General Election
NY Senate · Senate District 21
Democratic senator since 2003 and energy committee chair faces a Republican home contractor
Kevin S. Parker, the Democratic nominee, has held the seat since 2003 and was re-elected in 2024 with 98.4% of the vote. Both party primaries were canceled this year; Ronald Seifert, a Brooklyn home contractor, is on the Republican and Conservative lines.
Issues
4 issues · 2 candidates · every claim sourced
Energy and climate
Central to the raceState law requires a 40% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and a zero-emission electricity grid by 2040; the Legislature decides how to pursue those targets, including incentives for battery storage, the future of fossil-fuel power plants and siting and safety rules for storage facilities.
Ronald Seifert
Advocates strict siting and safety standards for lithium-ion and battery-storage facilities proposed near homes and schools.
Ronald Seifert campaign website ↗
Kevin S. Parker
In coverageSponsors a bill requiring a study of options to phase out and redevelop New York's oldest, most-polluting fossil-fuel power plants and their sites by 2030, and one providing a tax abatement for electric energy storage equipment placed in service between Jan. 1, 2027, and Jan. 1, 2029; both passed the Senate in 2026. Says the phase-out bill is about "protecting public health, creating good-paying clean energy jobs".
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S5111, the Just Energy Transition Act, and voted yes on April 21, 2026; it passed the Senate and was referred to the Assembly Energy Committee on April 22, 2026. Sponsored S2470 (tax abatement for electric energy storage) and voted yes on May 18, 2026; it passed the Senate that day and was referred to the Assembly Real Property Taxation Committee. Sponsored S6218, the Planned Offshore Wind Transmission Act; it passed the Senate on June 9, 2023, and the Assembly on June 21, 2023, and was vetoed by the governor on Oct. 20, 2023. Sponsored S1346, directing state agencies to prepare fleet decarbonization plans; signed into law as Chapter 115 on March 24, 2023. Voted yes on S8417 (gas service to new customers) on June 12, 2025; signed into law as Chapter 709 of 2025 on Dec. 19, 2025. Voted yes on A8808C, the 2024-25 transportation, economic development and environmental conservation budget bill that enacted the RAPID Act to speed permitting of electric transmission facilities, on April 18, 2024; signed into law as Chapter 58 on April 20, 2024.
Sponsor of S5111, S2470, S6218 and S1346; voted yes on S8417 and A8808C · 2023-02-08 to 2026-05-18 · S5111 passed the Senate April 21, 2026, referred to the Assembly Energy Committee; S2470 passed the Senate May 18, 2026, referred to the Assembly Real Property Taxation Committee; S6218 vetoed Oct. 20, 2023; S1346 signed as Chapter 115 (March 24, 2023); S8417 signed as Chapter 709 of 2025 (Dec. 19, 2025); A8808 signed as Chapter 58 (April 20, 2024)
Household costs: utility bills, property taxes and rent
Central to the raceState lawmakers write property tax rules and can direct oversight of utility costs and aid for household bills; the choice is how much to rely on tax relief, closer oversight of utilities, or targeted assistance and rules for landlords.
Ronald Seifert
Calls for stronger state oversight, transparency and accountability as utility costs rise, and supports fairer property tax treatment for owners of one- and two-family homes.
Ronald Seifert campaign website ↗Kevin S. Parker
In coverageSponsored a 2025 law requiring the state to automatically identify people in its temporary and disability assistance programs for utilities' water-bill affordability programs, and voted for a 2025 law on landlords' use of algorithmic pricing to set residential rents.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S766 and voted yes on Jan. 28, 2025; signed into law as Chapter 82 on Feb. 14, 2025. Voted yes on S7882 on June 9, 2025; signed into law as Chapter 437 on Oct. 16, 2025.
Sponsor of S766; voted yes on S766 and S7882 · 2025-01-28 to 2025-10-16 · S766 signed into law as Chapter 82 (Feb. 14, 2025); S7882 signed into law as Chapter 437 (Oct. 16, 2025)
Public safety
Also in playRonald Seifert
Lists public safety among his top campaign priorities.
The Ballot Brief (citing the campaign website) ↗Kevin S. Parker
In coverageSponsors a bill barring New York City subway trains from running without at least one conductor on board, except where already permitted, which passed both houses in June 2026. Voted for a 2025 omnibus law on state correctional services and a 2026 law changing the rules on how close cannabis dispensaries may be to schools and houses of worship.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S9586; it passed the Senate on June 4, 2026, when he was absent for the floor vote, and the Assembly on June 5, 2026. Voted yes on S8415 on June 12, 2025; it passed the Senate 36-23 and was signed into law as Chapter 707 of 2025 on Dec. 19, 2025. Voted yes on S9155 on Feb. 11, 2026; it passed both houses and was signed into law as Chapter 2 that day.
Sponsor of S9586 (absent for its Senate vote); voted yes on S8415 and S9155 · 2025-06-12 to 2026-06-05 · S9586 passed the Senate (June 4, 2026) and the Assembly (June 5, 2026); S8415 signed as Chapter 707 of 2025 (Dec. 19, 2025); S9155 signed as Chapter 2 (Feb. 11, 2026)
Schools and job training
Also in playRonald Seifert
Wants career, technical and trade programs brought back into local public schools.
Ronald Seifert campaign website ↗Kevin S. Parker
In coverageVoted for the 2024-25 state budget bill covering education, labor, housing and family assistance, and sponsored a 2023 law on employment opportunities for economically disadvantaged job candidates and the use of apprentices on public transactions.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S8306C on April 19, 2024; it passed the Senate 36-24 and was signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024. Sponsored S7387 and voted yes on S7387B on June 7, 2023; signed into law as Chapter 669 on Nov. 17, 2023.
Voted yes on S8306C; sponsor of S7387 and voted yes · 2023-06-07 to 2024-04-20 · S8306 signed into law as Chapter 56 (April 20, 2024); S7387 signed into law as Chapter 669 (Nov. 17, 2023)