General Election
NY Senate · Senate District 31
Robert Jackson 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.
Senator since 2019 is the only candidate, on two ballot lines
Robert Jackson, a Democrat, has held the seat since 2019 and won it in 2024 with 99.3% of the vote. He won the June 2026 Democratic primary against Nayma Silver-Matos with 71.9% and is the only candidate on the November ballot, on two lines.
Issues
9 issues · 1 candidate · every claim sourced
State budget and taxes
Central to the raceThe Legislature and governor enact the state budget each year in a set of bills, most recently in May 2026 for the 2026-27 fiscal year, and state law can grant individual institutions property tax exemptions; at stake is how much the state spends, on what, and who pays.
Robert Jackson
In coverageSupports taxing the rich. Voted for the 2026-27 budget bill implementing the state fiscal plan and for the 2024-25 education, labor, housing and family assistance budget bill. Voted against a 2025 law granting Yeshivas Nachlas Sofrim retroactive property tax-exempt status, and was one of five senators voting against a 2023 bill on the state's thoroughbred breeding and development fund.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S9009C, implementing the state fiscal plan for the 2026-27 fiscal year, on May 27, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026. 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. Voted no on S8161, authorizing Yeshivas Nachlas Sofrim to receive retroactive real property tax exempt status, on June 12, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 475 on Oct. 16, 2025. Voted no on S2077, on the thoroughbred breeding and development fund, on March 9, 2023; it passed the Senate 56-5 and was signed into law as Chapter 514 on Sept. 29, 2023.
Voted yes on S9009C and S8306C; voted no on S8161 and S2077 · 2023-03-09 to 2026-05-27 · S9009 signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026; S8306 signed as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024; S8161 signed as Chapter 475 on Oct. 16, 2025; S2077 passed the Senate 56-5 and was signed as Chapter 514 on Sept. 29, 2023
School funding and student safety
Central to the raceState budget bills set education funding, and the state's Dignity for All Students Act sets rules against bullying and cyberbullying in public schools; at issue is how much the state spends on schools and how far those anti-bullying rules reach.
Robert Jackson
In coverageSupports fully funding public education and expanding opportunities for young people. Sponsors a bill, passed by the Senate in May 2026, adding the intentional use of artificial intelligence to mimic or alter a person's likeness or voice without consent to the definition of cyberbullying in the state's school anti-bullying law.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S10049, updating the definition of cyberbullying in the Dignity for All Students Act to include intentionally using artificial intelligence to mimic or alter a person's likeness or voice without consent; voted yes when it passed the Senate on May 28, 2026, and it was referred to the Assembly Education Committee.
Sponsor of S10049, voting yes · 2026-05-28 · Passed the Senate on May 28, 2026; referred to the Assembly Education Committee
Tenants and housing
Central to the raceThe Legislature writes the rules for landlords and rental housing; in 2025 and 2026 it acted on landlords' use of algorithmic pricing to set rents, fees for paying rent online, and inspections of certain non-fireproof buildings. At issue is how far state rules on rents, fees and building safety should go.
Robert Jackson
In coverageSupports protecting tenants and expanding access to housing. Sponsors a bill barring landlords from charging tenants fees for paying rent online, which passed both houses in 2026, and one requiring inspections of certain non-fireproof buildings, which passed the Senate. Voted for the 2025 law on landlords' use of algorithmic pricing to set rents.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S947, prohibiting residential landlords from charging tenants fees for paying rent through an automated clearing house or online payment system; voted yes on March 18, 2026; it passed the Senate on March 18, 2026 and the Assembly on May 13, 2026. Sponsored S6600, requiring the inspection of certain non-fireproof buildings; voted yes on June 9, 2025 and March 17, 2026; it passed the Senate on March 17, 2026 and was referred to the Assembly Housing Committee. Voted yes on S7882, on landlords' use of algorithmic pricing to determine rent, on June 9, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 437 on Oct. 16, 2025.
Sponsor of S947 and S6600, voting yes on each; voted yes on S7882 · 2025-06-09 to 2026-03-18 · S947 passed the Senate on March 18, 2026 and the Assembly on May 13, 2026; S6600 passed the Senate on March 17, 2026 and was referred to the Assembly Housing Committee; S7882 signed into law as Chapter 437 on Oct. 16, 2025
Immigration enforcement
Central to the raceRobert Jackson
Supports protecting immigrants from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Robert Jackson campaign site — priorities ↗Workers, wages and pensions
Also in playState law sets prevailing-wage rules for public works and the terms of certain public retirement benefits, and the Legislature can pass staffing standards for emergency services, which the governor can veto; at issue is how far the state sets pay, staffing and retirement terms.
