VoterLens
New York State Assembly District 19
Loyola College in Maryland—B.A. in Computer Science; St. John's University School of Law—J.D.; Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law—LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law
Data last updated 10/21/2026
Edward P. Ra was first elected to the New York State Assembly on November 2, 2010, and represents Assembly District 19 in Nassau County. Before his election, he served as a Deputy Town Attorney for the Town of Hempstead and as a legal aide in the Office of the New York State Attorney General. In February 2026, he was elected Leader of the Assembly Minority Conference after previously serving in roles including Ranking Minority Member of the Ways and Means Committee and Ranking Member of the Education Committee.
Committee Assignments: Committee on Rules
Edward Ra, Republican Assembly member for New York State Assembly District 19, has taken healthcare positions focused on lowering insurance and prescription-drug costs, preserving home-care services for seniors and people with disabilities, and supporting targeted disease-care resources. In 2025-2026, he co-sponsored healthcare-related bills on regional health-insurance options, Alzheimer's outreach, and firefighter medical-exam coverage, and publicly backed budget support for spina bifida services.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Ra joined the Spina Bifida Association of New York State in advocating for $250,000 in FY 2026-2027 state budget support to improve education, outreach, partnerships with hospitals and providers, and access to knowledgeable care.
SourceRa opposed proposed state budget cuts to CDPAP, saying the program provides needed personalized home-care services for seniors and New Yorkers with physical and developmental disabilities.
SourceEdward Ra emphasizes fiscal restraint, lower costs, small-business support, job creation, and workforce development. His economy and jobs record includes proposing youth apprenticeship and career-pathway legislation, preferences for New York contractors, START-UP NY accountability, small-business tax relief, and criticism of economic-development tax credits he says fail to produce measurable results.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Ra opposed continuing taxpayer-funded economic-development programs that he said lack measurable returns and called for spending that strengthens the economy and creates sustainable jobs.
SourceEdward Ra, Republican Assembly member for New York State Assembly District 19, has focused on oversight and enforcement-oriented immigration positions, especially around New York’s migrant/asylum-seeker response. He has proposed auditing migrant-related humanitarian aid spending, co-sponsored refugee registration/background-screening legislation, and supported reversing New York policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Ra supported an Assembly Minority call for a special session to address migrant arrivals, including proposals on spending audits, migrant registration, shelter restrictions, and federal assistance.
SourceRa sought clarification after New York changed Safety Net Assistance eligibility for certain non-citizens and urged passage of his transparency bill on migrant-related spending.
SourceEdward Ra supports an "all of the above" energy policy focused on reliability and affordability, with green energy as part of the mix but continued use of natural gas, nuclear and other sources. As Assembly Minority Leader, he has criticized New York's current climate/energy roadmap as unaffordable and unattainable and supports adjusting emissions deadlines and mandates.
Specific Actions & Proposals
In the 2026 VOTE411 guide for New York Assembly District 19, Ra listed adopting an "all of the above" energy policy focused on reliability and affordability as a top priority, saying New York should not move away from sources such as natural gas and nuclear.
SourceRa supported significantly adjusting New York's emissions deadlines and called the current energy roadmap unaffordable and unattainable after the governor proposed changes to state emissions deadlines.
SourceEdward Ra emphasizes reducing high-stakes standardized testing and restoring local flexibility in curriculum while supporting special education programs and providers. He has proposed or supported measures to increase special education funding parity, reform Common Core implementation, and provide more resources for teachers and schools.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Ra stated support for New York 853 Schools and called for interim-plus rates, PPP-offset relief, and workforce support for special education providers.
SourceRa helped introduce an agenda to eliminate the Gap Elimination Adjustment, phase in Foundation Aid, repeal the teacher evaluation system, create new learning standards with stakeholder input, and reduce harms from state assessments.
