VoterLens
New York State Senate District 8
Stony Brook University—Political Science
Data last updated 10/21/2026
Josh Taveras is a first-generation Dominican-American born and raised on Long Island, and his campaign biography says he grew up in Copiague in a working-class immigrant family. He became politically active in high school around issues including affordable housing, gun violence prevention, LGBTQ+ equality, immigrant rights, climate justice, and working families. He currently works as a Dual Store Manager overseeing two retail locations in New York, including one of the highest-volume stores in the region.
Committee Assignments: No committee assignments available.
Josh Taveras frames healthcare as a right and supports expanding access to quality, affordable care for Long Island residents, including mental health services, preventive care, prescription coverage, and reproductive healthcare. He is also identified with New York Health Act "Healthcare Champion" support, indicating support for the New York Health Act/single-payer-style universal coverage agenda.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Taveras states that healthcare is a human right and says he will fight for quality, affordable healthcare, including mental health services, preventive care, and prescription coverage.
SourceTaveras is listed by his campaign as a New York Health Act "Healthcare Champion," and the Campaign for New York Health says such candidates pledge to support and champion the New York Health Act.
SourceTaveras states that reproductive rights are healthcare rights and says he will protect safe, legal, and accessible options from attempts to restrict access.
SourceJosh Taveras frames his State Senate District 8 campaign around affordability, fairness, and support for working Long Island families, including small business owners and renters. His available campaign materials do not list detailed jobs or economic-development bills, but they state support for policies to lower household costs, support working people, and increase affordable housing.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Taveras says working families are being squeezed by rising costs and that his campaign is about fighting for affordability, fairness, and communities that can grow and thrive.
SourceTaveras says that, if elected, he would fight for working families, renters, small business owners, immigrants, young people, seniors, and others who feel unseen by Albany.
SourceTaveras says he will push for policies that increase affordable housing, support renters, and help Long Island families remain in their communities.
SourceJosh Taveras, the Democratic nominee for New York State Senate District 8 in 2026, frames immigration as a personal and civil-rights issue: his official campaign biography says he is the son of Dominican immigrants and has advocated for immigrant rights.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Taveras states that he became politically active by organizing and advocating for immigrant rights, among other issues, and says he would fight for immigrants if elected to the State Senate.
SourceJosh Taveras, the Democratic candidate for New York State Senate District 8 in 2026, states that environmental protection is "non-negotiable" and supports reducing pollution, protecting waterways, investing in clean energy, and expanding parks and open spaces.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Taveras says he will work to invest in clean energy as part of ensuring Long Islanders have clean air and safe drinking water.
SourceTaveras describes climate justice as one of the issues he has advocated for since becoming politically active in high school.
SourceTaveras supports expanding and improving parks, trails, and public spaces so residents have safe green spaces to gather, play, and connect with nature.
SourceJosh Taveras, Democratic nominee for New York State Senate District 8, states that education is fundamental and that every child should have access to a quality education regardless of zip code or family income. His stated education agenda emphasizes stronger schools, modern classrooms, real-world preparation, and more vocational pathways to address college debt and changing job markets.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Taveras states that every child deserves access to a quality education no matter their zip code or family income.
SourceTaveras says he will fight for stronger schools and modern classrooms for Long Island students.
SourceTaveras called for helping young people prepare for both technology-driven careers such as AI and standard vocational jobs as part of addressing college debt and career-field saturation.
SourceJosh Taveras frames public safety primarily around gun violence prevention and building safer community spaces. His campaign identifies him as a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate and says he has advocated for gun violence prevention while also supporting safe parks and public spaces for families, children, and seniors.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Taveras lists Moms Demand Action as an endorser and identifies himself as a Gun Sense Candidate, signaling support for gun-safety policies.
SourceTaveras says gun violence prevention was one of the issues that shaped his activism and organizing before running for State Senate District 8.
SourceTaveras supports expanding and improving parks, trails, and public spaces so families, kids, and seniors have safe places to gather and play.
SourceJosh Taveras for New York State Senate - Meet Candidate
https://www.joshtaveras.com/meet-candidate/Fetched: biography, location, education, professional background
Josh Taveras for New York State Senate
https://www.joshtaveras.com/Fetched: district confirmation, biography
New York State Board of Elections - Certification for the June 23, 2026 Primary Election
https://elections.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2026/05/accessible-june-23-2026-primary-certification-amended-5.13.26_0.pdfFetched: office confirmation, district confirmation, party confirmation
VOTE411 Voter Guide - New York Senate District 8
https://onyourballot.vote411.org/m/candidate-detail.do?id=73189087Fetched: votingRecord
Who Runs NY - Nassau County Candidates and Campaign Finance 2026
https://whorunsny.org/Fetched: campaignFinance
Blue Voter Guide
https://bluevoterguide.org/es/district/NY/New_York_State_Senate_District_8/51798/Fetched: endorsements
New York State Board of Elections
https://elections.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2026/05/accessible-june-23-2026-primary-certification-amended-4.30.26-.pdfFetched: endorsements
Josh Taveras for New York State Senate - Issues
https://www.joshtaveras.com/issues/Fetched: issuePositions
Campaign for New York Health - NYHA Voter Guide
https://www.nyhcampaign.org/voterguideFetched: issuePositions
Meet Candidate | Josh Taveras for New York State Senate
https://www.joshtaveras.com/meet-candidate/Fetched: issuePositions
Issues | Josh Taveras for New York State Senate
https://www.joshtaveras.com/issues/Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Board of Elections 2026 Primary Certification
https://elections.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2026/05/accessible-june-23-2026-primary-certification-amended-4.30.26-.pdfFetched: candidateIdentity
TBR News Media
https://tbrnewsmedia.com/is-there-a-future-left-for-gen-z-on-long-island-youth-town-hall-meeting-seeks-answers/Fetched: issuePositions