General Election
NY Senate · Senate District 26
Incumbent's lawmaking record meets a platform on policing, schools and the R train
Andrew Gounardes won the seat's last two general elections with 79.1% in 2022 and 78.5% in 2024. Both parties' June 2026 primaries were canceled, so he and Republican Tom Stanten, a retired NYPD detective investigator, go to November without primary contests.
Issues
3 issues · 2 candidates · every claim sourced
Transit and street safety
Central to the raceState law decides how many New York City intersections may have red-light cameras, a number a 2024 law raised to 600, and whether city subway trains must run with a conductor on board, a requirement the Senate passed in June 2026.
Tom Stanten
Wants to fix the R train by upgrading sensors across Brooklyn's MTA stations and cutting the time riders wait between trains.
Tom Stanten for State Senate ↗
Andrew S. Gounardes
In coverageSupports smart regulations, well-designed streets and transit investments to make travel safer and easier. Sponsored the law letting New York City put red-light cameras at up to 600 intersections, and was one of two senators to vote against requiring at least one conductor on city subway trains except where running without one is now allowed.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S2812, raising the number of New York City intersections that may have red-light cameras to 600; voted yes on S2812A on June 6, 2024, when it passed the Senate, and it was signed into law as Chapter 437 on Oct. 23, 2024. Voted no on S9586A, which bars running New York City subway trains without at least one conductor on board except where that is now allowed; it passed the Senate 58-2 on June 4, 2026, with Mark Walczyk casting the only other no vote.
Sponsor of S2812 and yes vote on S2812A; no vote on S9586A · 2024-06-06 to 2026-06-04 · S2812 signed into law as Chapter 437 on Oct. 23, 2024; S9586A passed the Senate 58-2 on June 4, 2026
Public safety and policing
Central to the raceThe Legislature passes the state budget each year and writes the state's criminal-justice rules; a 2026 law, for example, requires sexual offense evidence to be logged in the statewide tracking system within ten days after the alleged victim permits its release.
Tom Stanten
Supports fully funding law enforcement.
Tom Stanten for State Senate ↗Andrew S. Gounardes
In coverageSponsored the 2026 law requiring sexual offense evidence to be collected and reported in the statewide tracking system within ten days after the alleged victim permits its release.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S8765, requiring sexual offense evidence to be collected and reported on the statewide electronic tracking system within ten days of the alleged victim's permission to release it; voted yes in the Senate floor vote on Jan. 29, 2026; it passed the Assembly on Feb. 5 and was signed into law as Chapter 47 on Feb. 13, 2026.
Sponsor of S8765; voted yes · 2026-01-29 to 2026-02-13 · S8765 signed into law as Chapter 47 on Feb. 13, 2026
Schools and public colleges
Central to the raceEducation money and policy pass through the Legislature in the state budget bills, such as the 2024-25 bill that carried education provisions alongside labor, housing and family assistance.
Tom Stanten
Supports protecting gifted and talented programs in the schools.
Tom Stanten for State Senate ↗Andrew S. Gounardes
In coverageVoted for the 2024-25 state budget bill carrying the education, labor, housing and family assistance parts of the budget. His campaign says he proposed the New Deal for CUNY and SUNY, legislation to make public higher education tuition-free and hire more faculty.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S8306C, which enacted major parts of the 2024-25 state education, labor, housing and family assistance budget, on April 19, 2024; it was signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024.
Yes vote on S8306C · 2024-04-19 · Signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024