VoterLens
New York State Senate District 49
Coastal Carolina University—Bachelor's in Education
Data last updated 10/21/2026
Cassie Robbins-Forbus is a Lewis County native and Lowville resident running as a Democrat for New York State Senate District 49. She is a grant writer for Samaritan Medical Center, chairs the Lewis County Democratic Committee, and has worked in education, nonprofit leadership, healthcare, and drug-prevention volunteer efforts.
Committee Assignments: No committee assignments available.
Cassie Robbins-Forbus says healthcare access is a top issue for New York State Senate District 49, emphasizing rural hospitals, clinics, providers, and patients who travel long distances for care. Her stated healthcare priorities include strengthening rural healthcare services close to home, supporting the EMS workforce, and addressing rising healthcare costs for North Country families and seniors.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Robbins-Forbus says rural communities should have sustainable healthcare services close to home and that hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers in the North Country need support.
SourceRobbins-Forbus says her healthcare experience gives her firsthand understanding of rural hospitals, providers, and patients, and that rural healthcare needs a voice in Albany decision-making.
SourceRobbins-Forbus describes her work as a healthcare grant writer as focused on bringing critical resources into local communities, aligning with her campaign focus on rural representation.
SourceCassie Robbins-Forbus frames her Economy & Jobs position around affordability, rural infrastructure, good-paying jobs, workforce development, small businesses, farms, and ensuring North Country communities have a voice in state economic-development decisions. She supports expanding reliable affordable broadband, investing in local businesses and public infrastructure, supporting entrepreneurs and workforce training, and lowering costs for working families.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Robbins-Forbus says expanding reliable, affordable broadband is a first-year priority because it connects farms and small businesses to markets, attracts remote workers and entrepreneurs, and helps grow the economy and workforce.
SourceRobbins-Forbus says Albany should keep affordability at the center of policy, citing grocery, electric, gas, and heating costs that affect whether families can stay in their communities.
SourceAt her campaign announcement, Robbins-Forbus said she would prioritize listening to small business owners, farmers, and nonprofit agencies about what they need from the state, with a focus on electricity costs and affordability.
SourceIn an Adirondack Park candidate questionnaire for New York State Senate District 49, Robbins-Forbus said she would favor Bottle Bill updates if they encourage recycling and help small businesses, while wanting input from area redemption centers before a vote.
SourceNo documented public position by Cassie Robbins-Forbus on Immigration was found in sources matching her 2026 candidacy for New York State Senate District 49. Her campaign issues page lists priorities such as rural healthcare, EMS, broadband, school meals, HEAP, universal pre-K, and environmental protections, but does not state an immigration position.
Cassie Robbins-Forbus acknowledges climate change as real and tied to fossil fuels and corporate pollution, while framing climate and energy policy around affordability, rural input, and North Country needs. Her stated positions include support or leaning support for holding polluters accountable, recycling/packaging reforms, reducing road-salt impacts, forest-conservation incentives, HEAP energy assistance, environmental protections, and clean-energy jobs.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Robbins-Forbus said she supports most of the Climate Change Superfund Act because it holds companies accountable for environmental damage, though she noted she may want details explained or modified.
SourceHer campaign issues page lists HEAP as a priority, describing it as seasonal and emergency assistance that helps low- and moderate-income households manage heating, cooling, utility costs, and rising energy burdens.
SourceThe St. Lawrence County Democrats candidate page says Robbins-Forbus believes farmers, local businesses, and rural communities should have a seat at the table when decisions are made about energy, environmental protections, infrastructure, economic development, and state investment.
SourcePatriot PAC’s endorsement page describes Robbins-Forbus as running for State Senate to deliver equitable services, invest in clean-energy jobs, and fight for working families and seniors.
SourceIn the Protect the Adirondacks candidate questionnaire, Robbins-Forbus said she had not read the entire Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act but would consider herself leaning toward a vote in favor barring major changes in intent.
