Primary Election
NY Assembly · New York - 81
Open seat in NY-81 draws Dinowitz and Evers for Assembly
The 2026 primary for New York Assembly District 81 is an open-seat contest between Jeffrey Dinowitz and Morgan Evers. Both candidates have staked out positions on a broad array of issues including AI regulation, childcare, environmental justice, and housing. With no incumbent running, the race presents a competitive opportunity for either candidate to claim the seat.
Issues
8 issues · 2 candidates · every claim sourced
AI Regulation
Morgan Evers supports AI regulation to prevent privacy dangers, workforce replacement, and bias, and opposes unregulated data center expansions that cause environmental hazards and rising utility costs.
Jeffrey Dinowitz
In coverageDinowitz sponsored legislation to prohibit artificial intelligence companions from using features considered unsafe for minors, and to prohibit the manufacture and sale of chatbot toys in the state.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored NY A10379 (AI companions safety for minors) and NY A11144 (chatbot toy ban).
Morgan Evers
Morgan Evers supports AI regulation to prevent privacy dangers, workforce replacement, bias, and discriminatory outcomes. She opposes unregulated and untaxed data center expansions that cause environmental hazards and rising utility costs.
Morgan Evers for NY Issues Page ↗Childcare & Early Education
Morgan Evers will work to ensure Bronx families have equitable access to NYC's expanded free universal childcare including 2K and 3K programs, and expand childcare during school holidays.
Jeffrey Dinowitz
In coverageDinowitz sponsored 'Kyra's Law' requiring courts to consider a child's health and safety when making decisions regarding child custody and visitation, and to review information related to allegations of child abuse, domestic violence, and child safety.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored NY A06194 (Kyra's Law).
Morgan Evers
Morgan Evers will work to ensure Bronx families have equitable access to NYC's expanded free universal childcare including 2K and 3K programs, and expand childcare during school holidays.
Morgan Evers for NY Issues Page ↗Environmental Justice
Morgan Evers advocates for polluters to pay heavy fines for illegal dumping, and for safer green spaces and tree planting to mitigate highway air pollution contributing to asthma in Bronx children.
Jeffrey Dinowitz
In coverageDinowitz identifies climate and environment as a key priority. He has sponsored legislation to ban unencapsulated foam flotation in docks and buoys, regulate toxic substances in playground surfacing materials, and establish an indirect source review for heavy distribution warehouse operations to reduce emissions.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored NY A09047 (foam flotation ban), NY A07594 (toxic substances in playground surfacing), and NY A03575 (warehouse emissions review).
Morgan Evers
Morgan Evers advocates for polluters to pay heavy fines for illegal dumping, and for safer green spaces and tree planting to mitigate highway air pollution contributing to asthma in Bronx children.
Morgan Evers for NY Issues Page ↗Healthcare and Maternal Health
Morgan Evers will address healthcare worker shortages, high insurance premiums, prior authorization obstacles, and advocates to lower maternal mortality, especially among women of color, while defending reproductive rights for all women.
Jeffrey Dinowitz
In coverageDinowitz lists healthcare as a key area of passion. He sponsored legislation to allow camp employees aged 18 or older to administer medications to children under certain conditions, and to protect health information by requiring consent or a designated purpose for processing health data.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored NY A00509 (camp medication administration) and NY A10357 (health information protection).
Morgan Evers
Morgan Evers will address healthcare worker shortages, high insurance premiums, prior authorization obstacles, and state response to federal health policies. She advocates to lower maternal mortality, especially among women of color, and is pro-choice, defending reproductive rights for all women regardless of immigration status or residency.
Morgan Evers for NY Issues Page ↗Housing - Tenants Rights & Affordable Homeownership
Morgan Evers supports tenants rights and affordable homeownership, including defending cooperatives, ending bureaucratic red tape for state aid, and holding landlords accountable for violations.
Jeffrey Dinowitz
Dinowitz has prioritized housing stability, citing the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Act as a major legislative achievement. He has experience living in various housing types including NYCHA, rent-controlled, Mitchell-Lama, rent-stabilized, and co-op housing.
Ballotpedia ↗Morgan Evers
Morgan Evers supports tenants rights and affordable homeownership, including defending the Amalgamated Houses and Mitchel-Lamas cooperatives, ending bureaucratic red tape for state aid, and holding landlords accountable for violations.
Morgan Evers for NY Issues Page ↗Worker Power and Labor Movement
Morgan Evers is committed to investing in worker power and the labor movement by supporting unions and organized labor.
Jeffrey Dinowitz
In coverageDinowitz sponsored the 'construction reporting pay act' requiring that laborers, workers, or mechanics who report for work on any day be paid no less than four hours at the prevailing wage. He also sponsored legislation to provide deputy sheriffs with the same interest arbitration scope as municipal police officers.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored NY A06950 (construction reporting pay act) and NY A09665 (deputy sheriff arbitration).
Morgan Evers
Morgan Evers is committed to investing in worker power and the labor movement by supporting unions and organized labor.
Morgan Evers for NY Issues Page ↗Safer Streets
Morgan Evers supports proactive solutions to youth-involved gun violence, including investing in early education and community-led violence interruption programs, and increasing funding for the Bronx.
Jeffrey Dinowitz
In coverageDinowitz identifies public safety and justice as a top priority for his community. He has sponsored legislation including the 'victims protection and child sex buyer accountability act' to increase the age of victims of patronizing, promoting, and compelling prostitution, and the 'ceasing repeated and extremely egregious predatory (CREEP) behavior act' to provide anti-stalking orders.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored NY A09214 (victims protection and child sex buyer accountability act) and NY A03226 (CREEP behavior act).
Morgan Evers
Morgan Evers supports proactive solutions to youth-involved gun violence, including investing in early education and community-led violence interruption programs, and increasing funding for the Bronx. She advocates for transparency with NYPD's new patrol divisions to avoid over-policing and build trust.
Morgan Evers for NY Issues Page ↗Prioritizing Our Seniors
Morgan Evers will prioritize serving seniors with respect and dignity, including transportation safety, protecting against scams, and helping them navigate government and new technologies.
Jeffrey Dinowitz
In coverageDinowitz previously chaired the Aging Committee in the New York State Assembly, indicating a focus on senior issues.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Chaired the Aging Committee (2011-2012).
Morgan Evers
Morgan Evers will prioritize serving seniors with respect and dignity, including transportation safety, protecting against scams, and helping them navigate government and new technologies.
Morgan Evers for NY Issues Page ↗