General Election
NY Assembly · Assembly District 48
Simcha Eichenstein 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.
Unopposed incumbent's record on religious observance, energy and health care
Democrat Simcha Eichenstein, in the Assembly since 2019 and re-elected in 2024 with 98.9% of the vote, is the only candidate on the ballot, on the Democratic and Conservative lines. Both June 23, 2026 primaries for the seat were canceled.
Issues
6 issues · 1 candidate · every claim sourced
Religious observance and hate crimes
Central to the raceState law sets what insurers may do after hate-crime losses and what religious dietary options prisons must offer, both changed by laws signed in 2023. How far the state should go in accommodating religious practice, for example in housing, and in punishing bias crimes is decided bill by bill.
Simcha Eichenstein
In coverageSponsored 2023 laws on insurance for hate-crime victims and on religious dietary options in prison commissaries. His bill barring property owners from restricting religious items on dwelling doors passed both houses in 2026. Also sponsors bills to make misdemeanor hate crimes felonies and allow absentee voting for religious observance.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsor of A2207, on insurance for victims of a hate crime; voted yes when it passed the Assembly on Feb. 1, 2023, and it was signed into law as Chapter 65 on March 3, 2023. Sponsor of A5939, requiring religious dietary food options in prison commissaries and visitor's areas; voted yes on June 1, 2023, and it was signed into law as Chapter 687 on Dec. 8, 2023. Sponsor of A9195 (2025-26 session), barring property owners from restricting the display of religious items on entry doors or doorframes of dwellings; voted yes when it passed the Assembly on May 11, 2026, and it passed the Senate on June 3, 2026. Also sponsor of bills to enact a state religious land use and religious exercise act, raise misdemeanor hate crime offenses to felonies and authorize absentee voting for religious observance, and co-sponsor of a bill extending the offense of interfering with access to places of worship to groups of two or more demonstrating or preparing to demonstrate one hundred feet outside places of religious worship.
Sponsor of A2207, A5939 and A9195, voting yes on each; sponsor of bills on religious land use, hate crime penalties and absentee voting for religious observance; co-sponsor of a bill on demonstrations near places of worship · 2023-02-01 to 2026-06-03 · A2207 signed into law as Chapter 65 on March 3, 2023; A5939 signed into law as Chapter 687 on Dec. 8, 2023; A9195 passed the Assembly May 11, 2026 and the Senate June 3, 2026
Energy, gas drilling and utility rates
Central to the raceA 2024 law bars well permits for drilling that uses carbon dioxide, an April 2026 law addressed gas service to new customers, and the Public Service Commission approves utility rates under rules the Legislature sets. At issue is how far to restrict gas and drilling and how much weight rate decisions give to costs for consumers.
Simcha Eichenstein
In coverageVoted against the 2024 law barring well permits for drilling that uses carbon dioxide and, on the final roll call, against a 2026 law on gas service to new customers. Sponsored a bill, passed by both houses in 2026, requiring the Public Service Commission to consider the economic impact of utility rates, and sponsors a 2% cap on utility rate increases.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted no on A8866, barring well permits for applicants that use carbon dioxide to complete or recomplete natural gas or oil resources, on March 12, 2024; it was signed into law as Chapter 626 on Dec. 21, 2024. On S8812, on gas service to new customers, voted yes on an earlier Assembly roll call and no on the final Assembly floor vote on March 31, 2026; it passed and was signed into law as Chapter 101 on April 10, 2026. Sponsor of A2400 (2025-26 session), requiring the Public Service Commission to consider the economic impact of utility rates and charges; voted yes when it passed the Assembly on April 27, 2026, and it passed the Senate on June 4, 2026. Also sponsors a bill providing for a two percent cap on rate increases imposed by utilities.
Voted no on A8866; voted yes on an earlier roll call and no on the final vote on S8812; sponsor of A2400 (voted yes) and of a bill capping utility rate increases at 2% · 2024-03-12 to 2026-06-04 · A8866 signed into law as Chapter 626 on Dec. 21, 2024; S8812 signed into law as Chapter 101 on April 10, 2026; A2400 passed the Assembly April 27, 2026 and the Senate June 4, 2026
Health care and medical aid in dying
Also in playThe Medical Aid in Dying Act, for terminally ill patients, was signed into law on Feb. 6, 2026, along with a companion law on requirements for providing the medication. Whether to keep or change those rules is up to the Legislature and the governor.
