal use or prescription of certain gender-affirming care drugs and sets procedures for warrants from other jurisdictions seeking electronic data related to legally protected health activities, on March 31, 2026, when the final Assembly vote was 93-52 with 5 excused; signed into law as Chapter 128 on June 5, 2026. Voted yes on A10711, on immunization vaccines for children, on April 21, 2026, when the final Assembly vote was 90-48 with 12 excused; signed into law as Chapter 115 on May 15, 2026. Sponsored A8275, requiring motor vehicle pre-licensing courses to give information on how to register as an organ and tissue donor; voted yes April 2, 2024; signed into law as Chapter 477 on Nov. 22, 2024.
Voted no on A136 and S8807; voted yes on A10711; prime sponsor of A8275 and voted yes on it · 2024-04-02 to 2026-04-21 · A136 signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026; S8807 signed into law as Chapter 128 on June 5, 2026; A10711 signed into law as Chapter 115 on May 15, 2026; A8275 signed into law as Chapter 477 on Nov. 22, 2024
State budget and business rules
Central to the raceThe Legislature passes the state budget: a 2026-27 budget bill that put major parts of the state's fiscal plan into law cleared the Assembly 91-52 and was signed in May 2026. It also sets business rules, such as limits on how close retail cannabis dispensaries may be to schools and houses of worship, amended by a law signed in February 2026.
Sam Berger
In coverageVoted against a 2026-27 state budget bill that put major parts of the state's fiscal plan into law in May 2026 and the 2024 aid-to-localities budget bill, and against a 2026 law changing limits on how close retail cannabis dispensaries may be to schools and houses of worship. Sponsored a 2025 law repealing the insurance law's mandatory anti-arson applications.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted no on S9009, implementing major components of the 2026-27 state fiscal plan, on May 27, 2026, when the final Assembly vote was 91-52 with 7 excused; signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026. Voted no on A8803, the aid to localities budget bill, on April 19, 2024; it passed the Assembly and Senate that day and was signed into law as Chapter 53 on May 1, 2024. Voted no on S9155, amending limits on the location of retail adult-use cannabis dispensaries near schools and houses of worship, on Feb. 11, 2026; signed into law as Chapter 2 on Feb. 11, 2026. Sponsored A112, repealing section 3403 of the insurance law on mandatory anti-arson applications; voted yes March 3, 2025; signed into law as Chapter 439 on Oct. 16, 2025.
Voted no on S9009, A8803 and S9155; prime sponsor of A112 and voted yes on it · 2024-04-19 to 2026-05-27 · S9009 signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026; A8803 signed into law as Chapter 53 on May 1, 2024; S9155 signed into law as Chapter 2 on Feb. 11, 2026; A112 signed into law as Chapter 439 on Oct. 16, 2025
Public benefits and school tax relief
Also in playHow households use electronic benefit cards and learn of approved school tax relief exemptions has been the subject of several bills before the Assembly this term.
Sam Berger
In coverageSponsored a 2024 law requiring electronic benefit transfer systems to let recipients cancel or lock a card when fraud is suspected or reported. Sponsors bills, passed by both houses in 2026, to offer benefit-card websites and apps in the 12 most common non-English languages spoken by New Yorkers with limited English proficiency and to mail school tax relief (STAR) exemption approvals within 30 days.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored A9269, requiring electronic benefit transfer systems to let recipients cancel or lock a card when fraud is suspected or reported; voted yes April 9, 2024, when it passed the Assembly 144-0; signed into law as Chapter 487 on Nov. 22, 2024. Sponsored A2332, requiring websites and mobile apps tied to an electronic benefit transfer system to be offered in the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by limited-English-proficient people in the state; voted yes May 20, 2025 and March 11, 2026; passed the Assembly March 11, 2026 and the Senate April 29, 2026. Sponsored A9240, requiring notice of an approved STAR exemption to be mailed to the applicant within thirty days; voted yes April 27, 2026; passed the Assembly April 27, 2026 and the Senate June 2, 2026.
