Primary Election
Open seat in NY-27 pits Grace Lee against Yuh-Line Niou
This is an open-seat race for New York State Senate District 27, with no incumbent on the ballot. The two Democratic candidates, Grace Lee and Yuh-Line Niou, share many progressive priorities including affordability, housing, and reproductive rights, but differ on some issues such as AI & technology and consumer protection. No fundraising or polling data is available yet for this 2026 primary.
Grace Lee
Member of the New York State Assembly for the 65th district since January 2023
Yuh-Line Niou
Member of the New York State Assembly for the 65th district (2017–2022)
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Affordability
Both candidates prioritize affordability, with Grace Lee supporting public investment in childcare and affordable housing funded by taxing corporations and the ultra-wealthy, while Yuh-Line Niou advocates expanding universal child care by taxing the ultra wealthy to address rising family costs.
Grace Lee
Grace Lee's top priority is affordability. She supports public investment in childcare and affordable housing, and ensuring corporations and the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share.
Yuh-Line Niou
Yuh-Line Niou supports expanding universal child care by taxing the ultra wealthy to address the rising cost of starting a family in New York, noting that family-based childcare costs increased 79% from 2019 to 2024.
Ethics
Grace Lee supported the LLC Transparency Act to stop anonymous shell companies and strengthen accountability for worker exploitation, while Niou emphasizes building a movement for transparency and accountability in government against systemic corruption.
Grace Lee
Grace Lee supported the LLC Transparency Act to stop bad actors from hiding behind anonymous shell companies and strengthen accountability for employers who exploit workers.
Yuh-Line Niou
Niou has built a movement for transparency, accessibility, and accountability in government, standing up to systemic corruption and speaking out against Governor Cuomo's culture of fear and consolidation of power.
Hate Crimes
Grace Lee passed the Hate Crimes Modernization Act to expand prosecutable offenses, while Niou has fought against sexual harassment and racial discrimination, passing legislation to protect survivors and representing the AAPI community and other marginalized groups.
Grace Lee
Grace Lee passed the Hate Crimes Modernization Act, the first strengthening of New York's hate crimes law in 20 years, expanding the list of offenses that can be prosecuted as hate crimes.
Yuh-Line Niou
Niou has fought against sexual harassment and racial discrimination, passing critical legislation to protect survivors, and has been a voice for the AAPI community, LGBTQ+ folks, people of color, and the disability community.
Researched & verified Jun 22, 2026. Compiled from verified public sources; claims that failed verification are excluded.