VoterLens
New York State Senate District 29
Manhattan College—Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
Data last updated 10/21/2026
José M. Serrano is a lifelong South Bronx resident who was elected to the New York State Senate in November 2004 and represents what is now the 29th Senate District. After graduating from Manhattan College, he worked with the New York Shakespeare Festival, then was elected to the New York City Council District 17 in 2001 representing the South Bronx before joining the State Senate.
Committee Assignments: Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation Chair · Aging Member · Environmental Conservation Member · Libraries Member · Social Services Member · Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Member · Women's Issues Member
Jose M. Serrano, Democratic/WF senator for New York State Senate District 29, emphasizes expanding equitable and accessible healthcare, particularly addressing South Bronx health disparities and access to critical care. His record includes sponsoring health-related bills on patient medical-record access, culturally competent care, asthma study/remediation, and temporary authorization for event medical professionals.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Stated that expanding equitable and accessible healthcare in the 29th Senate District is a priority and helped secure funding for a new cardiac catheterization laboratory at Lincoln Hospital to address South Bronx cardiac-care disparities.
SourceIn response to a South Bronx Legionnaires' disease outbreak, Serrano said policymakers must focus on underlying health issues, prioritize access to primary healthcare, and mandate cultural competency in health professions.
SourceJose M. Serrano’s campaign website reportedly did not publish a dedicated economy platform as of July 28, 2026, but his Senate record shows support for worker-focused economic policies. As the incumbent Democratic state senator for New York Senate District 29, he has co-sponsored measures to raise wages, stabilize low-wage workers’ schedules, and link clean-energy investment to job creation and labor standards.
Jose M. Serrano supports immigrant-protection policies that limit state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, protect access to services regardless of immigration status, and provide counsel for people facing deportation. He has sponsored or supported measures including the New York State Liberty Act, Dignity for Immigrants in New York State Act, Dignity Not Detention, and the New York for All Act.
Specific Actions & Proposals
In a 2026 candidate questionnaire for New York State Senate District 29, Serrano answered yes to sponsoring and supporting legislation to prevent state and local resources from being used to facilitate or cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, and said he would fight to remove ICE from coordination with local and state agencies.
SourceJose M. Serrano, Democratic/Working Families senator for New York State Senate District 29, presents himself as a strong environmental conservation and climate-action supporter, emphasizing environmental justice communities, green energy and infrastructure, and protection of landmark environmental policy. His recent record includes sponsoring a fossil-fuel leasing restriction on state lands, voting for renewable-energy tax incentives, co-sponsoring solar/geothermal grants for schools, and signing onto offshore-wind development advocacy.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Serrano signed a Senate letter urging the Public Service Commission to add an offshore wind tier to the Clean Energy Standard and move forward with a comprehensive offshore wind program to help meet renewable-energy and carbon-reduction targets.
SourceSerrano publicized his 95 score and top-10% ranking on Environmental Advocates NY’s 2026 scorecard, saying he supports investing in environmental justice communities, expanding green energy and infrastructure, and protecting landmark environmental legislation and policy.
SourceJose M. Serrano, Democratic New York State Senator for District 29, has emphasized education access and equity through bills on language assistance for parents, arts education compliance, culturally responsive curriculum, and inclusive school policies. His education record shows particular support for arts/music education, multilingual family engagement, and protections for marginalized students.
Jose M. Serrano, currently listed by the New York State Senate as the Democratic/WF senator for the 29th District, frames public safety through criminal-justice reform, parole review based on rehabilitation and current risk, limits on solitary confinement, and shifting some public-safety functions toward mental-health and social-service responses. He has also stated opposition to weakening New York bail reform and support for ending qualified immunity for police officers.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Serrano supported the HALT Solitary Confinement Act, stating that prolonged solitary confinement is torture and disproportionately affects minority communities.
SourceIn a 2022 candidate questionnaire, Serrano answered "Yes" when asked whether he opposed efforts to weaken bail reform as written.