SourceCassie Robbins-Forbus’s campaign site identifies supporting local schools as an issue for New York State Senate District 49 and specifically lists support for free school lunches and breakfasts and Universal Pre-K. She frames these education positions as ways to improve student readiness and well-being while reducing costs for working families.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Robbins-Forbus supports free school lunches and breakfasts to ensure children have nutrition needed to learn and to reduce financial pressure on working families.
SourceRobbins-Forbus supports Universal Pre-K as free early childhood education for four-year-olds that builds school-readiness skills and reduces costs for families.
SourceCassie Robbins-Forbus frames public safety around rural emergency response and prevention, especially supporting EMS workforce capacity so North Country communities can count on timely emergency response.
Specific Actions & Proposals
On her official issues page, Robbins-Forbus says supporting the EMS workforce would be a first-year priority and calls for sustainable funding and more paid EMS opportunities so every community can count on timely emergency response.
SourceWWNY reported that Robbins-Forbus, identified as the Democratic candidate for New York's 49th Senate District, has actively volunteered with groups focused on drug prevention for children.
SourceThe St. Lawrence County Democrats candidate page for Robbins-Forbus, running for New York State Senate District 49, describes her career as including nonprofit leadership, substance-use prevention, and healthcare.
SourceBallotReady
https://www.ballotready.org/people/cassie-l-robbins-forbusFetched: biography, education, professional experience, office, district
WWNY
https://www.wwnytv.com/2026/02/19/lewis-co-woman-running-49th-senate-district/?outputType=ampFetched: biography, location, professional experience, office, district
NYSenate.gov - Senator Mark Walczyk
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/mark-walczykFetched: votingRecord
New York State Board of Elections - June 23, 2026 Primary Certification
https://elections.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2026/05/accessible-june-23-2026-primary-certification-amended-4.30.26-.pdfFetched: votingRecord
Transparency USA - New York State Senate District 49 Election
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/race/new-york-state-senate-district-49-74489Fetched: campaignFinance
Blue Voter Guide
https://bluevoterguide.org/NY/candidate_Cassie_Robbins-Forbus/728562Fetched: endorsements
Blue Voter Guide - Planned Parenthood Greater NY Votes PAC
https://bluevoterguide.org/endorser-org/Planned_Parenthood_Greater_NY_Votes_PAC/NY/6364Fetched: endorsements
Blue Voter Guide - New York Working Families Party
https://bluevoterguide.org/endorser-org/New_York_Working_Families_Party/NY/8651Fetched: endorsements
Blue Voter Guide - Working Families Party
https://bluevoterguide.org/endorser-org/Working_Families_Party/NY/781Fetched: endorsements
Fulton County Democratic Committee
https://www.fultoncountynydemocrats.com/endorsementsFetched: endorsements
Cassie For Senate 49 campaign issues page
https://cassieforsenate49.com/issuesFetched: issuePositions
St. Lawrence County Democrats candidate page
https://www.stlcdemocrats.com/cassie-robbins-forbusFetched: issuePositions
St. Lawrence County Democrats
https://www.stlcdemocrats.com/cassie-robbins-forbusFetched: issuePositions
WWNY 7 News
https://www.wwnytv.com/2026/02/21/state-sen-walcyzk-faces-new-opponent-49th-district-race/?outputType=ampFetched: issuePositions
Protect the Adirondacks
https://www.protectadks.org/federal-and-state-candidates-answer-questions-on-environmental-matters-in-adirondack-park/Fetched: issuePositions
St. Lawrence Dems - Cassie Robbins-Forbus
https://www.stlcdemocrats.com/cassie-robbins-forbusFetched: issuePositions
BallotReady - Cassie L. Robbins-Forbus
https://www.ballotready.org/people/cassie-l-robbins-forbusFetched: candidateIdentity, issuePositions
New York State Board of Elections - Certification for June 23, 2026 Primary Election
https://elections.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2026/05/accessible-june-23-2026-primary-certification-amended-4.30.26-.pdfFetched: candidateIdentity
Cassie for Senate 49 official issues page
https://cassieforsenate49.com/issuesFetched: issuePositions