SourceEdward P. Ra, Republican Assembly member for New York Assembly District 19, emphasizes public safety through repealing or revising bail and discovery reforms, restoring judicial discretion, supporting police funding, and protecting law-enforcement officers and witnesses. His recent public-safety record includes prime-sponsored bail and discovery bills and co-sponsorship of a law-enforcement mental-health program.
New York State Assembly Biography
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/?ad=019&sh=bioFetched: biography, location, education, background
New York State Assembly Committee Membership
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/?ad=019&sh=commFetched: committees
New York State Assembly - Edward P. Ra Assembly District 19
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/?ad=019&sh=bioFetched: votingRecord
Open States API Documentation / Open States Search
https://docs.openstates.org/api-v3/Fetched: votingRecord
FollowTheMoney.org API / Search
https://www.followthemoney.org/our-data/apis/Fetched: campaignFinance
Conservative Party of New York State
https://www.pcny.org/endorsements/new-york-state-assemblyFetched: endorsements
Long Island Gasoline Retailers Association
https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/6351e155-c299-409d-9b85-8e7ab1ff3282/oct%20final%20reduced-52a1536.pdfFetched: endorsements
New York League of Conservation Voters
https://www.nysenate.gov/sites/default/files/article/attachment/2018-scorecard-final.pdfFetched: endorsements
New York State Senate Open Legislation - A9254
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9254Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Open Legislation - A1235
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1235Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Open Legislation - A1458
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1458Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly Member Edward P. Ra - Spina Bifida Association
https://assembly.ny.gov/mem/Edward-P-Ra/story/117209Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly Member Edward P. Ra - CDPAP Cuts
https://www.assembly.ny.gov/mem/Edward-P-Ra/story/85076Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly Member Edward P. Ra - About
https://www.assembly.ny.gov/mem/Edward-P-Ra/about/Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly member page
https://www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=019&sh=aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly 2026 policy agenda press release
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Edward-P-Ra/story/116476Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly sponsored legislation page
https://nyassembly.gov/mem/?ad=019&sh=sponsorFetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly bill A02118
https://nyassembly.gov/leg/?Summary=Y&bn=A.2118&default_fld=%0D%0A&leg_video=&term=2025Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly bill A02267
https://nyassembly.gov/leg/?bn=A02267&leg_video=Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly bill A02503
https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?Actions=Y&Committee%26nbspVotes=Y&Floor%26nbspVotes=Y&Summary=Y&Text=Y&bn=A02503&default_fld=&term=2025Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate bill text A08752
https://legislation.nysenate.gov/pdf/bills/2025/A08752Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly economic development hearing statement
https://www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Edward-P-Ra/story/113194Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly
https://www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Edward-P-Ra/story/109206Fetched: issuePositions
VOTE411 Voter Guide
https://onyourballot.vote411.org/race-detail.do?id=26979082Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Open Legislation
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6796Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly Bill Search and Legislative Information
https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?Actions=Y&Memo=Y&Summary=Y&Text=Y&Votes=Y&bn=A10027&leg_video=1&term=Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly Member Directory
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Edward-P-Ra/story/118344Fetched: issuePositions
City & State New York
https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2026/03/some-republicans-critical-ny-climate-law-previously-voted-it/412087/Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly member biography
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/?ad=019&sh=bioFetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly bill page A04156
https://www.nyassembly.gov/leg/?Memo=Y&Summary=Y&Text=Y&bn=A04156&term=2023Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly press release on 853 Schools
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Edward-P-Ra/story/108982Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly press release on Common Core plan
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Edward-P-Ra/story/56546Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly press release on 2016 education agenda
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Edward-P-Ra/story/67428Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly member biography for Edward P. Ra
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/?ad=019&sh=bioFetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly sponsor list for Edward P. Ra
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/?ad=019&sh=sponsorFetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly press release on restoring law and order
https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Edward-P-Ra/story/100528Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly press release on judicial discretion and cashless bail
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Edward-P-Ra/story/103629Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly press release on law-enforcement mental-health bill
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Edward-P-Ra/story/116287Fetched: issuePositions