General Election
NY Assembly · Assembly District 36
Taxing the wealthy to fund child care versus holding down taxes and spending
Diana C. Moreno won the seat in a February 2026 special election after Zohran Mamdani resigned to become mayor, then won the June Democratic primary with 78.3%. Edward Lee, a Queens Republican County Committee member, advanced without a primary.
Issues
8 issues · 2 candidates · every claim sourced
Taxes, spending and the cost of living
Central to the raceThe Legislature sets state tax law, including the tax rates New York City may charge, and passes the state budget. The choice is between raising more revenue from corporations and high earners to pay for services such as child care, or keeping taxes and state spending down.
Edward Lee
Opposes additional taxes on property owners, saying landlords pass higher property taxes on to tenants as rent increases in Astoria and Long Island City, which he says are already seeing intense gentrification and rising rents.
Edward Lee campaign website — Issues/Platform ↗
Diana C. Moreno
In coverageWants to raise taxes on the wealthy to fund free child care for every New Yorker from six weeks to five years old. Says her first bill as an Assembly member would give New York City the ability to raise taxes on its wealthiest corporations to secure the funding working New Yorkers need.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Prime sponsor of A10340, which would let New York City raise tax rates on corporations and unincorporated businesses by local law; introduced Feb. 24, 2026, and amended and recommitted to the Ways and Means Committee on March 23, 2026, its latest recorded action. Language letting the city raise these taxes on corporations and unincorporated businesses with incomes of $5 million or more was included in the Senate and Assembly one-house budget resolutions in March 2026. Voted no on S9009, the bill enacting major parts of the 2026-27 state fiscal plan; it passed the Assembly 91-52 on May 27, 2026, and was signed into law May 28 as Chapter 59. Voted yes on S8811, on the attorney general's power to act against unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices (Feb. 25, 2026; signed March 27, 2026 as Chapter 94), and on S3460, giving employees access to their personnel records (May 19, 2026; signed Sept. 9, 2026 as Chapter 293).
Prime sponsor of A10340; voted no on S9009; voted yes on S8811 and S3460 · 2026-02-24 to 2026-05-27 · A10340 in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee after being amended March 23, 2026; S9009 signed into law May 28, 2026 (Chapter 59); S8811 signed March 27, 2026 (Chapter 94); S3460 signed Sept. 9, 2026 (Chapter 293)
Housing and tenants
Central to the raceState and city lawmakers set the rules on rent stabilization, tenant protections and who gets priority to buy residential buildings when they are sold, which shapes what tenants pay and what owners can do with their property.
Diana C. Moreno
Supports stronger tenant protections and defending rent stabilization, and wants to create a Social Housing Development Authority to build and preserve affordable housing with union labor.
Diana for Queens campaign website — Our Platform ↗Edward Lee
Opposes the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, saying that although it is presented as giving tenants a chance to buy their buildings, it gives nonprofits priority purchasing rights instead.
Edward Lee campaign website — Issues/Platform ↗Israel and state policy
Also in playIsrael comes up in this race through a bill on nonprofit funding of Israeli settlement activity and through pledges about pro-Israel lobbying money.
Edward Lee
Pledges never to take money from AIPAC and says he will work to have it reclassified as a foreign lobby, as part of a goal of removing foreign influence from the political system.
Edward Lee campaign website — About ↗Diana C. Moreno
In coverageSponsors legislation that would prohibit New York not-for-profit corporations from engaging in unauthorized support of Israeli settlement activity.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsor of A11289, the "Not on our dime!: Ending New York funding of Israeli settler violence act," which would prohibit not-for-profit corporations from engaging in unauthorized support of Israeli settlement activity; referred to the Assembly Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee on May 8, 2026.
Sponsor of A11289 · 2026-05-08 · Referred to the Assembly Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee on May 8, 2026; no later action recorded
Transit, tolls and streets
Also in playTolls, the transit agency's finances and the sale of high-speed electric vehicles on district streets each draw proposals in this race.
Edward Lee
Wants to end congestion pricing and keep the 59th Street Bridge free, and supports a complete audit of the MTA.
Edward Lee campaign website — Issues/Platform ↗Diana C. Moreno
In coverageWants to ban the sale of illegal high-speed electric vehicles known as e-motos to New York residents, saying retailers commonly market vehicles that reach 50 mph as e-bikes or e-scooters. Her proposal would define e-motos and require retailers to warn buyers they are not legal on state roads.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Introduced legislation with State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez that would define e-motos, require retailers to warn consumers the vehicles are not legal to ride on New York State roads, and bar stores and online sellers from selling them to New York residents. Gonzalez announced the legislation Sept. 16, 2026.
Introduced the legislation with State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez · Introduction not dated in the source; Gonzalez announced the legislation Sept. 16, 2026 · Introduced; later action not found
Voting, elections and government accountability
Also in playThe Legislature writes New York's election law, including rules on ballot access, language help for voters and voter participation, and sets the transparency rules state government works under.
Edward Lee
Lists as his top three priorities fighting corruption and promoting transparency, restoring balance to New York City politics to stop the Democratic Socialists of America, and increasing civic participation. On the Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais ruling, says those who oppose it should still follow the rule of the land.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Has hosted New York City debates for third-party and independent candidates, according to Gonzalo Duran's endorsement of him.
