Primary Election
Open seat in NY-36 draws three Democratic primary challengers
The 2026 Democratic primary for New York Assembly District 36 is an open-seat contest with three candidates: Mary Jobaida, Kevin P. Coenen, and Diana C. Moreno. All candidates emphasize progressive priorities such as housing affordability, workers' rights, and fully funded public transportation, with Moreno additionally pledging to reject corporate PAC money. No fundraising or polling data is available, making the race's dynamics difficult to assess.
Mary Jobaida
Immigrant from Bangladesh
Kevin P. Coenen
Volunteer petitioning for Assembly District 36
Diana C. Moreno
Former deputy director of New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE)
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Protecting Democracy and Empowering Ordinary People
Mary Jobaida supports term limits, automatic voter registration, and safeguards against voter intimidation, while Moreno frames her candidacy as part of a movement to fight fascism and authoritarianism by building a multiracial working-class coalition.
Mary Jobaida
Mary Jobaida supports term limits for all elected offices, automatic voter registration, publicly-run workshops on how to run for office and how to organize for change, and instituting safeguards against voter intimidation and public disinformation.
Diana C. Moreno
Moreno frames her candidacy as part of a movement to fight fascism and authoritarianism from the Trump administration. She believes organized people are more powerful than organized money and aims to build a multiracial working-class coalition.
Housing Affordability
Mary Jobaida supports freezing rents for stabilized apartments and establishing land trusts for community ownership, while Moreno advocates for strengthening tenant protections and creating a Social Housing Development Authority.
Mary Jobaida
Mary Jobaida supports truly affordable housing for the most vulnerable New Yorkers, freezing rents for stabilized apartments, and establishing land trusts and other social housing models to secure affordability through community ownership of real estate. She also supports tenant protections and help for struggling homeowners, including transferring tax-break benefits from big developers to small homeowners who live where they rent, providing city assistance for needed upgrades, and allocating support for building and maintaining Community Land Trusts.
Diana C. Moreno
Moreno advocates for strengthening tenant protections, defending rent stabilization, and creating a Social Housing Development Authority to build and preserve affordable housing with union labor.
Public Safety and Justice for Immigrants
Mary Jobaida lists public safety and justice for immigrants as a goal, while Moreno supports the New York For All Act to restrict ICE cooperation and has participated in civil disobedience against ICE.
Mary Jobaida
Mary Jobaida supports public safety and justice for immigrants, as listed among her goals on her campaign website.
Diana C. Moreno
Moreno stands up for immigrant neighbors under attack from Trump's deportation machine and supports passing the New York For All Act to restrict cooperation with ICE. She has participated in civil disobedience against ICE and has stated she is ready to defend her immigrant community, even if it requires putting her body in the line of fire.
Researched & verified Jun 22, 2026. Compiled from verified public sources; claims that failed verification are excluded.