VoterLens
New York State Senate District 12
Data last updated 10/21/2026
Han Khon To is the Republican candidate for New York State Senate District 12 in the 2026 election. His listed background says he was born in Vietnam, came to the United States in 1980, earned an honors Bachelor of Fine Arts, practiced as a phlebotomist at Kings County Hospital's outpatient department, served as a laboratory associate with the NYC Department of Health, worked as a businessman, and has been a Notary Public for more than two decades.
Committee Assignments: No committee assignments available.
The only verified health-related issue position located was a 2026 science-policy questionnaire response in which he framed wildfire-smoke preparedness as a public-health issue and supported air-quality monitoring, masks, filtration, clear-air spaces, and guidance for vulnerable residents.
Specific Actions & Proposals
To supports New York investing in real-time air-quality monitoring and forecasting, severe-smoke mask distribution, filtration improvements in schools and public buildings where feasible, clear-air spaces for vulnerable residents, and guidance for people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.
SourceHan Khon To's Economy & Jobs positions emphasize job creation, workforce development, predictable permitting for technology infrastructure, and keeping energy reliable and affordable for families and businesses.
Specific Actions & Proposals
To supports a predictable permitting framework for data centers and says tax incentives should be tied to measurable public benefits such as permanent New York jobs, workforce training, energy efficiency, and infrastructure investment.
SourceTo supports working with universities and employers to identify scientific workforce shortages and strengthening SUNY, CUNY, community-college, apprenticeship, research-partnership, and career pathways so New Yorkers can fill scientific and technical jobs.
SourceA flyer distributed at a Ridgewood election forum listed To's stance in favor of creating more jobs while he was identified as the Republican candidate for State Senate District 12.
SourceTo supports an "all of the above" energy approach, including continued use of natural gas during the transition, to avoid unaffordable energy costs for families and businesses.
SourceHan Khon To states that immigration and visa policy is primarily a federal responsibility, while New York should advocate for predictable, timely, secure, merit-based visa policies for international STEM students and researchers. He also supports clear rules and fair processes for legitimate students and researchers, paired with attention to national security and research-integrity concerns.
Specific Actions & Proposals
In response to federal visa changes affecting international STEM students and researchers, To said New York should advocate to federal officials for visa policies that are predictable, timely, secure, and merit-based.
SourceTo said New York should work with universities and employers to identify workforce shortages and provide accurate guidance to affected institutions and students.
SourceTo said national security and research-integrity concerns should be taken seriously, but legitimate students and researchers should have clear rules and fair processes.
SourceTo said the state should strengthen its own STEM pipeline through SUNY, CUNY, community colleges, apprenticeships, research partnerships, and career pathways so New Yorkers are prepared for technical jobs.
SourceHan Khon To supports an "all of the above" low-carbon energy approach that includes nuclear, hydropower, wind, solar, storage, transmission, and continued natural gas during the transition for reliability and affordability. He has also opposed relying solely on solar/clean-energy transition and has called for maintaining petroleum-gas infrastructure such as gas stations.
Specific Actions & Proposals
To stated that New York should reduce emissions while preserving reliability and affordability by using nuclear, hydropower, wind, solar, storage, transmission, and natural gas when needed during the transition.
SourceAt a District 12 candidate forum, To said he would issue more licenses for gas stations and argued that New York needs more power than relying only on solar systems in homes or cars.
SourceHan Khon To has limited publicly available education-specific material for the 2026 New York State Senate District 12 race. The available statements indicate support for expanding access to quality education and for public schools teaching scientific, digital, and media literacy while presenting scientific information transparently rather than as partisan conclusions.
Specific Actions & Proposals
In the VOTE411 guide for New York Senate District 12, To said he supports expanding access to quality education alongside employment, housing, health care, and small-business opportunities.
SourceIn a 2026 SNAP candidate questionnaire, To said public education should teach students to evaluate information, understand the scientific method, distinguish peer-reviewed evidence from unsupported claims, and recognize misinformation online.
SourceHan Khon To frames public safety as a top priority for New York State Senate District 12, emphasizing safety on subways, at schools, for businesses, and at night. His stated positions support first responders, mental health services, prevention programs, community-based solutions, added law-enforcement funding, and regulated use of ALPR technology for serious crimes while limiting surveillance and protecting privacy.
Specific Actions & Proposals
To said ALPR technology can help locate stolen vehicles and vehicles connected to serious crimes, but he would support statewide rules on permissible uses, access controls, audit logs, cybersecurity, retention limits, data sharing, legal process, transparency, and penalties for misuse.
SourceIn the VOTE411 guide, To said he would focus on public safety and quality of life so residents feel safe walking to the subway, taking children to school, operating a business, or returning home at night, and he supported first responders, mental health services, prevention programs, and community-based solutions.
SourceAt a 2024 Ridgewood election forum, QNS reported that a flyer distributed to attendees outlined To's support for allocating more funding for law enforcement.
SourceVOTE411 Voter Guide
https://onyourballot.vote411.org/candidate-detail.do?id=73189100Fetched: biography
Sway
https://www.sway.co/candidate/han-khon-to-a73e0fb6-99b3-4db5-a24b-13e0f8d5d619Fetched: biography
Political Media Monitor
https://politicalmediamonitor.com/politicians/p_gm90sw2vvFetched: votingRecord
Open States search result not found for Han-Khon To as sitting legislator
https://openstates.org/Fetched: votingRecord
New York State Board of Elections Candidate Page
https://results.elections.ny.gov/candidate/13483Fetched: votingRecord
Transparency USA
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/race/new-york-state-senate-district-12-74449Fetched: campaignFinance
FollowTheMoney search attempted; no confirmed Han Khon To NY Senate District 12 finance profile located
https://www.followthemoney.org/Fetched: campaignFinance
Scientist Network for Advancing Policy
https://snapcoalition.org/initiatives/stance-on-science/candidates/ny/han-khon-toFetched: issuePositions
Branch
https://www.branch.vote/races/2026-new-york-general-election-ny-state-state-senator-ny-state-senate-12Fetched: issuePositions
The Ballot Brief
https://theballotbrief.com/state/new-york/queens-county/new-york-senate-district-12Fetched: issuePositions
Scientist Network for Advancing Policy
https://snapcoalition.org/initiatives/stance-on-science/states/nyFetched: issuePositions
Scientist Network for Advancing Policy - New York Stance on Science
https://snapcoalition.org/initiatives/stance-on-science/states/nyFetched: issuePositions