General Election
NY Senate · Senate District 18
Julia Salazar 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 Julia Salazar runs unopposed for a fifth Senate term
Julia Salazar, a Democrat also on the Working Families line, has held the seat since 2019 and is the only candidate on the ballot. Her June 2026 primaries were canceled, and she won the 2024 general election with 99.1% of the vote.
Issues
7 issues · 1 candidate · every claim sourced
Criminal justice, prisons and courts
Central to the raceThe Legislature writes the state's criminal laws, the costs and fees courts may charge and the rules for state prisons and youth facilities; a law signed June 5, 2026, authorized body scanners in certain Office of Children and Family Services facilities.
Julia Salazar
In coverageSponsored a 2024 law waiving court costs and fees for people who cannot afford them and a bill barring restraints on incarcerated people during labor, absent extraordinary circumstances and with certain exceptions permitting wrist restraints, which passed both houses in June 2026. Voted against a 2023 bill on the offenses of rape in the first, second and third degrees, which passed the Senate 58-4 and became law; a 2024 bill allowing evidence of a defendant's prior sexual offense in a sexual offense proceeding, which passed the Senate 55-4; and a 2026 bill allowing body scanners in certain state children's services facilities, which passed the Senate 53-1 and became law.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Her Senate biography lists her as the lead sponsor of the HALT Solitary Confinement Act in 2021. Sponsored S9452, waiving certain court costs, fees and expenses for people of insufficient means; voted yes on June 5, 2024, and it was signed into law as Chapter 589 on Dec. 13, 2024. Sponsored S2667, prohibiting restraints on incarcerated people during labor, absent extraordinary circumstances, and on pregnant people during custodial interrogation, with certain exceptions permitting wrist restraints; voted yes on June 1, 2026, and it passed the Senate that day and the Assembly on June 5, 2026. Sponsored S4583, on the health, safety and human rights of incarcerated pregnant people and birthing parents; voted yes on June 1, 2026, when it passed the Senate, and it was referred to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. Sponsored S8185, barring entities from negotiating settlements that release them from liability within 30 days of a possibly tortious act; voted yes on June 11, 2025; it passed the Assembly on June 17, 2025, and was vetoed by the governor on Dec. 19, 2025. Voted no on A3340, on the offenses of rape in the first, second and third degrees, on June 6, 2023; it passed the Senate 58-4 that day and was signed into law as Chapter 777 on Jan. 30, 2024. Voted no on S9276, allowing evidence of a defendant's prior sexual offense in a sexual offense proceeding, on May 22, 2024; it passed the Senate 55-4 that day and was referred to the Assembly Codes Committee. Voted no on A9333, authorizing body scanners in certain Office of Children and Family Services facilities, on April 7, 2026; it passed the Senate 53-1 and was signed into law as Chapter 121 on June 5, 2026.
Lead sponsor of the HALT Solitary Confinement Act (per her Senate biography); sponsor of S9452, S2667, S4583 and S8185, voting yes on each; voted no on A3340, S9276 and A9333 · 2021 to 2026-06-01 · S9452 signed into law as Chapter 589 on Dec. 13, 2024; S2667 passed the Senate June 1 and the Assembly June 5, 2026; S4583 passed the Senate June 1, 2026, and is in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee; S8185 passed both houses and was vetoed Dec. 19, 2025; A3340 passed the Senate 58-4 and was signed into law as Chapter 777 on Jan. 30, 2024; S9276 passed the Senate 55-4 on May 22, 2024, and was referred to the Assembly Codes Committee; A9333 passed the Senate 53-1 and was signed into law as Chapter 121 on June 5, 2026
Housing and tenants
Central to the raceState law sets tenants' protections and helps fund public housing; New York enacted Good Cause Eviction protections in 2024, and how far tenant rules and public housing funding should go from there remains open.
Julia Salazar
In coverageWants NYCHA's capital repairs and operating costs fully funded to keep public housing under public control. Her campaign lists among her bills Good Cause Eviction, which bars evictions without good cause and protects tenants from unreasonably high rent increases and became law in 2024, and says she co-sponsors the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act and the Housing Access Voucher Program.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Her Senate biography says she spearheaded the Good Cause Eviction bill, which was signed into law in 2024.
Led the Good Cause Eviction bill in the Senate (her Senate biography says she spearheaded it) · 2024 · Signed into law in 2024
Health care
Central to the raceState law decides what insurance and Medicaid must cover and how drugs in shortage may be priced; a law signed Feb. 6, 2026, lets terminally ill patients seek medical aid in dying.