Robert Jackson
In coverageSponsored a law, signed in September 2026, extending from 25 to 35 years the eligibility period for certain retirement benefits tied to World Trade Center rescue, recovery and clean-up work, and a 2025 law counting certain off-site custom fabrication as public work for prevailing-wage pay. Sponsored a bill setting minimum staffing for 911 emergency medical services in cities of over one million people, which the governor vetoed.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S10085, extending the presumptive eligibility period from 25 to 35 years for certain retirement benefits related to World Trade Center rescue, recovery and clean-up operations; voted yes on June 2, 2026, and it was signed into law as Chapter 295 on Sept. 10, 2026. Sponsored S2536, including certain off-site custom fabrication as public work for the payment of prevailing wage; voted yes on June 13, 2025, and it was signed into law as Chapter 713 on Dec. 20, 2025. Sponsored S6698, setting minimum staffing standards for employees performing emergency medical services in the 911 system in a city of over one million people; voted yes on June 12, 2025, and the governor vetoed it on Oct. 16, 2025 after it passed both houses.
Sponsor of S10085, S2536 and S6698, voting yes on each · 2025-06-12 to 2026-06-02 · S10085 signed into law as Chapter 295 on Sept. 10, 2026; S2536 signed as Chapter 713 on Dec. 20, 2025; S6698 passed both houses and was vetoed on Oct. 16, 2025
Health care and medical aid in dying
Also in playSince February 2026 state law has covered terminally ill patients' requests for and use of medication for medical aid in dying; the Legislature decides whether and how to change those rules.
Robert Jackson
In coverageVoted for the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which passed the Senate 35-27 in June 2025 and became law in February 2026, covering terminally ill patients' requests for and use of medication for medical aid in dying. Says he co-sponsored the New York Health Act.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on A136, the Medical Aid in Dying Act, on June 9, 2025; it passed the Senate 35-27 with one member excused and was signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026.
Voted yes on A136 · 2025-06-09 · Passed the Senate 35-27 on June 9, 2025; signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026
Policing and public safety
Also in playSince December 2025 state law has allowed police officer candidates who do not meet psychological fitness or good moral character standards to be removed from eligible lists, and in June 2026 the Senate passed restrictions on the sale of flare guns, 35-25. At issue is how the state screens police candidates and which sales it restricts.
Robert Jackson
In coverageSponsored a 2025 law allowing police officer candidates who do not meet psychological fitness requirements or lack good moral character to be removed from an eligible list. Voted against a 2026 bill creating the crimes of criminal sale of a flare gun in the first and second degrees and setting requirements for flare gun sales; it passed the Senate 35-25 and is in the Assembly Codes Committee.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S946, authorizing the removal of police officer candidates from an eligible list when they do not meet psychological fitness requirements or lack good moral character standards; voted yes when it passed the Senate on May 28, 2025, and it was signed into law as Chapter 593 on Dec. 5, 2025 after passing the Assembly on June 10, 2025. Voted no on S8455B, which establishes the crimes of criminal sale of a flare gun in the first and second degrees and sets restrictions on and requirements for the sale of flare guns, on June 1, 2026; it passed the Senate 35-25 and was referred to the Assembly Codes Committee the same day.
Sponsor of S946, voting yes; voted no on S8455 · 2025-05-28 to 2026-06-01 · S946 signed into law as Chapter 593 on Dec. 5, 2025; S8455 passed the Senate 35-25 on June 1, 2026 and is in the Assembly Codes Committee
Gas service
Also in playRobert Jackson
In coverageVoted for a 2025 law on providing gas service to new customers.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S8417, relating to 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 · 2025-06-12 · Signed into law as Chapter 709 of the Laws of 2025 on Dec. 19, 2025
Election law
Also in playSince September 2023 state law has required constitutional challenges to election law to be brought in a designated court in the judicial department where a plaintiff is located: New York, Westchester, Albany or Erie County.
Robert Jackson
In coverageSponsored a 2023 law requiring constitutional challenges to state election law to be brought in a designated court in the judicial department where a plaintiff is located: New York, Westchester, Albany or Erie County.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S350, on legal challenges to the constitutionality of election law provisions; voted yes when it passed the Senate on Jan. 9, 2023, and it was signed into law as Chapter 475 on Sept. 20, 2023 after passing the Assembly on June 10, 2023.
Sponsor of S350, voting yes · 2023-01-09 · Signed into law as Chapter 475 on Sept. 20, 2023