VoterLens
New York State Senate District 35
Pace University—Bachelor of Science; Lehman College—teaching credentials; Pace University—Master of Public Administration
Data last updated 10/21/2026
Andrea Stewart-Cousins is the New York State Senator for District 35 and serves as President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader of the New York State Senate. Her public service includes prior roles as a Westchester County Legislator, where she was Majority Whip and Vice-Chair, and as the first African American Director of Community Affairs for the City of Yonkers. Her professional background also includes customer service, journalism, and education.
Committee Assignments: Rules Chair · Legislative Women's Caucus Member
Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Democratic State Senator for New York Senate District 35 and Senate Majority Leader, emphasizes protecting and expanding access to health care, including vaccines, reproductive and maternal health care, prescription drug affordability, and privacy for sensitive health information. Her public statements and Senate leadership actions generally support broader access, affordability, and patient protections in health care.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Stewart-Cousins joined Governor Hochul and Speaker Heastie in introducing legislation to protect vaccine access by allowing New York to rely on state health officials and recognized medical organizations for vaccine standards rather than only federal guidance.
SourceAs Senate Majority Leader, Stewart-Cousins publicly supported Senate passage of legislation to maintain vaccine access and uphold accepted medical standards, saying New York was standing behind medical professionals and modern medicine.
SourceStewart-Cousins led the Senate passage of a health care affordability package addressing prescription drug costs, senior prescription coverage, addiction treatment access, pharmaceutical transparency, and hospital accountability.
SourceStewart-Cousins supported Senate legislation to improve maternal and reproductive health, including measures on preeclampsia education, childbirth-related covered benefits, and pelvic exam information.
SourceAndrea Stewart-Cousins, the Democratic/WF New York State Senator for District 35, emphasizes an economy centered on job creation, fair wages, worker protections, small-business support, and targeted public investments. Her record includes proposing local minimum-wage authority, backing wage-theft protections, supporting economic-development transparency, and securing or supporting investments tied to job creation.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Stewart-Cousins supported making low-cost power programs more stable for employers, saying the approach would benefit small businesses, protect jobs, and strengthen a green economy.
SourceStewart-Cousins supported and helped secure a $1.415 million state grant for road improvements expected to facilitate projects creating hundreds of jobs and new tax revenue.
SourceAndrea Stewart-Cousins, the Democratic New York State Senator for District 35 and Senate Majority Leader, has generally supported immigrant protections, including access to driver licenses regardless of immigration status, fraud protections for immigrants, and limits on state/local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement. In 2026 she publicly backed the goals of the New York for All Act and called for legislation to protect immigrant New Yorkers.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Stewart-Cousins announced and praised the enacted immigrant fraud-protection law, saying New York should welcome immigrants with respect and protect them from unscrupulous service providers.
SourceStewart-Cousins called for passage of the New York for All Act in 2026 to protect immigrant New Yorkers and limit collaboration with ICE.
SourceStewart-Cousins said Governor Hochul's ICE-collaboration proposals sounded like meaningful steps forward while reiterating support for the goals and principles of New York for All.
SourceAndrea Stewart-Cousins supports aggressive climate action, clean energy, environmental justice, and consumer energy affordability. As New York Senate Majority Leader and Senator for District 35, she has co-sponsored major climate legislation and led Senate packages on climate protections, clean-energy transitions, anti-drilling measures, and utility-ratepayer protections.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Praised Senate passage of the climate bill as a historic step for New York to lead on climate change, cut greenhouse gases, shift toward renewable energy, and create green jobs.
SourceLed Senate advancement of legislation intended to lower utility costs, expand affordable payment plans, limit fixed charges, and require greater scrutiny of rate increases affecting customers.
SourceLed Senate passage of an Earth Week package including clean electric heat-pump assistance, planning a just transition from older fossil-fuel power plants, stronger pollution controls, and bans on drilling on protected state lands.
SourceAnnounced support for legislation to ban oil and natural gas drilling in New York coastal areas and oppose expanded offshore drilling near Long Island.