Julia Salazar
In coverageSupports the New York Health Act to create a single-payer health system, Coverage for All to extend health insurance regardless of immigration status, and ending mandatory 24-hour shifts for home care workers. Sponsored a 2023 law against price gouging on drugs in shortage and a bill, passed by the Senate in June 2026, adding infant seizure monitors to Medicaid coverage. Voted for the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which became law in February 2026.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S608, prohibiting the sale of a drug in shortage at an unconscionably excessive price; voted yes on May 16, 2023, and it was signed into law as Chapter 725 on Dec. 13, 2023. Sponsored S9139, covering seizure-detecting monitors for certain infants under Medicaid; voted yes on June 1, 2026, when it passed the Senate, and it was referred to the Assembly Health Committee. Voted yes on A136, the Medical Aid in Dying Act, on June 9, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026.
Sponsor of S608 and S9139, voting yes on each; voted yes on A136 · 2023-05-16 to 2026-06-01 · S608 signed into law as Chapter 725 on Dec. 13, 2023; S9139 passed the Senate June 1, 2026, and is in the Assembly Health Committee; A136 signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026
Climate and energy
Also in playJulia Salazar
In coverageSupports the New York HEAT Act, which her campaign says would align the regulation of utility companies with the state's emission-reduction targets, and backs the No NBK Pipeline campaign against National Grid's fossil fuel infrastructure expansion in north Brooklyn. Was co-prime sponsor of the Build Public Renewables Act, which became law in 2023.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Co-prime sponsor of the Build Public Renewables Act, which became law in 2023, according to her Senate biography.
Co-prime sponsor of the Build Public Renewables Act · 2023 · Became law in 2023
Reproductive and maternal health
Also in playJulia Salazar
In coverageSponsors the Maternal Health, Dignity and Consent Act, which passed the Senate in June 2026, and the Equity in Fertility Treatment Act, on the definition of infertility and insurance coverage of its treatment, which passed the Senate in January 2026. Her first bill to pass after joining the Senate was the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S845, establishing the Maternal Health, Dignity and Consent Act; voted yes on June 4, 2026, when it passed the Senate, and it was referred to the Assembly Codes Committee. Sponsored S8866, the Equity in Fertility Treatment Act; voted yes on Jan. 27, 2026, when it passed the Senate, and it was referred to the Assembly Insurance Committee. Her Senate biography says her first bill to pass after joining the Senate was the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act.
Sponsor of S845 and S8866, voting yes on each · S8866 Senate vote on 2026-01-27; S845 Senate vote on 2026-06-04 · S845 passed the Senate June 4, 2026, and is in the Assembly Codes Committee; S8866 passed the Senate Jan. 27, 2026, and is in the Assembly Insurance Committee; her Senate biography says the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act was her first bill to pass after joining the Senate
Immigration
Also in playJulia Salazar
Wants New York barred from entering into immigration detention contracts with ICE: her campaign lists the Dignity Not Detention Act among her bills. Supports Coverage for All, which would let New Yorkers obtain health insurance regardless of immigration status.
Julia Salazar for State Senate — Platform ↗State budget and local government
Also in playThe Legislature passes the state budget each year; the bill carrying the 2026-27 state fiscal plan passed the Senate 38-24 on May 27, 2026, and became law the next day.
Julia Salazar
In coverageVoted against the bills carrying the 2023-24 and 2026-27 state fiscal plans and the 2023-24 education, labor, housing and family assistance budget; all three became law. Also voted against a 2023 law on incorporating villages.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted no on S4009, implementing the 2023-24 state fiscal plan, on May 1, 2023; it was signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 3, 2023. Voted no on A3006, implementing the 2023-24 education, labor, housing and family assistance budget, on May 2, 2023; it passed the Senate that day and was signed into law as Chapter 56 on May 3, 2023. Voted no on S9009, implementing the 2026-27 state fiscal plan, on May 27, 2026; it passed the Senate 38-24 and was signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026. Voted no on S7538, on the incorporation of villages, on June 8, 2023; it was signed into law as Chapter 774 of the Laws of 2023 on Dec. 22, 2023.
Voted no on S4009, A3006, S9009 and S7538 · 2023-05-01 to 2026-05-27 · S4009 signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 3, 2023; A3006 signed into law as Chapter 56 on May 3, 2023; S9009 passed the Senate 38-24 and was signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026; S7538 signed into law as Chapter 774 of the Laws of 2023 on Dec. 22, 2023