General Election
NY Senate · Senate District 29
Jose M. Serrano 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 2005 is the only candidate on the ballot
Jose M. Serrano, a Democrat also on the Working Families line, has served in the Senate since 2005 and was re-elected in 2024 with 81.7% of the vote. He won the June 2026 Democratic primary against Nicholas Reyes and is the only candidate on the November ballot.
Issues
6 issues · 1 candidate · every claim sourced
Housing and tenants
Central to the raceState law sets landlords' obligations to tenants, and a law signed in October 2025 bars knowingly or recklessly helping rental owners agree not to compete on rents, including through pricing software or data services; at issue is whether the state should regulate rents and tenants' housing costs further or keep the current rules.
Jose M. Serrano
In coverageSponsors a bill requiring rent reductions for tenants whose utility service is submetered; it passed the Senate 48-13 in June 2026. Voted for the 2025 law barring anyone from knowingly or recklessly helping rental owners agree not to compete on rents, including through pricing software, and for the 2024-25 budget bill covering housing.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S1058, requiring rent reduction in cases of submetered utility service; voted yes when it passed the Senate 48-13 on June 3, 2026. Voted yes on S7882, on landlords' use of algorithmic pricing to set rents, on June 9, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 437 on Oct. 16, 2025. Voted yes on S8306C, the 2024-25 education, labor, housing and family assistance budget bill, on April 19, 2024; it was signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024.
Sponsor of S1058, voting yes; voted yes on S7882 and on S8306C · 2024-04-19 to 2026-06-03 · S1058 passed the Senate 48-13 on June 3, 2026; S7882 signed into law as Chapter 437 on Oct. 16, 2025; S8306 signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024
Health care
Central to the raceMedical aid in dying became state law in February 2026 after a 35-27 Senate vote, and the Legislature sets health and mental hygiene spending in each year's budget bills; at stake is how the state funds health care and which medical practices, such as medical aid in dying, state law allows.
Jose M. Serrano
In coverageVoted for the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which passed the Senate 35-27 and became law in February 2026, and for its follow-up on providing the medication. Sponsors a bill creating a temporary state commission on asthma in the Bronx. His Senate office says he helped secure funding for a new cardiac catheterization lab at Lincoln Hospital.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on A136, the Medical Aid in Dying Act, when it passed the Senate 35-27 on June 9, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026. Voted yes on A9515, on requirements for providing medical aid in dying medication, on Feb. 4, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 1 on Feb. 6, 2026. Sponsored S1075, creating a temporary state commission on the incidence of asthma in the Bronx; voted yes on May 29, 2026, when it passed the Senate and was referred to the Assembly Health Committee. Voted yes on S8307C, the 2024-25 health and mental hygiene budget bill, on April 19, 2024; it was signed into law as Chapter 57 on April 20, 2024. Voted yes on S8807, on procedures protecting legally protected health activities, on Jan. 21, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 128 on June 5, 2026.
Sponsor of S1075, voting yes; voted yes on A136, A9515, S8307C and S8807 · 2024-04-19 to 2026-06-05 · A136 signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026; A9515 signed as Chapter 1 on Feb. 6, 2026; S1075 passed the Senate on May 29, 2026 and is in the Assembly Health Committee; S8307 signed as Chapter 57 on April 20, 2024; S8807 signed as Chapter 128 on June 5, 2026
Environment and state parks
Also in playSince a December 2025 law, state forests, wildlife management areas and similar state lands may not be leased for oil and gas production; the Legislature also writes the rules and programs for state parks, subject to the governor's signature or veto.
Jose M. Serrano
In coverageSponsored the 2025 law barring leases of state forests, reforestation areas, wildlife management areas and unique areas for oil and gas production, and a 2025 law encouraging farmers' markets in state parks; his state parks passport bill was vetoed in 2025. His Senate office reports that he ranked in the top 10% of Environmental Advocates New York's 2026 scorecard.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S1069, prohibiting the lease of state forests, reforestation areas, wildlife management areas and unique areas for gas and oil production; voted yes on April 22, 2025, and it was signed into law as Chapter 671 on Dec. 19, 2025. Sponsored S1376, encouraging farmers' markets in state parks; voted yes on March 5, 2025, and it was signed into law as Chapter 421 on Sept. 26, 2025. Sponsored S1071, directing the parks commissioner to establish a state parks passport program; voted yes when it passed the Senate on Feb. 25, 2025; it passed the Assembly on May 27, 2025 and was vetoed by the governor on Dec. 5, 2025.
Sponsor of S1069, S1376 and S1071, voting yes on each in the Senate · 2025-02-25 to 2025-04-22 · S1069 signed into law as Chapter 671 on Dec. 19, 2025; S1376 signed as Chapter 421 on Sept. 26, 2025; S1071 vetoed by the governor on Dec. 5, 2025
Mental health services
Also in playJose M. Serrano
In coverageSponsors a bill to bar any state-operated or state-sponsored suicide prevention or mental health services hotline from being automated; he voted for it in June 2026, when it passed the Senate and went to the Assembly Mental Health Committee.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S1366, directing the commissioner of mental health to prohibit state-operated or state-sponsored suicide prevention and mental health services hotlines from being automated; voted yes on June 1, 2026, when it passed the Senate and was referred to the Assembly Mental Health Committee.
Sponsor of S1366, voting yes in the Senate · 2026-06-01 · Passed the Senate on June 1, 2026; referred to the Assembly Mental Health Committee
Energy and gas service
Also in playJose M. Serrano
In coverageVoted for a 2025 law on providing gas service to new customers, which passed the Senate 34-25 and was signed in December 2025.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S8417, on the provision of gas service to new customers, when it passed the Senate 34-25 on June 12, 2025; it passed the Assembly on June 16, 2025 and was signed into law as Chapter 709 on Dec. 19, 2025.
Voted yes on S8417 in the Senate · 2025-06-12 · Signed into law as Chapter 709 on Dec. 19, 2025
Cannabis dispensary rules
Also in playState law limits how close licensed adult-use cannabis dispensaries may be to schools and houses of worship, rules the Legislature amended in February 2026.
Jose M. Serrano
In coverageVoted for a February 2026 law amending the limits on how close retail adult-use cannabis dispensaries may be to schools and houses of worship; it passed the Senate 35-24.
✓ 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, when it passed the Senate 35-24; it was signed into law as Chapter 2 the same day.
Voted yes on S9155 in the Senate · 2026-02-11 · Signed into law as Chapter 2 on Feb. 11, 2026