General Election
NY Assembly · Assembly District 49
Republican incumbent defends a southern Brooklyn seat he flipped in 2022
Republican Lester Chang unseated Democrat Peter Abbate Jr. here in 2022, 52.0% to 47.9%, and was re-elected unopposed in 2024, when the district voted Republican for president by 20 points. Democratic district leader Joyce Xiaoqiong Xie is challenging him.
Issues
7 issues · 2 candidates · every claim sourced
Crime, bail and street safety
Central to the raceState law sets bail and parole rules and the sentences crimes carry, so changing them is up to the Legislature and the governor. Recent Assembly votes covered how close cannabis dispensaries may be to schools and houses of worship, signed into law in February 2026, and public access to police radio, vetoed in December 2025.
Joyce Xiaoqiong Xie
Advocates cleaner, safer communities and improved street conditions, listing public safety and cleanliness as one of her campaign priorities.
Joyce Xie campaign website — Priorities ↗
Lester Chang
In coverageWants to fix the state's bail and parole laws. Sponsors bills setting prison sentences for crimes committed on public transit and requiring inspections of buildings that store or repair e-bikes, and voted against the Keep Police Radio Public Act and a bill changing how close cannabis dispensaries may be to schools and houses of worship.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsors A11222, which would impose certain prison sentences for offenses committed while using public transportation and create the offense of reckless endangerment on public transportation as a class A-I felony; referred to the Assembly Codes Committee on May 1, 2026. Sponsors A4852, requiring periodic inspections of commercial buildings where bicycles with electric assist are repaired, sold, rented or stored; in the Assembly Governmental Operations Committee as of Jan. 7, 2026. Voted no on A3516, the Keep Police Radio Public Act, on June 5, 2025; it passed both houses and was vetoed by the governor on Dec. 19, 2025. Voted no on S9155, which changes the rules limiting how close retail adult-use cannabis dispensaries may be to schools and houses of worship, on Feb. 11, 2026; it was signed into law that day.
Sponsor of A11222 and A4852; voted no on A3516 and S9155 · 2025-06-05 to 2026-05-01 · A11222 referred to Assembly Codes May 1, 2026; A4852 in Assembly Governmental Operations as of Jan. 7, 2026; A3516 passed both houses and was vetoed Dec. 19, 2025; S9155 signed into law Feb. 11, 2026
Schools, class sizes and school choice
Central to the raceState law governs charter schools, curriculum requirements for private schools and the timeline for class size reduction plans, and the state budget sets school aid, so the Legislature decides whether to change any of them.
Joyce Xiaoqiong Xie
Supports expanding access to high-quality education for all students.
Joyce Xie campaign website — Priorities ↗Lester Chang
In coverageSupports lifting the state's cap on charter schools and opposes mandated curriculum for private schools. Sponsors a bill to delay the state's class size reduction plans to September 2031 and add exemptions to class size targets.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsors A7358, which would delay the implementation of class size reduction plans to September 2031 and add exemptions for programs including gifted and talented and advanced placement classes; referred to the Assembly Education Committee on Jan. 7, 2026.
Sponsor · 2026-01-07 · Referred to the Assembly Education Committee on Jan. 7, 2026
Homeless shelters and affordable housing
Central to the raceState lawmakers decide whether to add limits on where homeless shelters may be placed and how much the state invests in building affordable housing.
Joyce Xiaoqiong Xie
Calls for New York to build affordable housing as neighborhoods face rising costs of living, alongside investing in environmental resilience and improving mass transit.
Joyce Xie campaign website — Priorities ↗Lester Chang
In coverageOpposed placing an 80-room homeless shelter in Boro Park without community input in March 2025. In March 2026 rallied against the proposed integration of homeless transient tenants with residents of Borough Park apartments, and in May 2026 called for an investigation into reports of a fraudulent asbestos inspection at a proposed 86th Street shelter in Bensonhurst.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsors A6909 in the 2025-2026 session, which would bar homeless shelters within 500 feet of a transit facility or in a building with a rent-controlled or rent-stabilized apartment; held for consideration in the Assembly Cities Committee on May 21, 2026.
