JS
Incumbent
Jo Anne Simon
Attorney
Focus: Education/Dyslexia/Reading Proficiency
Letitia James +7
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
LG
Lydia Bella Green
Democratic District Leader for Assembly District 52
Taxing the Rich — Lydia Green supports taxing the wealthy and corporations to fund government programs, universal childcare, and higher education. She has organized for this since 2020 and made it a cornerstone of her campaign.
OPEIU Local 153 +7
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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.
In coverage
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.
Jo Anne Simon campaign issues pageEducation/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.
In coverage
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.
Jo Anne Simon campaign issues pageCommunity-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.
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.
Lydia Green Campaign PlatformResearched & verified Jun 22, 2026. Compiled from verified public sources; claims that failed verification are excluded.