VoterLens
New York State Senate District 63
SUNY Empire State University—B.A. in Theatre Arts
Data last updated 10/21/2026
April N.M. Baskin is a Buffalo native and lifelong advocate for equity and social justice who represents New York State Senate District 63. She was elected to the Erie County Legislature in 2017, served as Majority Leader and then Chair, and led work on jail reform, health equity, lead-poisoning services, MWBE policy, and a community benefits agreement tied to the Buffalo Bills stadium. In 2024, she was elected to the New York State Senate, becoming the first Black woman from the City of Buffalo elected to the State Senate.
Committee Assignments: Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Chair · Cities 2 Member · Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation Member · Local Government Member · Procurement and Contracts Member · Select Majority Task Force on Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises Member · Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Member · Women's Issues Member
April Baskin supports expanding access to health care in underserved communities, with particular emphasis on women’s health, cancer screening and patient support, school cardiac emergency preparedness, and addressing health inequities. As a sitting New York State Senator for District 63, she has sponsored or co-sponsored bills related to nursing workforce development, statewide health coverage, insurance continuity, home care worker pay, and Medicaid consumer-directed care oversight.
April Baskin frames her Economy & Jobs agenda around equitable economic development, small-business growth, MWBE participation, local hiring, fair wages, and reducing costs for working families in New York State Senate District 63. As a sitting senator and Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business chair, she has sponsored bills to expand contracting opportunities for microbusinesses, preserve employee-owned enterprises, enforce labor compliance for firms receiving incentives, and require post-construction community benefits on state-funded projects.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Baskin announced and supported a Cheektowaga bed-tax bill intended to generate local revenue for capital projects, reduce borrowing, and lessen pressure for property-tax increases on residents.
SourceApril Baskin supports limiting state and local involvement in federal immigration enforcement, protecting due process, and keeping immigrant families safe. She has co-sponsored the New York for All Act, publicly opposed ICE targeting in Buffalo, and sponsored language-access legislation to help immigrant and limited-English-proficient New Yorkers use government services.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Baskin joined state lawmakers calling for immediate passage of New York for All, saying local-police and federal-immigration collusion should be prohibited to protect immigrant families.
SourceBaskin condemned ICE officers staking out people in Buffalo neighborhoods and at cultural festivals, calling it unacceptable for neighbors to be targeted based on physical appearance or origin.
SourceApril Baskin’s Climate & Energy record centers on helping small businesses and underserved communities manage energy costs while supporting clean-energy and climate-policy implementation. As a sitting New York State Senator for District 63, she has sponsored bills on electric-energy tax relief, small-business energy conservation, food-access measures tied to reduced greenhouse-gas emissions, and co-sponsored expanded residential solar credits.
April Baskin supports education policies focused on safer public schools, more equitable school funding, expanded workforce training, and broader access to postsecondary credentials. As New York State Senator for District 63, she sponsored Desha’s Law for school cardiac emergency response plans and multiple education-related bills on school aid, nursing education, TAP eligibility, and college savings.
April Baskin frames public safety as pairing community safety with accountability and criminal-justice reform. Her record includes jail oversight and detainee-care reforms, body-camera transparency, support for reentry and parole reforms, and legislation/investments supporting first responders.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Baskin announced state capital commitments for Lackawanna including public-safety improvements, right-of-way infrastructure, public works equipment, and firehouse-related improvements.
SourceAs Erie County Legislature Majority Leader, Baskin argued that body cameras should be a priority for public safety and transparency, saying civilian and deputy protection outweighed cost concerns.
SourceNYSenate.gov - About April N.M. Baskin
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/april-baskin/aboutFetched: biography, committees
Transparency USA - New York State Senate District 63 Election
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/race/new-york-state-senate-district-63-74505Fetched: campaignFinance
Transparency USA - April Nicole Mccants-Baskin
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/candidate/april-nicole-mccants-baskinFetched: campaignFinance
New York State United Teachers
https://www.nysut.org/resources/special-resources-sites/voter-guide/endorsementsFetched: endorsements
Blue Voter Guide
https://bluevoterguide.org/NY/candidate_April_McCants-Baskin/288484Fetched: endorsements
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S6013
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6013Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S3425
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3425Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S9589
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9589Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S8955
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8955Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S9142
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9142Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov Senator April Baskin profile
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/april-baskinFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov Bill S8284B
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8284/amendment/BFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov Bill S10575
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S10575Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov Cheektowaga bed tax press release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/april-baskin/senator-april-nm-baskin-leads-charge-introduceFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S2235B New York for All Act
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2235/amendment/BFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Gounardes press release on New York for All
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/andrew-gounardes/state-lawmakers-ensure-accountability-shah-alams?page=0Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Baskin statement on ICE targeting individuals
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/2025/april-baskin/senator-baskin-issues-statement-ice-targeting-individuals?page=1Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S5535 Language Access Expansion Act
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5535Fetched: issuePositions
NYIC Action 2026 Candidate Questionnaire and Endorsements
https://nyicaction.org/2026-endorsementsFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senator April Baskin profile
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/april-baskinFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senator April Baskin legislation
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/april-baskin/legislationFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S10351
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S10351Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S5992
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5992Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S2626
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2626Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S6017
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6017Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S5684
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5684Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Senator April Baskin legislation
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/april-baskin/legislationFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Desha’s Law bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5539/amendment/originalFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Supplemental school aid bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6014Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Nurse of Tomorrow Act bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6013Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Short-term credential TAP bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6022Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Special-needs due process bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8842/amendment/AFetched: issuePositions
NYS Senate Open Legislation - S9126
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9126/amendment/originalFetched: issuePositions
NYS Senate - Lackawanna public safety funding press release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/april-baskin/senator-april-baskin-commits-state-funding-infrastructure?page=8Fetched: issuePositions
NYS Senate Open Legislation - S6019
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6019Fetched: issuePositions
Spectrum News - Erie County Sheriff's Office body cameras
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/triad/news/2019/03/14/erie-county-sheriffs-office-body-camsFetched: issuePositions
Erie County Executive - Corrections Specialist Advisory Board
https://www4.erie.gov/exec/sites/www4.erie.gov.exec/files/archive/index900a.html?q=press%2Fpoloncarz-signs-local-law-establishing-erie-county-corrections-specialist-advisory-boardFetched: issuePositions