NY Assembly · Assembly District 85

Uncontested

Emerita Torres is the only candidate on the ballot for this seat. You can also write in a candidate whose name isn't printed on the ballot.

Incumbent Emerita Torres is the only candidate for this South Bronx seat

Emerita Torres, a Democrat also on the Working Families line, has held the seat since January 2025 after winning the 2024 general election with 78.9% of the vote. Both parties' June 2026 primaries were canceled, and she is the only candidate on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Overview Issues Money

Candidate

Incumbent

Emerita Torres

Member of the New York State Assembly for District 85 since January 2025; won the Nov. 5, 2024 general election with 78.9% of the vote

Immigration — Her campaign says she introduced the BEACON Act, strengthening school anti-bullying guidance and explicitly including immigrants as a protected class, and co-sponsored bills to limit state and local involvement in federal immigration enforcement, to create a public online dashboard of enforcement activity, and to bar officers from wearing masks during enforcement actions and require clear identification.

Carl Heastie +19

▸ Your ballot — State Assembly Member - District 85

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Issues

Consumer prices and cost of living

A March 2026 state law addresses the attorney general's power over unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices, and both houses passed a ban on surveillance pricing in June 2026; at issue is how far state rules should reach into how companies set prices and use consumer data.

In coverage

Sponsored a ban on surveillance pricing that both houses passed in June 2026, and bills requiring disclosure of algorithmically set prices and notice to consumers of their right to freeze their credit. Her campaign says she passed a first-in-the-nation law requiring companies to disclose when personal data sets prices, and led the fight for universal childcare in the Legislature.

Emerita Torres for NY campaign site — accomplishments

Housing costs

In coverage

Names the affordable housing crisis among her top three priorities and wants to expand the Housing Access Voucher Program. Sponsored a bill barring certain financial institutions from charging fees based on how often homeowners make mortgage payments, or for changing that frequency; both houses passed it in May 2026.

VOTE411 (League of Women Voters) — Emerita Torres candidate questionnaire, Assembly District 85

Health care

Medical aid in dying became state law in February 2026, along with a follow-up law setting requirements for the medical professionals and health care facilities that provide the medication.

In coverage

Co-sponsored and voted for the Medical Aid in Dying Act, law since February 2026, and voted for its follow-up on requirements for providers. Sponsored a 2025 law on breast cancer screening for incarcerated people and a bill requiring baby food and infant formula to be tested for toxic heavy metals, which both houses passed in June 2026.

New York State Assembly — A136 (2025) actions and floor votes

See all 7 →

The money

Cycle-to-date · NYS Board of Elections — figures change as new reports are filed.

Torres

$84K

See who's funding them & outside money →

Researched & verified Oct 1, 2026. Compiled from verified public sources; claims that failed verification are excluded.

How to read our research & coverage

Sources (10)

vote.nyc nyassembly.gov emeritatorres.com emeritatorres.com onyourballot.vote411.org data.ny.gov data.ny.gov nyassembly.gov nyassembly.gov ballotpedia.org