General Election
NY Senate · Senate District 33
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.
Issues
7 issues · 1 candidate · every claim sourced
Health care and hospitals
Central to the raceMedical 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.
J. Gustavo Rivera
In coverageSponsors 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.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S4907, barring medical debt from being collected by a consumer reporting agency or included in a consumer report; voted yes on May 31, 2023, and it was signed into law as Chapter 727 on Dec. 13, 2023. Sponsored S5512, the Lead Pipe Right to Know Act; voted yes on April 25, 2023, and it was signed into law as Chapter 730 on Dec. 19, 2023. Sponsored S760, relating to insurance coverage for epinephrine auto-injectors; voted yes on Feb. 4, 2025, and it was signed into law as Chapter 81 on Feb. 14, 2025. Sponsored S1226, requiring public notice and public engagement when a general hospital seeks to close or to close a maternity, mental health or substance use unit; voted yes on May 20, 2025, when it passed the Senate; it passed the Assembly on June 10, 2025 and was vetoed by the governor on Dec. 19, 2025. Sponsored S1224, so that school-based health center services for Medicaid recipients are not provided through managed care; voted yes on June 11, 2025, when it passed the Senate; it passed the Assembly on June 13, 2025 and was vetoed by the governor on Oct. 16, 2025. Sponsored S1618, the New York affordable drug manufacturing act; voted yes on Feb. 24, 2026, when it passed the Senate and was referred to the Assembly Health Committee. Sponsored S614, enrolling eligible incarcerated people in medical assistance programs; voted yes on S614B on May 28, 2026, when it passed the Senate, and it passed the Assembly on June 2, 2026. Voted yes on A136, the Medical Aid in Dying Act, when it passed the Senate on June 9, 2025; it was signed into law on Feb. 6, 2026.
Sponsor of S4907, S5512, S760, S1226, S1224, S1618 and S614, voting yes on each in the Senate; voted yes on A136 · 2023-04-25 to 2026-06-02 · S4907 signed as Chapter 727 on Dec. 13, 2023; S5512 signed as Chapter 730 on Dec. 19, 2023; S760 signed as Chapter 81 on Feb. 14, 2025; S1226 vetoed Dec. 19, 2025; S1224 vetoed Oct. 16, 2025; S1618 passed the Senate on Feb. 24, 2026 and was referred to the Assembly Health Committee; S614 passed the Senate on May 28, 2026 and the Assembly on June 2, 2026; A136 signed into law on Feb. 6, 2026
Housing and tenants
Central to the raceSince 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.
J. Gustavo Rivera
In coverageSupports 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.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S3819, requiring penalties for violations of housing standards or building and fire codes to be assessed and imposed within 14 days and increasing certain fines for housing standards violations; voted yes on S3819B on June 2, 2026, when it passed the Senate and was referred to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. Voted yes on A56B, barring residential landlords from charging tenants a fee for a dishonored rent check above their actual costs or fees, on June 12, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 431 on Oct. 16, 2025.
Sponsor of S3819, voting yes; voted yes on A56B · 2025-06-12 to 2026-06-02 · S3819 passed the Senate on June 2, 2026 and was referred to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee; A56 signed into law as Chapter 431 on Oct. 16, 2025
State budget
Also in playJ. Gustavo Rivera
In coverageVoted 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.
✓ 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 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 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 yes on S9009C, S8307C and S8306C in the Senate · 2024-04-19 to 2026-05-27 · S9009 signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026; S8307 signed as Chapter 57 and S8306 as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024
Criminal justice and public safety
Also in playJ. Gustavo Rivera
In coverageVoted against a 2024 bill making evidence of a defendant's prior sexual offenses admissible in sexual offense trials, one of four no votes as it passed the Senate 55-4. His Senate biography says his first law let charities post bail for people who cannot afford it.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted no on S9276, allowing evidence of a defendant's prior sexual offense to be admissible in a sexual offense proceeding, on May 22, 2024, when it passed the Senate 55-4.
Voted no on S9276 in the Senate · 2024-05-22 · S9276 passed the Senate 55-4 on May 22, 2024
Addiction and overdose prevention
Also in playJ. Gustavo Rivera
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.
NY Senate — About State Senator Gustavo Rivera ↗Abortion and maternal health
Also in playJ. Gustavo Rivera
Supports protecting abortion rights in the state constitution; his campaign says he voted for the state Equal Rights Amendment for that purpose. It also says he led the extension of Medicaid coverage for new mothers from 60 days to a full year after birth and the creation of the State Maternal Mortality Board.
Gustavo for State Senate — Health ↗Labor and wages
Also in playJ. Gustavo Rivera
In coverageVoted against a 2026 bill changing labor peace agreements and the cannabis industry wage board, which passed both houses in June 2026. His campaign says he secured wage increases for home health care workers.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted no on S10643, relating to labor peace agreements and the cannabis industry wage board, on June 4, 2026; it passed the Senate that day and the Assembly on June 5, 2026.
Voted no on S10643 in the Senate · 2026-06-04 · Passed the Senate on June 4, 2026 and the Assembly on June 5, 2026