SourceAndrea Stewart-Cousins, the Democratic New York State Senator for District 35, presents education as a core priority, emphasizing fully funded public schools, expanded Universal Pre-K, affordable SUNY/CUNY access, and protection of school aid. As Senate Majority Leader, she has supported budget and legislative packages increasing Foundation Aid, pre-K funding, TAP affordability, school meals, and other public education investments.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Stewart-Cousins led passage of a budget that rejected proposed Foundation Aid changes, ensured no cuts to school funding, added $100 million for Universal Pre-K, and expanded TAP for higher education affordability.
SourceStewart-Cousins guided Senate passage of a higher education affordability package, including bills to extend TAP eligibility time and help homeless students qualify for TAP.
SourceStewart-Cousins announced state grants for Yonkers and five other school districts in her Senate district to expand or begin Universal Pre-K programs, stating that pre-kindergarten children need financial resources and learning opportunities.
SourceStewart-Cousins and the Senate advanced a 2026 one-house budget resolution including hundreds of millions in additional education aid, increased support for public higher education, community schools, and civic education resources.
SourceAndrea Stewart-Cousins, Democratic State Senator for New York Senate District 35 and Senate Majority Leader, emphasizes public safety through gun-violence prevention, domestic-violence protections, anti-retail-theft enforcement, and community-based violence-interruption funding. Her public statements frame these measures as combining law-enforcement tools with prevention and survivor support.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Stewart-Cousins applauded and led Senate passage of a gun safety package signed by the governor to reduce gun violence, including firearm-sale warnings, restrictions on pistol converters, and expanded ERPO tracking and law-enforcement petition authority.
SourceStewart-Cousins led Senate passage of legislation to protect domestic violence survivors, including police lethality assessments, temporary firearm custody during family-violence responses, stalking protections, and crime-victim compensation improvements.
SourceStewart-Cousins supported FY 2025 budget public-safety measures creating a felony for assaulting a retail worker, allowing aggregation of stolen goods for higher larceny charges, and funding retail theft teams and small-business security measures.
SourceStewart-Cousins announced more than $1 million for the Yonkers YMCA through SNUG, a community-based gun-violence prevention initiative she said she has consistently fought to fund.
SourceStewart-Cousins said the Senate Democratic Majority under her leadership prioritized ending gun violence while passing a package including firearm-industry liability, imitation-weapon rules, gun-violence data reporting, and related safety measures.
SourceNYSenate.gov
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/andrea-stewart-cousins/aboutFetched: biography, education, location, committees
Legislative Action Center
https://app7.vocusgr.com/webpublish/Controller.aspx?Definition=ViewLegislator&LegislatorID=83517&SiteName=AIADAFetched: biography, age, location, education
Election.org / Open States current officeholder page
https://www.election.org/state/new-york/legislature/upper/district-35Fetched: votingRecord
The Yonkers Ledger
https://www.theyonkersledger.com/news/the-money-behind-the-campaigns-what-the-disclosures-tell-yonkers-voters/62441/Fetched: campaignFinance
Transparency USA
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/candidate/andrea-stewart-cousins?cycle=2017-to-now&filer=friends-of-anthony-giacobbe-175441Fetched: campaignFinance
Blue Voter Guide
https://bluevoterguide.org/district/NY/New_York_State_Senate_District_35/51824/830Fetched: endorsements
District Council 37 AFSCME
https://www.dc37.net/take-action/media-center/news-release/2026/district-council-37-delegates-endorse-state-senate-and-assembly-candidates-for-2026-primary-election/Fetched: endorsements
New York State Nurses Association
https://www.nysna.org/news/nysna-2026-endorsementsFetched: endorsements
New York League of Conservation Voters
https://www.nylcv.org/candidate/andrea-stewart-cousins/Fetched: endorsements
New York State United Teachers
https://www.nysut.org/resources/special-resources-sites/voter-guide/endorsementsFetched: endorsements
Environmental Advocates NY Action
https://eaaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/eaaction_scorecard_2021_final-10-19.pdfFetched: endorsements
Westchester County Firearm Owners Association
https://www.gunpoliticsny.com/files/WCFOA-Voter-Guide-2024.pdfFetched: endorsements
New York State Senate - Andrea Stewart-Cousins About
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/andrea-stewart-cousins/aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - District 35
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/andrea-stewart-cousins/districtFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - Vaccine Access Legislation
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-majority-leader-stewart-cousins-speaker-heastie-introduce-legislation-protectFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Vaccine Access Package
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/state-senate-advances-legislation-protect-access-vaccinations-upholdFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Health Care Affordability Package
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/andrea-stewart-cousins/state-senate-passes-legislation-lower?page=3Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Maternal and Reproductive Health Legislation
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021/senate-passes-maternal-and-reproductive-health-legislationFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins official profile