Prime sponsor of A9269, A2332 and A9240; voted yes on each · 2024-04-09 to 2026-06-02 · A9269 signed into law as Chapter 487 on Nov. 22, 2024; A2332 passed the Assembly March 11, 2026 and the Senate April 29, 2026; A9240 passed the Assembly April 27, 2026 and the Senate June 2, 2026
Public safety and criminal law
Also in playChanges to criminal law and to access to police radio communications have come before the Assembly in recent sessions.
Sam Berger
In coverageSponsored Gittel's Law, signed in December 2024, which adds licensed mental health counselors and licensed marriage and family therapists to the mental health care providers covered by certain sex-offense laws for acts during treatment sessions. Voted against the Keep Police Radio Public Act, which would keep police radio communications, except sensitive information, accessible to emergency services organizations and professional journalists; it passed both houses in June 2025 and the governor vetoed it in December 2025.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored A10105, enacting Gittel's Law, which expands the definition of mental health care provider to include licensed mental health counselors and licensed marriage and family therapists for purposes of certain sex offenses committed during treatment sessions; voted yes June 4, 2024; signed into law as Chapter 636 on Dec. 21, 2024. Voted no on A3516, enacting the Keep Police Radio Public Act to ensure that, except for sensitive information, police radio communications are accessible to emergency services organizations and professional journalists, on June 5, 2025, when it passed the Assembly 84-61 with 5 excused; it passed the Senate the same day and was vetoed by the governor on Dec. 19, 2025.
Prime sponsor of A10105 and voted yes on it; voted no on A3516 · 2024-06-04 to 2025-06-05 · A10105 signed into law as Chapter 636 on Dec. 21, 2024; A3516 passed both houses on June 5, 2025, and was vetoed by the governor on Dec. 19, 2025
Worker benefits and public employees
Also in playBenefits for families of public workers and the rules of the workers' compensation system are set in state law.
Sam Berger
In coverageSponsored the Ignazio Giacalone Act, signed in September 2025, which gives additional credits to children and siblings of New York City sanitation workers who died in the line of duty as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001 World Trade Center attack. Sponsors a bill, passed by both houses in 2026, defining which mental health practitioners have diagnostic authority under workers' compensation law.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored A2123, the Ignazio Giacalone Act, providing additional credits to children and siblings of New York City sanitation members who died in the performance of duty as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001 World Trade Center attack; voted yes March 4, 2025; signed into law as Chapter 370 on Sept. 10, 2025. Sponsored A5894, defining mental health practitioners with diagnostic authority for services under workers' compensation law; voted yes May 29, 2025 and in the final Assembly floor vote Feb. 24, 2026; passed the Assembly Feb. 24, 2026 and the Senate June 2, 2026.
Prime sponsor of A2123 and A5894; voted yes on each · 2025-03-04 to 2026-06-02 · A2123 signed into law as Chapter 370 on Sept. 10, 2025; A5894 passed the Assembly Feb. 24, 2026 and the Senate June 2, 2026
Gas service and energy
Also in playRules on gas service to new customers came before the Assembly in March 2026, in two floor votes on the same bill, and became law in April 2026.
Sam Berger
In coverageVoted no in the final Assembly vote on a 2026 law on the effectiveness of the provisions obligating a utility to provide gas service to a building not supplied with gas when service is applied for, after voting yes on an earlier roll call on the bill the same day; it passed and was signed into law in April 2026.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S8812, relating to the effectiveness of provisions of law obligating a utility to provide gas service to a building not supplied with gas when service is applied for, in an earlier Assembly floor vote on March 31, 2026 (102-45), and no in the final Assembly floor vote the same day, which it passed 83-61 with 6 excused; it was signed into law as Chapter 101 on April 10, 2026.
Voted yes on an earlier roll call and no on the final Assembly roll call on S8812 · 2026-03-31 · Passed the Assembly 83-61 on March 31, 2026, over his no vote on the final roll call; signed into law as Chapter 101 on April 10, 2026