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New York State Senate District 16
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John Liu
Democratic PartySTS · NY · District 16
New York State Senate District 16
STS · NY · District 16
New York State Senate District 16
Binghamton University—BS in Mathematical Physics
Data last updated 10/21/2026
John C. Liu is a Democratic New York State Senator representing District 16 in northeast Queens. He previously served as New York City Comptroller from 2010 to 2013 and as a New York City Councilmember from 2002 to 2009, and before elected office worked for 14 years in the private sector as a professional actuary, most recently as a manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He currently teaches municipal finance and public policy in graduate programs at Columbia University and previously taught at CUNY.
Committee Assignments: New York City Education · Education · Finance · Higher Education · Judiciary · Rules · Select Majority Task Force on Diversity in the Judiciary · Transportation
John C. Liu, Democratic New York State Senator for District 16, emphasizes preventive and accessible healthcare, particularly expanded screening and reduced cost barriers for diabetes and prediabetes. His healthcare-related actions also include expanding pharmacy vaccine access and supporting broader insurance coverage and professional standards for acupuncture.
John C. Liu, the Democratic New York State Senator for District 16, frames economic policy around job creation, worker protections, small-business recovery, workforce adaptation to technology, and public-sector accountability. His record includes sponsoring labor protections for essential workers, co-sponsoring wage and workforce-stabilization measures, and supporting pandemic recovery relief for small businesses.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Liu supported and said he was proud to co-sponsor a Senate pandemic-recovery measure intended to help businesses avoid higher unemployment insurance contribution burdens during economic recovery.
SourceJohn C. Liu, Democratic New York State Senator for District 16, supports immigrant-protective policies that limit state/local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, keep ICE out of sensitive spaces such as schools, and expand legal representation for people facing deportation. He has sponsored or backed legislation such as the BUILD Act, Access to Representation Act, and NY4All, and has hosted community ICE preparedness trainings.
Specific Actions & Proposals
In response to the Governor's State of the State, Liu said New York should keep ICE out of schools, avoid using state resources against law-abiding New Yorkers, pass NY4All, and fully fund immigration services through Access to Representation and the BUILD Act.
SourceLiu hosted a Queens Know Your Rights and ICE preparedness training and said residents should understand how to protect neighbors and stand against unjust ICE actions and federal overreach.
SourceJohn C. Liu, the Democratic New York State Senator for District 16, has supported climate and clean-energy legislation through sponsorship, co-sponsorship, and votes. His record includes backing fossil-fuel phaseout planning, carbon pricing, campus sustainability staffing, climate adaptation cost recovery, and utility regulation aligned with state climate targets.
John C. Liu, Democratic New York State Senator for District 16 and chair of the Senate Committee on NYC Education, emphasizes public-school funding, smaller class sizes, school governance accountability, and expanded educational opportunity. He opposes diverting public education dollars to private-school vouchers and has supported federal and state roles in ensuring equal access to quality education.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Liu opposed proposed federal rules for private-school vouchers, arguing they would siphon taxpayer money from public schools and reduce oversight and nondiscrimination protections.
SourceLiu pushed to restore funding for Townsend Harris High School's Bridge Program so students could continue taking Queens College courses for college credit and the model could expand citywide.
SourceLiu opposed President Trump's executive order to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, saying it would jeopardize funding and equal access to quality education for students in underserved communities.
SourceJohn C. Liu, the Democratic New York State Senator for District 16, emphasizes police accountability and community trust as part of public safety, including an official biography noting he was an early opponent of stop-and-frisk. In current legislation, he has sponsored a bill limiting unmarked-police-vehicle arrests/stops and co-sponsored measures affecting NYC traffic enforcement agents and NYPD pension credit.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Liu's official Senate biography states that he was an early and staunch opponent of stop-and-frisk tactics because of risks to communities and damaged police-community relations.
SourceNYSenate.gov
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/john-c-liu/aboutFetched: biography, education, location, committees
Vote Smart
https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/44415/john-liuFetched: biography, age, education, location
Transparency USA
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/candidate/john-liu?filer=liu-for-new-york-445971Fetched: campaignFinance
Election.org
https://www.election.org/state/new-york/legislature/upper/district-16Fetched: votingRecord
New York Public Campaign Finance Board
https://pcfb.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2025/01/2024-new-york-state-public-campaign-finance-board-election-cycle-report-final.pdfFetched: campaignFinance
New York League of Conservation Voters 2025 State Scorecard
https://www.nylcv.org/wp-content/uploads/NYS-Scorecard-2025.pdfFetched: ratings
New York League of Conservation Voters 2024 State Scorecard
https://nylcv.org/wp-content/uploads/nys-scorecard-2024.pdfFetched: ratings
Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts 2024 Senate Scorecard
https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/uploads/filer_public/f2/02/f202ff2c-c444-49b0-b57d-795cc2cf2b3c/2024_ratings_senate_oct.pdfFetched: ratings
NYSenate.gov - John C. Liu District Page
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/john-c-liu/districtFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S634B
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S634/amendment/BFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S8495
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8495Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S9223
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9223Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Acupuncture Insurance Coverage Press Release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/john-c-liu/parker-liu-kim-momentum-builds-insurance-coverage?page=0Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - About John Liu
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/john-c-liu/aboutFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Essential Workers' Bill of Rights
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2211Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Raise the Wage Act
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4048Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - New York Workforce Stabilization Act
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1854/amendment/originalFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Task Force on Jobs and the New Economy
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/S2650Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Pandemic Recovery Measure
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022/senate-passes-pandemic-recovery-measure-boost-benefits-and-reduceFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senator John C. Liu profile
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/john-c-liuFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - BUILD Act bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4538Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Access to Representation Act bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9756Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - NY4All bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2235/amendment/AFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - State of the State statement
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/john-c-liu/state-senator-john-lius-statement-governors-state-state?page=7Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Know Your Rights and ICE Preparedness Training press release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/john-c-liu/queens-community-members-come-together-know-your-rights-andFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - About John Liu
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/john-c-liu/aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S1421
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1421Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S2935D
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S2935/amendment/DFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S1528
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1528Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S824
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S824Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S3346
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3346Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Liu Introduces Legislation To Extend Deadline For NYC To Reduce Class Sizes
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/john-c-liu/liu-introduces-legislation-extend-deadline-nyc-reduce-classFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senator John Liu Statement On The Trump Administration’s Proposed Private School Voucher Regulations
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/john-c-liu/senator-john-liu-statement-trump-administrations-proposedFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senator John Liu on the passage of legislation to finally reduce class sizes in NYC Public schools
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022/john-c-liu/senator-john-liu-passage-legislation-finally-reduce-classFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Rozic, Liu Push To Restore Funding For Early College Credit Program At Townsend Harris High School
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/john-c-liu/rozic-liu-push-restore-funding-early-college-credit-program?page=1Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - State Senator John Liu Statement On Trump’s Executive Order To Eliminate The U.S. Department Of Education PDF
https://www.nysenate.gov/sites/default/files/admin/structure/media/manage/filefile/a/2025-03/20250320-statement-on-trumps-executive-order-to-eliminate-us-doe.pdfFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - John C. Liu official biography
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/john-c-liu/aboutFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S425
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S425Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S5763
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5763Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S9070
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9070Fetched: issuePositions