State Senate · District 26 →
AG
Andrew S. Gounardes
Democratic · Working Families · Incumbent
6 / 9
issues on record
Stances
Rent
Leaning limit
New York should limit how much landlords can raise rents.
Limit
Don’t limit
Gounardes co-sponsored the Good Cause Eviction bill in the 2023-2024 session, which limits rent increases for covered tenants and became law in April 2024. No newer statement on rent limits was found.
NYSenate.gov
Senate Bill S305 (2023-2024): Prohibits eviction without good cause
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Drafted from the source. Not yet checked by a person.
Taxes
Raise
New York should raise taxes on its highest earners to pay for public programs.
Raise
Don’t raise
Gounardes co-sponsors S1622 in the 2025-2026 session, which would add higher state income tax brackets for income above $450,000, rising to 24 percent above $20 million.
NYSenate.gov
Senate Bill S1622 (2025-2026): Progressive income tax brackets for high earners
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Drafted from the source. Not yet checked by a person.
Bail
Not on record
Judges should have more power to hold people in jail before trial.
More power
No change
Congestion pricing
Keep
The Manhattan congestion toll should stay.
Keep
End
In February 2025 Gounardes said canceling congestion pricing would mean more traffic and slower transit, and pledged to fight the federal decision in court.
“By blocking this successful policy, Trump will be directly responsible for more traffic, more crashes, more polluted air, slower buses and less funding for our transit system.”
NYSenate.gov · 2025-02-19
Sen. Gounardes: Canceling Congestion Pricing Means More Traffic, More Pollution and Slower Transit
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This is from 2025. It may not be their position today.
Drafted from the source. Not yet checked by a person.
Immigration
Stay out
Local police should stay out of federal immigration enforcement.
Stay out
Take part
Gounardes is the Senate sponsor of the New York for All Act, which would bar state and local police and agencies from using resources for federal immigration enforcement or sharing information with ICE without a judicial warrant.
NYSenate.gov
Senate Bill S2235B (2025-2026): New York for All Act
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Drafted from the source. Not yet checked by a person.
Climate law
Keep
New York should keep its 2019 climate law.
Keep
Repeal
Gounardes signed a March 2026 letter from 29 Democratic senators to Governor Hochul saying they categorically oppose any effort to roll back the 2019 climate law. The letter argued the law is not the cause of rising energy costs.
Senate letter (hosted by Lexington Democratic Club) · 2026-03-05
Letter from 29 state senators to Governor Hochul: Upholding New York's Leadership in the Fight Against Climate Change
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Drafted from the source. Not yet checked by a person.
Climate deadlines
Leaning hold
New York should keep its climate law's current deadlines, with no more delays.
Hold
Don’t hold
Gounardes signed a March 2026 senators' letter opposing any rollback of the climate law and saying every delay in climate action drives costs higher. The letter did not address the specific deadline changes later made in the May 2026 budget.
Senate letter (hosted by Lexington Democratic Club) · 2026-03-05
Letter from 29 state senators to Governor Hochul: Upholding New York's Leadership in the Fight Against Climate Change
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Drafted from the source. Not yet checked by a person.
Abortion
Not on record
Abortion should stay legal and accessible in New York as it is today.
Keep
Restrict
Charter schools
Not on record
New York should allow more charter schools.
Allow more
Keep cap
On the ballot
NYS Board of Elections · 2026-10-07
General Election Ballot Certification (Oct 7, 2026)
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