Debate host · Not dated in the source; described in Duran's March 2026 endorsement post · Past activity described by an endorser; the debates' dates are not given
Diana C. Moreno
In coverageWants New York to strengthen state-level voter protections after the Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais decision by expanding ballot access, protecting language access for immigrant communities and investing in voter education and participation.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsor of A11288, which would add a warning about New York's closed primary system to voter registration forms; referred to the Assembly Election Law Committee on May 8, 2026. Sponsor of A11416, which would notify people no later than six months before their address confidentiality period expires; referred to the Election Law Committee on May 15, 2026.
Sponsor of A11288 and A11416 · 2026-05-08 to 2026-05-15 · A11288 referred to the Assembly Election Law Committee May 8, 2026; A11416 referred to the Election Law Committee May 15, 2026; no later action recorded for either
Schools and higher education
Also in playSchool choice, student debt and academic freedom at colleges each draw proposals in this race.
Edward Lee
Supports charter schools and school choice, saying education money should follow the child, and wants to restore bankruptcy rights for student loans.
Edward Lee campaign website — Issues/Platform ↗Diana C. Moreno
In coverageSponsors a bill requiring certain colleges and universities to meet standards that do not infringe on academic freedom. Also voted for a 2026 law changing the limits on how close retail cannabis dispensaries may be to schools and houses of worship.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsor of A11415, requiring certain institutions of higher education to meet standards that do not infringe upon academic freedom; referred to the Assembly Higher Education Committee on May 15, 2026. Voted yes on S9155, amending the limits on locating retail adult-use cannabis dispensaries near schools and houses of worship; it passed the Assembly 91-50 on Feb. 11, 2026, and was signed into law that day as Chapter 2.
Sponsor of A11415; voted yes on S9155 · 2026-02-11 to 2026-05-15 · A11415 referred to the Assembly Higher Education Committee May 15, 2026, with no later action recorded; S9155 signed into law Feb. 11, 2026 (Chapter 2)
Health care
Also in playHealth bills on medical aid in dying, gender-affirming care and childhood vaccines became law in 2026, and vaccine rules, lead in drinking water and disability access figure in the campaign.
Edward Lee
Supports back pay for workers fired for refusing a vaccine he says did not pass normal safety tests, and wants state resources to help businesses get speech-to-text devices to serve deafblind customers. Would expand statewide a Bronx program that replaces private lead water service lines for free.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Gonzalo Duran's endorsement credits his involvement with contributing to the reinstatement of a disabilities coordinator for New York State and to efforts to advance a co-navigator program for the deaf and blind community.
Disability advocate, as described by an endorser · Not dated in the source; described in Duran's March 2026 endorsement post · Outcome as described by the endorser; the underlying state action was not found
Diana C. Moreno
In coverageHas voted for three health bills that became law in 2026: new requirements for providing medication under the state's medical aid in dying law, protections for legally protected health care including gender-affirming care prescriptions, and a law on childhood immunization vaccines.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on A9515, on requirements for medical professionals and health care facilities that provide medication for medical aid in dying (Feb. 4, 2026; signed Feb. 6, 2026 as Chapter 1). Voted yes on S8807, which bars professional liability insurers from denying coverage or raising rates solely over the legal use or prescription of certain gender-affirming care drugs and sets procedures for out-of-state warrants for electronic data on legally protected health activities (March 31, 2026; signed June 5, 2026 as Chapter 128). Voted yes on A10711, on childhood immunization vaccines; it passed the Assembly 90-48 on April 21, 2026, and was signed May 15, 2026 as Chapter 115.
Voted yes on A9515, S8807 and A10711 · 2026-02-04 to 2026-04-21 · A9515 signed into law Feb. 6, 2026 (Chapter 1); S8807 signed June 5, 2026 (Chapter 128); A10711 signed May 15, 2026 (Chapter 115)
Climate, energy and utilities
Also in playGas service, utility oversight and the role of climate advocacy draw different approaches in this race.
Edward Lee
Says climate activism has been taken over by those it was meant to regulate and that industry must be decoupled from the activism designed to hold it accountable.
VOTE411 voter guide (League of Women Voters) — Edward Lee's answers ↗Diana C. Moreno
In coverageHelped organize against a proposed NRG gas power plant in Astoria. Sponsors a bill raising penalties on gas and electric utilities that fail to file or correct annual reports with the Public Service Commission, and voted for a 2026 law on the rules for providing gas service to new customers.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsor of A11580, increasing penalties on gas and electric utilities that fail to file or correct an annual report with the Public Service Commission; referred to the Assembly Energy Committee on June 5, 2026. Voted yes on S8812, on the effectiveness of provisions of law on providing gas service to new customers (March 31, 2026; signed April 10, 2026 as Chapter 101).
Sponsor of A11580; voted yes on S8812 · 2026-03-31 to 2026-06-05 · A11580 referred to the Assembly Energy Committee June 5, 2026, with no later action recorded; S8812 signed into law April 10, 2026 (Chapter 101)