Simcha Eichenstein
In coverageVoted against the Medical Aid in Dying Act in April 2025 and against the bill on requirements for providing medication for medical aid in dying in February 2026; both became law on Feb. 6, 2026.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted no on A136, the Medical Aid in Dying Act, on April 29, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026. Voted no on A9515, on requirements for the provision of medication for medical aid in dying, on Feb. 4, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 1 on Feb. 6, 2026.
Voted no on A136 and A9515 · 2025-04-29 to 2026-02-06 · A136 signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026; A9515 signed into law as Chapter 1 on Feb. 6, 2026
Consumer protection and household costs
Also in playLaws signed in 2026 addressed the Attorney General's ability to act against unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices and limited certain weekend sanitation tickets to residents. At issue is how far the state regulates business practices and the fees and fines households face.
Simcha Eichenstein
In coverageVoted against the 2026 law on the Attorney General's power over unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices. Sponsored the Assembly version of a 2026 law barring certain weekend tickets to residents who put trash out early, and a bill letting tenants sign leases electronically that passed the Assembly 140-0. Also sponsors a bill on robocalls.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted no on S8811, on the attorney general's ability to protect New Yorkers from unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices, on Feb. 25, 2026, when it passed the Assembly 94-48 with 8 excused; it was signed into law as Chapter 94 on March 27, 2026. Sponsor of A9505, barring tickets during certain weekend hours to residential occupants for putting trash out earlier than city collection hours allow; it was substituted on Feb. 11, 2026 by its Senate version, which was signed into law as Chapter 82 on Feb. 13, 2026. Sponsor of A8816, giving tenants the option to sign leases and rental agreements electronically; voted yes when it passed the Assembly 140-0 with 10 excused on June 3, 2026, and it was referred to the Senate Rules Committee the same day. Also sponsors a bill to limit robocalls and require phone providers to offer free call mitigation technology.
Voted no on S8811; sponsor of A9505 and A8816 (voted yes on A8816); sponsor of a bill on robocalls · 2026-02-11 to 2026-06-03 · S8811 signed into law as Chapter 94 on March 27, 2026; A9505's Senate version signed into law as Chapter 82 on Feb. 13, 2026; A8816 passed the Assembly and was referred to the Senate Rules Committee on June 3, 2026
Crime, bail and policing
Also in playThe Legislature writes the state's criminal laws, including which charges let a judge hold a defendant on bail, and a law signed Feb. 11, 2026 changed limits on how close licensed cannabis dispensaries may be to schools and houses of worship. How far to change these rules is decided bill by bill.
Simcha Eichenstein
In coverageVoted for the 2026 law changing limits on how close cannabis dispensaries may be to schools and houses of worship. Sponsors a bill to make offenses involving physical harm or danger to others eligible for bail and co-sponsors one to seal certain claims against law enforcement officers.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S9155, amending limits on how close retail adult-use cannabis dispensaries may be to schools and houses of worship, on Feb. 11, 2026, when it passed the Assembly 91-50 with 9 excused; it was signed into law the same day. Also sponsor of a bill making offenses involving physical harm or danger to others qualifying offenses for holding a defendant on bail, and co-sponsor of a bill providing for sealing certain claims against law enforcement officers.
Voted yes on S9155; sponsor of a bill on bail-qualifying offenses; co-sponsor of a bill on sealing claims against officers · 2026-02-11 · S9155 signed into law on Feb. 11, 2026
State budget and school aid
Also in playState school aid, including transportation aid, is set in law and in annual budget bills such as the 2024-25 education, labor, housing and family assistance budget; a separate 2026-27 budget bill implementing the state fiscal plan was signed May 28, 2026. At issue is how much the state spends and how aid formulas are calculated.
Simcha Eichenstein
In coverageSponsored a bill setting how state transportation aid is calculated for transportation after 4 p.m.; it passed both houses in 2024 and was vetoed in February 2025. Voted against the 2024-25 education, labor, housing and family assistance budget bill and a 2026-27 budget bill implementing the state fiscal plan; both became law.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsor of A10274 (2023-24 session), providing an equation for calculating transportation aid for transportation after 4 p.m.; voted yes when it passed the Assembly on May 30, 2024; it passed the Senate on June 5, 2024 and was vetoed by the governor on Feb. 11, 2025. Voted no on S8306, the 2024-25 education, labor, housing and family assistance budget bill, on April 20, 2024, when it passed the Assembly 93-53 with 4 excused; it was signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024. Voted no on S9009, implementing the state fiscal plan for 2026-27, on May 27, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026.
Sponsor of A10274 (voted yes); voted no on S8306 and S9009 · 2024-04-20 to 2026-05-28 · A10274 vetoed Feb. 11, 2025; S8306 signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024; S9009 signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026