NY Senate · Senate District 33

Uncontested

J. Gustavo Rivera 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.

The Senate's health committee chair is the only candidate on the ballot

J. Gustavo Rivera, a Democrat also on the Working Families line, has represented the district since 2011 and chairs the Senate Health Committee. He was re-elected in 2024 with 74.7% of the vote and is the only candidate on the November ballot.

Overview Issues Money

Candidate

Incumbent

J. Gustavo Rivera

Chair of the New York State Senate Health Committee since 2018, appointed by Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins; ranking member of the committee for six years before that

Overdose prevention — Backs overdose prevention centers: he is the main sponsor of the Safer Consumption Services Act to establish and regulate them. His Senate biography says a 2021 bill of his created the Opioid Settlement Fund for substance use prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction; he co-chairs the Senate task force on opioids and overdose prevention.

New York Working Families Party

▸ Your ballot — State Senator - District 33

Fill in one oval. Change it anytime.

Issues

Health care and hospitals

Medical aid in dying has been state law since February 2026, and the governor vetoed 2025 bills requiring public notice before a hospital or hospital unit closes and keeping school-based health center services out of Medicaid managed care; at stake is how the state regulates hospitals, insurance coverage and patients' costs.

In coverage

Sponsors the New York Health Act for a single-payer state health system. Sponsored laws keeping medical debt off credit reports and on insurance coverage for epinephrine auto-injectors; the governor vetoed his 2025 bills on notice before hospital closures and on school health centers. Voted for medical aid in dying.

NY Senate — About State Senator Gustavo Rivera

Housing and tenants

Since October 2025, state law bars residential landlords from charging tenants more than their actual costs for a bounced rent check; at issue is how far the state should go in regulating landlords' fees, repairs and enforcement of housing and building codes.

In coverage

Supports protecting rent-regulated apartments and holding landlords accountable; his campaign says he voted for the tenant protections that made rent laws permanent. Sponsors a bill requiring housing, building and fire code penalties within 14 days; it passed the Senate in June 2026. Voted for the 2025 law capping bounced-rent-check fees.

Gustavo for State Senate — Affordable Housing

State budget

In coverage

Voted for the 2026-27 budget bill implementing the state fiscal plan and for two 2024-25 budget bills, one covering health and mental hygiene and one covering education, labor, housing and family assistance; all three were signed into law.

NY Senate — S9009 (2025) bill page

See all 7 →

The money

Cycle-to-date · NYS Board of Elections — figures change as new reports are filed.

Rivera

$268K

See who's funding them & outside money →

Researched & verified Oct 1, 2026. Compiled from verified public sources; claims that failed verification are excluded.

How to read our research & coverage

Sources (33)