SourceSerrano stated support for ending qualified immunity for police officers and said many issues involving schools, mental-health calls, homeless outreach and social services should be handled by mental-health professionals and social workers.
SourceNYSenate.gov — About José M. Serrano
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/jose-m-serrano/aboutFetched: biography, location, committees
New York City Campaign Finance Board — 2001 Voter Guide
https://www.nyccfb.info/public/voter-guide/general_2001/cd_statements/cd17_jserrano.htmFetched: education
Election.org / Open States source record
https://www.election.org/state/new-york/legislature/upper/district-29Fetched: votingRecord
Bronx Times
https://www.bxtimes.com/2026-primaries-nicholas-reyes-challenges-incumbent-jose-serrano-for-d-29-state-senate-seat/Fetched: campaignFinance
New York League of Conservation Voters
https://www.nylcv.org/press-item/nylcv-gives-green-announces-2026-endorsements-for-state-legislative-races/Fetched: endorsements
Doctors Council SEIU
https://www.doctorscouncil.org/news/for-immediate-release-doctors-council-announces-endorsements-for-new-york-primaries-2026Fetched: endorsements
Professional Staff Congress/CUNY
https://psc-cuny.org/issues/psc-endorsements-general-election-2026/Fetched: endorsements
New York League of Conservation Voters 2024 State Environmental Scorecard
https://nylcv.org/wp-content/uploads/nys-scorecard-2024.pdfFetched: endorsements
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: endorsements
Environmental Advocates NY 2023 Scorecard
https://eaaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2023-Scorecard-EAA.pdfFetched: endorsements
Conservative Party of New York State 2025 Senate Ratings
https://www.cpnys.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-Senate-Ratings-Final-Final.pdfFetched: endorsements
NYSenate.gov
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/jose-m-serrano/senator-serrano-helps-secure-funding-new-cardiacFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/2026/jose-m-serrano/senator-serrano-speaks-importance-addressing-healthFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - About José M. Serrano
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/jose-m-serrano/aboutFetched: issuePositions
Branch - Jose M. Serrano platform & website
https://www.branch.vote/races/2026-new-york-general-election-ny-state-state-senator-ny-state-senate-29/candidates/jose-m-serranoFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - S4048 Raise the Wage Act
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4048Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - S3842 Predictable and Stable Scheduling
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3842Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - S3346 Climate and Community Investment Act
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3346Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S1066
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1066Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S1359
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1359Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S316
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S316Fetched: issuePositions
Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club
https://jimowles.org/news/candidate-answers-to-joldc-jose-m-serrano-for-ny-senate-district-29-2026Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate press release PDF
https://www.nysenate.gov/sites/default/files/state_senators_serrano_and_hoylman_introduce_bills_to_make_new_york_a_sanctuary_state.pdfFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov — Senate Bill S1069
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1069Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov — Senate Bill S2632
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2632Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov — Senate Bill S2347
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2347Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov — Offshore Wind Sign-On Letter
https://www.nysenate.gov/sites/default/files/letter-to-psc-regarding-offshore-wind-tier-in-ces.pdfFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov — Senator Serrano Ranks Top 10% In Environmental Advocates New York Scorecard
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/jose-m-serrano/senator-serrano-ranks-top-10-environmental-advocatesFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Jose M. Serrano About
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/jose-m-serrano/aboutFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S1371
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1371Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S1072
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1072/amendment/originalFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S2547
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2547Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S10450
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S10450Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S6318A
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6318/amendment/AFetched: issuePositions
LegiScan - New York Senator Jose Serrano
https://legiscan.com/NY/people/jose-serrano/id/1450?chamber=senate&page=2&record=all&status=introduced&type=billFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate member directory
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators-committeesFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021/senate-passes-halt-solitary-confinement-actFetched: issuePositions
Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club
https://jimowles.squarespace.com/news/candidate-answers-to-joldc-jose-m-serrano-for-ny-senate-district-30-2022Fetched: issuePositions
Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club
https://jimowles.org/news/candidate-answers-to-joldc-jose-m-serrano-for-ny-senate-district-30-2022Fetched: issuePositions