VoterLens
New York State Senate District 33
University of Puerto Rico—B.A.; CUNY Graduate Center—doctoral program in political science
Data last updated 10/20/2026
J. Gustavo Rivera is the Democratic/Working Families New York State Senator for District 33 in the Bronx, first elected in November 2010. Before holding office, he worked as a community organizer for local and state campaigns, managed SEIU activity for Barack Obama in several 2008 primary states, served as Obama campaign Constituency Director in Florida, and later served as Director of Outreach for U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. He has also taught political science as an adjunct professor at Pace University and Hunter College.
Committee Assignments: Joint Senate Task Force on Opioids, Addiction & Overdose Prevention Co-Chair · Health Chair · Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorders Member · Cannabis Member · Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Member · Finance Member · Higher Education Member · Housing, Construction and Community Development Member · Mental Health Member · State-Native American Relations Member
J. Gustavo Rivera, Democratic State Senator for New York's 33rd Senate District and chair of the Senate Health Committee, emphasizes expanding affordable health coverage and stronger oversight of health programs. His healthcare record includes sponsoring the New York Health Act for single-payer coverage, bills to preserve insurance coverage for New Yorkers affected by federal changes, and measures to increase transparency in subsidized health programs and hospital service closures.
J. Gustavo Rivera, Democratic state senator for New York's 33rd Senate District, emphasizes workforce access, good-paying jobs, fair taxation, and Bronx-centered economic development. His record includes sponsoring tax-and-invest proposals, supporting local job fairs and employment resources, backing Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment as an economic engine, and voting for employment-discrimination protections.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Rivera supported the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment process while calling for enforceable community benefits, anti-displacement protections for small businesses, and good-paying union jobs.
SourceRivera supported NYC Council approval of the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment, describing it as an opportunity to create real economic growth, support small businesses, and turn the armory into an economic engine for Kingsbridge Heights.
SourceJ. Gustavo Rivera, Democratic State Senator for New York Senate District 33, supports expanding immigrant rights and limiting immigration-enforcement actions in state/community settings. His record includes sponsoring bills to extend food assistance, licensing access, and health-care protections regardless of immigration status, and supporting broader protections such as New York For All and the DREAM Act.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Rivera stated that New York should pass a more comprehensive solution to protect communities from ICE, specifically naming New York For All, after Governor Hochul announced an immigration proposal.
SourceRivera supported passage of the DREAM Act, saying it would ensure young immigrant New Yorkers have access to quality, affordable higher education regardless of immigration status.
SourceJ. Gustavo Rivera, the Democratic New York State Senator for District 33, supports a climate-and-energy agenda centered on renewable energy, building electrification/efficiency, environmental justice, and affordability for Bronx residents. His recent record includes sponsoring green-housing and boiler-transition legislation, co-sponsoring climate investment and energy-affordability bills, and publicly supporting the NY HEAT Act and clean-energy budget provisions.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Rivera said the Bronx must transition to renewable energy and address the climate crisis, praised a residential energy-storage sales tax exemption, and said he looked forward to passing the NY HEAT Act.
SourceJ. Gustavo Rivera, the Democratic New York State Senator for District 33, presents education as a priority centered on quality public education, expanded access to pre-K, stronger SUNY/CUNY support, community-school resources, and full school funding owed to District 33. His legislative record includes co-sponsoring higher-education affordability, student basic-needs, student press, and transcript-protection measures, and voting for the 2026-2027 state budget bills including Education, Labor, and Family Assistance.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Rivera's campaign education page says he supports quality education for every child, helped secure Universal Pre-K funding for New York City, supports SUNY and CUNY, and fought for Campaign for Fiscal Equity funding owed to schools in the 33rd Senate District.
SourceJ. Gustavo Rivera, Democratic/WF state senator for New York State Senate District 33, frames public safety as combining gun-violence prevention, community-law-enforcement relationships, reentry support, and criminal-justice reforms aimed at reducing unequal treatment. His recent legislative record includes co-sponsoring or proposing measures on police accountability, safe consumption/overdose prevention, earned time, and a commission to reduce mass incarceration and violent crime.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Rivera's campaign states that he enacted strict gun-safety laws and secured funding for gun violence intervention, hospital-based gun violence prevention, and community services.
SourceNYSenate.gov
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/gustavo-rivera/aboutFetched: biography, education, location, committees
Election.org / Open States People
https://www.election.org/state/new-york/legislature/upper/district-33Fetched: votingRecord
MyRepTracker
https://myreptracker.com/new-york/legislators/ny-senate-33-gustavo-rivera/voting-recordFetched: votingRecord
Blue Voter Guide
https://bluevoterguide.org/district/NY/New_York_State_Senate_District_33/51822/830Fetched: endorsements
Voters For Animal Rights
https://vfar.org/?vfar_endorsement=2026-candidate-endorsement-questionnaire-for-nys-senate-nys-assembly-and-us-houseFetched: endorsements
Public Employees Federation
https://www.pef.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024-NYS-Senate-Endorsements.pdfFetched: endorsements
New York League of Conservation Voters
https://www.nysenate.gov/sites/default/files/article/attachment/2017-nys-scorecard-final.pdfFetched: endorsements
New York State Senate - About State Senator Gustavo Rivera
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/gustavo-rivera/aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Bill S3425
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3425Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Bill S9589
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9589Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Bill S9512
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9512Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly - Local Input for Community Healthcare Act statement
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Jo-Anne-Simon/story/112510Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Gustavo Rivera biography
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/gustavo-rivera/aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Livable New York Act
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3821Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Capital gains tax bill
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1439Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Consumer credit history employment bill
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3072Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Kingsbridge Armory developer partnership statement
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/2025/gustavo-rivera/state-senator-gustavo-rivera-partnership-kingsbridge-armorysFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Kingsbridge Armory NYC Council approval statement
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/2025/gustavo-rivera/state-senator-gustavo-rivera-nyc-council-approving?page=8Fetched: issuePositions
Gustavo for State Senate - Immigrants' Rights
https://www.gustavoforthebronx.com/immigrants-rightsFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Senator Gustavo Rivera About
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/gustavo-rivera/aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S9033
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9033Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S10494
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S10494Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S1086A
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1086/amendment/AFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Governor Hochul Immigration Proposal Statement
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/2026/gustavo-rivera/state-senator-gustavo-rivera-governor-hochuls-immigrationFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - DREAM Act Press Release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2019/senate-passes-jose-peralta-new-york-state-dream-actFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Rivera statement on PSC and Con Edison rate hikes
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/2026/gustavo-rivera/state-senator-gustavo-rivera-public-service-commissionsFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Climate and Community Investment Act
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3346Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Digital asset mining energy excise tax
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8518Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - 2024-2025 budget climate justice statement
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/gustavo-rivera/state-senator-gustavo-rivera-2024-2025-new-york-state?page=2Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S4781
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4781Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S2637
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2637Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S68
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S68Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - 2026-2027 Budget Statement
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/2026/gustavo-rivera/state-senator-gustavo-rivera-2026-2027-new-york-state-budgetFetched: issuePositions
Gustavo for State Senate - Education
https://www.gustavoforthebronx.com/educationFetched: issuePositions
LegiScan
https://legiscan.com/NY/people/gustavo-rivera/id/11116?chamber=senate&page=3&record=all&type=billFetched: issuePositions