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/andrea-stewart-cousinsFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S6516
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2013/S6516Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S5661
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2009/s5661Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S8380
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2009/s8380Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Passes Permanent Power For Jobs
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2010/andrea-stewart-cousins/senate-passes-permanent-power-jobsFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Stewart-Cousins and Harckham announce Putnam economic development road improvements
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/pete-harckham/stewart-cousins-harckham-announce-completion-1415m-road?page=7Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Andrea Stewart-Cousins District 35 profile
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/andrea-stewart-cousinsFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Driver's License Access and Privacy Act bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/S1747Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Immigrant Assistance Service Enforcement Act bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2013/2013-a8974aFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Stewart-Cousins immigrant fraud protections press release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/andrea-stewart-cousins/press-release-senator-stewart-cousins-0Fetched: issuePositions
New York Immigration Coalition
https://www.nyic.org/2026/01/majority-leader-andrea-stewart-cousins-calls-for-new-york-for-all/Fetched: issuePositions
New York Focus
https://nysfocus.com/2026/01/31/hochul-sanctuary-ice-immigration-287g-jail-billFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov official senator profile
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/andrea-stewart-cousins/aboutFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov official district page
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/andrea-stewart-cousins/districtFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov legislation page for 2019-S6599
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/S6599Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act press release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2019/andrea-stewart-cousins/senate-democratic-majority-passes-historicFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov utility ratepayer package press release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/andrea-stewart-cousins/majority-leader-stewart-cousins-leads-stateFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov Earth Week environmental package press release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/andrea-stewart-cousins/majority-leader-stewart-cousins-sen-shelley?page=7Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov offshore drilling press release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2019/andrea-stewart-cousins/protecting-long-island-senate-democrats-fightFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - About Andrea Stewart-Cousins
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/andrea-stewart-cousins/aboutFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - FY 2025 Budget Press Release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/andrea-stewart-cousins/majority-leader-stewart-cousins-leads-senate?page=1Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Higher Education Access and Affordability Press Release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/andrea-stewart-cousins/senate-majority-leader-andrea-stewart-cousins-1?page=3Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - AFFIRM Ed Task Force Press Release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2008/andrea-stewart-cousins/senator-andrea-stewart-cousins-task-forceFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Universal Pre-K District Funding Press Release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022/andrea-stewart-cousins/six-school-districts-majority-leaders-stewart?page=6Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - 2026 One-House Budget Resolution
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/new-york-state-senate-advances-2026-one-house-budget-resolutionFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Andrea Stewart-Cousins About
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/andrea-stewart-cousins/aboutFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - District 35
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/andrea-stewart-cousins/districtFetched: issuePositions
LegiScan - New York Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins
https://legiscan.com/NY/people/andrea-stewart-cousins/id/1457Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Gun Safety Laws Signed
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/andrea-stewart-cousins/majority-leader-stewart-cousins-hails-new-gun?page=0Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Domestic Violence Survivors Package
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/andrea-stewart-cousins/majority-leader-andrea-stewart-cousins-leads-0?page=0Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Retail Theft Budget Measures
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/shelley-b-mayer/state-senate-majority-leader-andrea-stewart-cousins?page=7Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Yonkers SNUG Funding
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/andrea-stewart-cousins/senate-majority-leader-andrea-stewart-cousinsFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Gun Violence Prevention Legislation
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021/andrea-stewart-cousins/senate-majority-leader-andrea-stewart-cousins-8?page=2Fetched: issuePositions