General Election
NY Senate · Senate District 19
Roxanne J. Persaud 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.
A senator since 2015 is the only candidate on the ballot
Roxanne J. Persaud, a Democrat, has held the seat since a 2015 special election and won it in 2024 with 99.6% of the vote. The June 23, 2026 Democratic primary was canceled, and she is the only candidate on the general-election ballot.
Issues
8 issues · 1 candidate · every claim sourced
Health care and medical aid in dying
Central to the raceMedical aid in dying became state law in February 2026, together with amendments setting requirements for the professionals and facilities that provide the medication, and state law already requires health insurers and Medicaid to cover biomarker testing; the Legislature decides whether to keep or change those rules and what coverage insurers must provide.
Roxanne J. Persaud
In coverageVoted against the medical aid in dying act in 2025 and against a bill setting requirements for providing medication for medical aid in dying in 2026. Sponsored laws requiring insurers and Medicaid to cover biomarker testing and letting doulas be present during cesarean sections, and a bill barring hospitals and health care providers from storing credit card information without signed written consent.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted no on A136, the medical aid in dying act, on June 9, 2025; it passed the Senate 35-27 and was signed into law as Chapter 714 of the Laws of 2025 on Feb. 6, 2026. Voted no on A9515, on requirements for providing medication for medical aid in dying, on Feb. 4, 2026; it passed both houses that day and was signed into law as Chapter 1 on Feb. 6, 2026. Sponsored S1196, requiring health insurance policies and Medicaid to cover biomarker testing; voted yes on S1196A on June 5, 2023, and it was signed into law as Chapter 754 on Dec. 22, 2023. Sponsored S5991, permitting doulas in the operating room during a cesarean section; voted yes on June 1, 2023 and on the final Senate vote on Jan. 22, 2024, and it was signed into law as Chapter 654 on Dec. 21, 2024. Sponsored S2393, barring hospitals and health care providers from storing credit card information without signed written consent; voted yes when it passed the Senate on April 22, 2026, and it passed the Assembly on June 1, 2026.
Voted no on A136 and A9515; sponsor of S1196, S5991 and S2393, voting yes on each in the Senate · 2023-06-01 to 2026-04-22 · A136 signed into law as Chapter 714 of the Laws of 2025 on Feb. 6, 2026; A9515 signed into law as Chapter 1 on Feb. 6, 2026; S1196 signed into law as Chapter 754 on Dec. 22, 2023; S5991 signed into law as Chapter 654 on Dec. 21, 2024; S2393 passed the Senate on April 22, 2026 and the Assembly on June 1, 2026
Child care and public assistance
Central to the raceSince December 2025 state law requires social services districts to keep waiting lists of families who applied for child care assistance and to report their incomes, and a 2025 law increased a child care center tax abatement in cities of one million or more; in question is how far the state expands child care help and how public assistance changes as families earn more.
Roxanne J. Persaud
In coverageBacks a state task force to study fiscal cliffs in public assistance programs, saying no family should be penalized for working harder or earning a little more. Sponsored a law requiring social services districts to keep waiting lists of eligible families seeking child care assistance and legislation increasing a child care center tax abatement in cities of one million or more.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S7830, establishing a fiscal cliff task force to study the state's public assistance programs; voted yes on S7830A on March 25, 2024; it passed the Assembly on May 30, 2024 and was vetoed by the governor on Nov. 22, 2024. Sponsored S1926, requiring social services districts to keep a waiting list of families who applied for child care assistance and report data on their incomes; voted yes on March 19, 2025, and it was signed into law as Chapter 676 of the Laws of 2025 on Dec. 19, 2025. Sponsored S7685, increasing the child care center tax abatement for certain properties in a city of one million or more; voted yes on June 5, 2025, and it was signed into law as Chapter 609 on Dec. 5, 2025.
