Gov

Primary Election

PRIMARY WAS JUN 23

NY AssemblyNew York - 69

PrimaryDemocratic Party

Open seat in NY-69 draws two Democratic primary candidates

The race for New York Assembly District 69 is an open seat contest with no incumbent on the ballot. Two Democratic candidates, Eli Northrup and Stephanie R. Ruskay, are competing in the June 23, 2026 primary. Northrup has reported $92,000 in fundraising, while Ruskay's fundraising data is not yet available. Both candidates have staked positions on a wide range of issues including affordability, housing, and environmental justice.

Candidates
EN
Eli Northrup

Legal Director for the Criminal Defense Practice at The Bronx Defenders

Housing Eli Northrup supports a statewide right to counsel in eviction proceedings, increased state investment in NYCHA, expanding SCRIE and DRIE programs, strengthening Good Cause Eviction protections, fully establishing the Housing Access Voucher Program, creating a statewide rental registry, allowing municipalities to adopt rent stabilization, giving tenants the right of first refusal when their building is sold, supporting LGBTQ+ elder housing, increasing state contribution to NYC's shelter system, strengthening homelessness prevention programs, educating landlords about vouchers, expanding supportive and licensed housing, creating a New York State Social Housing Development Authority, building more affordable housing with community input, and supporting faith-based affordable housing.

New York Working Families Party +7

SR
Stephanie R. Ruskay

Rabbi and associate dean of the Rabbinical School at the Jewish Theological Seminary

Housing Ruskay advocates for expanding the affordable housing revolving loan fund, doubling state housing capital investment to $10 billion over five years to produce 200,000 affordable units, banning AI-generated or altered apartment photos, increasing NYCHA funding, creating a civil right to counsel in eviction proceedings, strengthening tenant protections, protecting rent stabilization, and establishing a maximum rent of 30% of household income for older adults and people with disabilities in SCRIE/DRIE.

Mark Levine +6

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Issues

Affordability

Eli Northrup supports a bold affordability agenda funded by taxing corporations and the wealthiest 1%, while Stephanie Ruskay focuses on increasing funding for early childcare, affordable housing production, and ending the Commercial Rent Tax for small businesses.

Eli Northrup supports a bold affordability agenda including universal childcare, the New York Health Act for universal healthcare, housing as a human right, lowering grocery costs via the Consumer Grocery Pricing Fairness Act, expanding Fair Fares transit affordability, and raising taxes on corporations and the wealthiest 1% through the Invest in Our New York package.

Eli for NY campaign platform

Infrastructure & Environmental Justice

Both candidates support the CLCPA and NY HEAT Act, with Northrup emphasizing a moratorium on new data centers and opposing nuclear expansion, while Ruskay highlights boosting renewable deployment and the Insure Our Future Act.

Eli Northrup supports defending the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), increasing investment in the Environmental Protection Fund, green schools, a moratorium on new data centers, transitioning to renewable energy (offshore wind, grid expansion), the NY HEAT Act, a statewide cap and invest program, expanding solar access, opposing new fossil fuel infrastructure, opposing nuclear expansion, cracking down on Con Edison rate hikes, supporting a public utilities authority pilot, making public spaces climate-resilient, improving MTA investment and accountability, ensuring transit accessibility, defending congestion pricing, supporting fast and free buses, universal daylighting, and protected bus and bike lanes.

Eli for NY campaign platform

Education & Schools

Northrup prioritizes fixing the Foundation Aid Formula, opposing unchecked charter growth, and making CUNY tuition-free, while Ruskay focuses on increasing Universal Pre-K and 3K seats, universal afterschool programming, and strengthening religious literacy education.

Eli Northrup supports fixing the Foundation Aid Formula, opposing unchecked charter school growth, expanding community schools, guaranteeing access to free public education regardless of immigration status, green schools, expanding anti-hate and culturally responsive curricula, fair contracts for teachers (including Fix Tier 6), addressing chronic absenteeism, the New Deal for CUNY (tuition-free CUNY, increased operating aid for SUNY/CUNY/community colleges), protecting academic workers' right to organize, and championing the Universal Child Care Act and increased childcare workforce investment.

Eli for NY campaign platform
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The money

Cycle-to-date · NYSBOE — figures change as new reports are filed.

ENNorthrup
$92K

Researched & verified Jun 22, 2026. Compiled from verified public sources; claims that failed verification are excluded.

Sources (1)