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Jo Anne Simon
IncumbentAttorney
Focus: Education
Backed by
Letitia JamesTom DiNapoliNydia VelázquezWorking Families Party+4 more
Primary Election
PRIMARY WAS JUN 23
NY Assembly · New York - 52
PrimaryDemocratic Party
Open seat in NY-52 pits progressive Simon against activist Green
This is an open-seat race for New York's 52nd Assembly District, as the current incumbent is not on the ballot. The two Democratic candidates, Jo Anne Simon and Lydia Bella Green, share many progressive priorities such as environmental advocacy and education reform, but differ on issues like divestment from Israel and campaign finance reform. With no fundraising or polling data available, the race's dynamics remain unclear.
Candidates
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Lydia Bella Green
Democratic District Leader for Assembly District 52
Housing — Green advocates for increasing the housing supply, establishing a Social Housing Development Authority, passing the…
Backed by
OPEIU Local 153Run for SomethingPlanned Parenthood of Greater NY Action FundCampaign for NY Health+4 more
▸ Your ballot — State Assembly Member - District 52
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Issues
Environmental Advocacy - Public Power
Jo Anne Simon supports shifting to public power for renewable energy and has a 100% rating from environmental groups, while Green supports the New York HEAT Act and fully implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
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Jo Anne Simon
Jo Anne Simon supports shifting to public power for renewable energy, supported the Gowanus Canal Superfund designation, advocated for burying the Gowanus Expressway, opposed fossil fuel infrastructure like the Williams pipeline, and introduced the Stop Polluters Handouts bill to repeal tax incentives for fossil fuels. She has a 100% rating from NY League of Conservation Voters and Environmental Advocates of NY.
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Lydia Bella Green
Green supports the New York HEAT Act, replacing peaker plants, building renewable energy, protecting waterfronts from flooding, and fully implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the Community Risk and Resiliency Act, and a Cap-and-Invest program. She has supported related resolutions as District Leader.
Education/Dyslexia/Reading Proficiency
Jo Anne Simon, a former teacher of the deaf, advocates for equitable school funding and evidence-based reading instruction for students with dyslexia, while Green opposes underfunding public schools and charter expansion and supports free public colleges.
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Jo Anne Simon
Jo Anne Simon, a former teacher of the deaf, pushed for equitable school funding (Campaign for Fiscal Equity), advocates for students with disabilities especially dyslexia, founded Dyslexia Awareness Day at the Capitol, and promotes evidence-based reading instruction aligned with the science of reading.
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Lydia Bella Green
Green opposes underfunding public schools and charter school expansion, advocates for desegregation, reform of specialized high schools, smaller class sizes, and equitable funding. She authored a resolution supporting the New Deal for Higher Education to fully fund CUNY and SUNY and make public colleges free.
Community-Driven Land Use Planning
Jo Anne Simon advocates for community input and affordable housing, helped pass the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act and Good Cause eviction law, while Green supports increasing housing supply, a Social Housing Development Authority, and the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act.
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Jo Anne Simon
Jo Anne Simon advocates for community input, responsible city planning, and real affordable housing. She fought for affordability and accountability in the Atlantic Yards project and led community planning for Boerum Hill, including the Hoyt-Schermerhorn development with 37.5% low-to-moderate-income housing.
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Lydia Bella Green
Green advocates for increasing the housing supply, establishing a Social Housing Development Authority, passing the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, increasing federal funding for NYCHA, and supporting the REST Act to stabilize and regulate housing units. She is a tenant herself and emphasizes tenant protections.
Researched & verified Jun 22, 2026. Compiled from verified public sources; claims that failed verification are excluded.