Sponsor of S7830, S1926 and S7685, voting yes on each in the Senate · 2024-03-25 to 2025-12-19 · S7830 passed both houses and was vetoed by the governor on Nov. 22, 2024; S1926 signed into law as Chapter 676 of the Laws of 2025 on Dec. 19, 2025; S7685 signed into law as Chapter 609 on Dec. 5, 2025
Housing and rents
Also in playA 2025 state law bars facilitating agreements among residential landlords not to compete, including through software or algorithms that coordinate on their behalf; in question is how far the state should regulate how rents are set.
Roxanne J. Persaud
In coverageLists affordable housing among her legislative priorities, and voted for a 2025 law on landlords' use of algorithmic pricing that bars facilitating agreements among residential landlords not to compete, including through software or algorithms that coordinate on their behalf.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S7882, on the use of algorithmic pricing by landlords to set residential rents, on June 9, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 437 on Oct. 16, 2025.
Voted yes on S7882 on the Senate floor · 2025-06-09 · Signed into law as Chapter 437 on Oct. 16, 2025
Public safety and crime victims
Also in playRoxanne J. Persaud
Highlights state laws that created a firearm violence research institute within the State University of New York, made unlawful installation of a gas meter a crime, enacted the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act and added domestic violence victim status to the state Human Rights Law.
Roxanne J. Persaud campaign — Our Issues ↗Schools and the state budget
Also in playThe Legislature and governor set school aid and other education spending in each year's budget bills, such as the education, labor, housing and family assistance budget bill signed in April 2024.
Roxanne J. Persaud
In coverageLists funding for schools and libraries among her legislative priorities, and voted for the 2024-25 state budget bill covering education, labor, housing and family assistance.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S8306C, which enacted major components of the state education, labor, housing and family assistance budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year, on April 19, 2024; it was signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024.
Voted yes on S8306C on the Senate floor · 2024-04-19 · Signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024
Transit and accessible transportation
Also in playState law since 2024 requires one voting member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to be a transit-dependent individual, and since 2025 requires electric vehicle charging stations to include a space for wheelchair-accessible vehicles; the Legislature decides who governs the transit system and what access rules apply.
Roxanne J. Persaud
In coverageSponsored laws requiring one voting member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to be a transit-dependent individual and requiring electric vehicle charging stations to include at least one space large enough for wheelchair-accessible electric vehicles.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S8037, requiring one voting member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to be a transit-dependent individual; voted yes on Jan. 17, 2024, and it was signed into law as Chapter 68 on Feb. 7, 2024. Sponsored S787, requiring electric vehicle charging stations to include at least one space to accommodate wheelchair-accessible electric vehicles; voted yes on Jan. 14, 2025, and it was signed into law as Chapter 86 on Feb. 14, 2025.
Sponsor of S8037 and S787, voting yes on each in the Senate · 2024-01-17 to 2025-02-14 · S8037 signed into law as Chapter 68 on Feb. 7, 2024; S787 signed into law as Chapter 86 on Feb. 14, 2025
Adult-use dispensaries and alcohol sales
Also in playRoxanne J. Persaud
In coverageVoted for a 2026 law amending the limits on how close retail adult-use dispensaries may be to schools and houses of worship, and voted against a 2023 law permitting the retail sale of beer on Sundays.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S9155, amending provisions limiting the location of retail adult-use dispensaries near schools and houses of worship, on Feb. 11, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 2 on Feb. 11, 2026. Voted no on A6941, permitting the retail sale of beer on Sundays, on June 7, 2023; it was signed into law as Chapter 524 on Oct. 13, 2023.
Voted yes on S9155 and no on A6941 on the Senate floor · 2023-06-07 to 2026-02-11 · S9155 signed into law as Chapter 2 on Feb. 11, 2026; A6941 signed into law as Chapter 524 on Oct. 13, 2023
Gas service
Also in playRoxanne J. Persaud
In coverageVoted for a 2025 law on gas service to new customers, covering a utility's or municipality's obligation to provide gas service when a building without gas applies for it.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S8417, on the provision of gas service to new customers, on June 12, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 709 of the Laws of 2025 on Dec. 19, 2025.
Voted yes on S8417 on the Senate floor · 2025-06-12 · Signed into law as Chapter 709 of the Laws of 2025 on Dec. 19, 2025