General Election
NY Assembly · Assembly District 85
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.
Issues
7 issues · 1 candidate · every claim sourced
Consumer prices and cost of living
Central to the raceA 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.
Emerita Torres
In coverageSponsored 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.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored A9349, prohibiting the use of surveillance pricing; the Assembly and Senate passed it on June 4, 2026, and she voted yes in the final Assembly floor vote on June 5, 2026. Sponsored A6765, the preventing algorithmic pricing discrimination act, requiring disclosure of algorithmically set prices; ordered to the Assembly floor calendar on Jan. 7, 2026. Sponsored A8906, requiring entities that access a consumer's credit report to notify the consumer of the right to a security freeze; voted yes when the Assembly passed it on May 13, 2026. Voted yes on S8811, on the attorney general's ability to protect New Yorkers from unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices, on Feb. 25, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 94 on March 27, 2026. Voted yes on S8432, on the scope of provisions on beneficial owners of limited liability companies, on June 17, 2025; the governor vetoed it on Dec. 19, 2025.
Sponsor of A9349, A6765 and A8906 (voted yes on A9349 and A8906); voted yes on S8811 and S8432 · 2025-06-17 to 2026-06-05 · A9349 passed the Assembly and Senate on June 4, 2026; A6765 ordered to the Assembly floor calendar on Jan. 7, 2026; A8906 passed the Assembly on May 13, 2026; S8811 signed into law as Chapter 94 on March 27, 2026; S8432 vetoed by the governor on Dec. 19, 2025
Housing costs
Central to the raceEmerita Torres
In coverageNames 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.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored A9588, prohibiting certain financial institutions from charging fees based on the frequency of mortgage payments or for changing payment frequency; voted yes when the Assembly passed it on May 28, 2026, and the Senate passed it on May 29, 2026.
Sponsor of A9588, voting yes · 2026-05-28 to 2026-05-29 · Passed the Assembly on May 28, 2026 and the Senate on May 29, 2026
Health care
Also in playMedical 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.
Emerita Torres
In coverageCo-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.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Co-sponsored A136, the Medical Aid in Dying Act, and voted yes in the Assembly floor vote on April 29, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026. Voted yes on A9515, on requirements for medical professionals and health care facilities that provide medical aid in dying medication, on Feb. 4, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 1 on Feb. 6, 2026. Sponsored A2250, on breast cancer screening and diagnostic testing for incarcerated people; voted yes on Feb. 3, 2025, and it was signed into law as Chapter 67 on Feb. 14, 2025. Sponsored A9026, requiring testing of baby food and infant formula for toxic heavy metals and disclosure of the results; voted yes on June 3, 2026, the day both houses passed it.
Co-sponsor of A136 and sponsor of A2250 and A9026, voting yes on each; voted yes on A9515 · 2025-02-03 to 2026-06-03 · A136 signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026; A9515 signed as Chapter 1 on Feb. 6, 2026; A2250 signed as Chapter 67 on Feb. 14, 2025; A9026 passed the Assembly and Senate on June 3, 2026
Highways, pollution and climate
Also in playEmerita Torres
In coverageSays she helped stop the vehicular expansion of the Cross Bronx Expressway, and opposed rollbacks of the state's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act in the state budget. Sponsors a bill barring added lane capacity on highways within 200 feet of certain public housing, in areas with high asthma rates and in environmental justice communities.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsors A10607, the Stop Highway Community Harm Act, which would prevent an increase in vehicular lane capacity of highways within 200 feet of certain public housing facilities, in areas with high rates of asthma and in environmental justice communities; in the Assembly Transportation Committee as of May 26, 2026.
Sponsor of A10607 · As of 2026-05-26 · In the Assembly Transportation Committee as of May 26, 2026
State budget and public safety
Also in playThe governor vetoed a 2025 bill to keep police radio communications, except sensitive information, accessible to emergency services organizations and professional journalists, and the 2026-27 public protection and general government budget became law in May 2026.
Emerita Torres
In coverageVoted for the 2026-27 public protection and general government budget and the bill carrying out the state fiscal plan, both signed in May 2026. Voted for a bill keeping police radio communications, except sensitive information, accessible to emergency services organizations and professional journalists, which the governor vetoed, and for a 2026 law amending limits on how close cannabis dispensaries may be to schools and houses of worship.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S9005, the 2026-27 public protection and general government budget bill, on May 21, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 55 on May 27, 2026. Voted yes on S9009, enacting major components of legislation needed to implement the 2026-27 state fiscal plan, on May 27, 2026, when the final Assembly vote was 91 yes, 52 no and 7 excused; it was signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026. Voted yes on A3516, the Keep Police Radio Public Act, on June 5, 2025, when the final Assembly vote was 84 yes, 61 no and 5 excused; the governor vetoed it on Dec. 19, 2025. Voted yes on S9155, amending provisions limiting the location of retail adult-use cannabis dispensaries near schools and houses of worship, on Feb. 11, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 2 on Feb. 11, 2026.
Voted yes on S9005, S9009, A3516 and S9155 · 2025-06-05 to 2026-05-27 · S9005 signed into law as Chapter 55 on May 27, 2026; S9009 signed as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026; A3516 vetoed by the governor on Dec. 19, 2025; S9155 signed as Chapter 2 on Feb. 11, 2026
Immigrant protections
Also in playEmerita Torres
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.
Emerita Torres for NY campaign site — accomplishments ↗Voting rights
Also in playEmerita Torres
Opposes the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais and supports fully enforcing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York. Says she introduced a bill requiring every graduating New York high school student to receive a voter registration form.
VOTE411 (League of Women Voters) — Emerita Torres candidate questionnaire, Assembly District 85 ↗