Sponsor · 2026-05-21 · Held for consideration in the Assembly Cities Committee on May 21, 2026
Health care and services for seniors
Also in playNew York's Medical Aid in Dying Act became law in February 2026 and a law on childhood immunization vaccines in May 2026; state lawmakers also decide how health care and social services for seniors are funded.
Joyce Xiaoqiong Xie
Wants to secure health care and social services for seniors.
Joyce Xie campaign website — Home ↗Lester Chang
In coverageVoted against New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act in 2025 and against a 2026 bill on immunization vaccines for children; both became law.
✓ 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 A10711, relating to immunization vaccines for children, on April 21, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 115 on May 15, 2026.
Voted no on A136 and A10711 · 2025-04-29 to 2026-04-21 · A136 signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026; A10711 signed into law as Chapter 115 on May 15, 2026
Small business and the state budget
Also in playThe Legislature passes the state budget each year, including aid to local governments, and sets the rules and support programs that apply to small businesses.
Joyce Xiaoqiong Xie
Supports robust support for small business owners and expanded essential services for seniors to keep Brooklyn neighborhoods affordable.
Joyce Xie campaign website — Priorities ↗Lester Chang
In coverageSupports fewer business regulations. Voted against the 2024 Aid to Localities budget bill and a 2024-25 fiscal year budget bill; both became law.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted no on A8803, the Aid to Localities budget bill, on April 19, 2024; it was signed into law as Chapter 53 on May 1, 2024. Voted no on S8306, the budget bill for education, labor, housing and family assistance for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, on April 20, 2024; it was signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024.
Voted no on A8803 and S8306 · 2024-04-19 to 2024-04-20 · A8803 signed into law as Chapter 53 on May 1, 2024; S8306 signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024
Climate and energy
Also in playState lawmakers decide whether and how to pay for adapting to climate change, such as the climate change adaptation cost recovery program the Assembly voted on in June 2024, and set rules on gas service to new customers, the subject of a law signed in April 2026.
Joyce Xiaoqiong Xie
Calls for New York to invest in environmental resilience, as part of building a cleaner, greener Brooklyn.
Joyce Xie campaign website — Priorities ↗Lester Chang
In coverageVoted against creating a state climate change adaptation cost recovery program and fund in 2024, and against a 2026 bill on gas service to new customers that became law.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted no on S2129, which establishes the climate change adaptation cost recovery program and the climate change adaptation fund, in the Assembly floor vote on June 8, 2024. Voted no on S8812, relating to provisions of state law on gas service to new customers, on March 31, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 101 on April 10, 2026.
Voted no on S2129 and S8812 · 2024-06-08 to 2026-03-31 · S8812 signed into law as Chapter 101 on April 10, 2026; S2129's status after the June 8, 2024 Assembly vote was not confirmed
Equal rights and immigrant communities
Also in playThe Legislature sets official state holidays and state workforce policy, and decides how state law recognizes and protects immigrant and Asian American communities.
Joyce Xiaoqiong Xie
Supports protecting and advancing the rights of immigrant and working-class families.
Joyce Xie campaign website — Priorities ↗Lester Chang
In coverageSponsors bills to make Asian Lunar New Year a state public holiday, to study Asian American and Pacific Islander employment in the public workforce, and to rename the 8th Avenue subway station the 8th Avenue - Brooklyn Chinatown station.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsors A4743, which would identify the date of Asian Lunar New Year and declare it a public holiday each year; in the Assembly Governmental Operations Committee as of Jan. 7, 2026. In February 2023, he announced that he had introduced a Lunar New Year holiday bill. Sponsors A4851, directing the Department of Civil Service to study Asian American and Pacific Islander employment in the public sector workforce; referred to the Assembly Governmental Employees Committee on Jan. 7, 2026. Sponsors A11621, renaming the 8th Avenue subway station the 8th Avenue - Brooklyn Chinatown station; in the Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions as of July 29, 2026.
Prime sponsor of A4743, A4851 and A11621 · 2023-02-03 to 2026-07-29 · A4743 in Assembly Governmental Operations as of Jan. 7, 2026; A4851 referred to Assembly Governmental Employees Jan. 7, 2026; A11621 in Assembly Corporations, Authorities and Commissions as of July 29, 2026