VoterLens
New York State Senate District 18
Columbia University—attended, no degree found
Data last updated 10/21/2026
Julia Salazar represents New York’s 18th State Senate District and was first elected to the State Senate in 2018. Before taking office, she worked as a community organizer with Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, in coalitions advancing criminal justice reform and police accountability legislation; she also advocated for tenants, domestic workers, and service-industry workers while attending Columbia University.
Committee Assignments: Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Chair · Banks Member · Cities 1 Member · Codes Member · Education Member · Finance Member · Housing, Construction and Community Development Member · Joint Senate Task Force on Opioids, Addiction & Overdose Prevention Member · Legislative Women's Caucus Member · Select Majority Task Force on Diversity in the Judiciary Member
Julia Salazar supports universal, comprehensive health care through measures such as the New York Health Act, and has emphasized expanded access to reproductive health coverage and long-term/home care for seniors and people with disabilities. As the State Senator for New York's 18th Senate District, her health care record includes sponsoring contraception coverage legislation and co-sponsoring bills on single-payer health care, home care wages, home care worker hours, and contraceptive access through pharmacists.
Julia Salazar emphasizes a working-class economic agenda centered on stronger worker rights, labor-law enforcement, higher wages, unemployment support, and protections against wage theft. As the Democratic/Working Families senator for New York State Senate District 18, she has sponsored or co-sponsored multiple labor and wage bills in the 2025-2026 and recent legislative sessions.
Julia Salazar supports pro-immigrant and sanctuary-state policies, including limiting state/local cooperation with ICE, ending ICE detention contracts in New York, and guaranteeing counsel for immigrants in removal proceedings. She has described New York for All, Dignity Not Detention, and Access to Representation as key measures for making New York a true sanctuary state.
Specific Actions & Proposals
In a 2026 candidate questionnaire, Salazar said she supports legislation to prevent state and local resources from facilitating federal immigration enforcement and stated that she authored the New York for All Act when it was introduced.
SourceSalazar said she fully supported Governor Hochul's anti-ICE proposals, including barring ICE agreements, creating a private right of action against federal officials, and requiring judicial warrants for immigration enforcement in sensitive locations.
SourceJulia Salazar supports aggressive climate action centered on public renewable power, fossil-fuel phaseout, utility decarbonization, and environmental justice. As the Democratic/WF state senator for New York Senate District 18, she has co-sponsored multiple bills to expand renewable energy, end fossil gas expansion subsidies, and prioritize disadvantaged communities in climate investments.
Julia Salazar’s education record emphasizes public-school accountability and equity, including tighter oversight of NYC charter schools, limits on charter co-location in public school buildings, protections for immigrant students’ access to free public education, LGBTQ-inclusive instruction, and higher-education academic freedom.
Julia Salazar frames public safety around criminal legal reform, police/prison accountability, immigrant protections, and safer correctional conditions. As chair of the Senate Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, she has sponsored or supported measures to reduce detention harms, increase oversight, and improve transparency in law enforcement and prisons.
New York State Senate
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/julia-salazar/aboutFetched: biography, committees
New York City Campaign Finance Board
https://www.nyccfb.info/nyc-votes/vgwelcome/general-election-2020/meet-the-candidates/meet-the-candidates/state-senator/senatorial-district-18/julia-salazar/?languageType=EnglishFetched: education, background
Transparency USA
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/candidate/julia-salazar/contributors?cycle=2018-election-cycleFetched: campaignFinance
New York State Senate official biography
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/julia-salazar/aboutFetched: identity
Wikipedia 2026 New York State Senate election
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_New_York_State_Senate_electionFetched: endorsements
District Council 37
https://www.dc37.net/take-action/media-center/news-release/2026/district-council-37-delegates-endorse-state-senate-and-assembly-candidates-for-2026-primary-election/Fetched: endorsements
New York League of Conservation Voters Gives Green
https://www.nylcv.org/press-item/nylcv-gives-green-announces-2026-endorsements-for-state-legislative-races/Fetched: endorsements
New York League of Conservation Voters candidate page
https://www.nylcv.org/candidate/julia-salazar/Fetched: endorsements
Doctors Council SEIU
https://www.doctorscouncil.org/news/for-immediate-release-doctors-council-announces-endorsements-for-new-york-primaries-2026Fetched: endorsements
Planned Parenthood Empire State Votes
https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/planned-parenthood-empire-state-votes/endorsementsFetched: endorsements
NYLCV 2024 State Environmental 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
NYLCV 2023 State Environmental Scorecard
https://nylcv.org/wp-content/uploads/NYLCV_2023_StateScorecard_092923-DRAFT-w-scores.pdfFetched: ratings
Environmental Advocates NY Action 2021 Scorecard
https://eaaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/eaaction_scorecard_2021_final-10-19.pdfFetched: ratings
New York State Senate - About Julia Salazar
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/julia-salazar/aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S659
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/S659Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S7590
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S7590Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S8955
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8955Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S1762
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1762Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S8869
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8869Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - About Julia Salazar
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/julia-salazar/aboutFetched: issuePositions
VOTE411 Voter Guide - Julia Salazar
https://onyourballot.vote411.org/candidate-detail.do?id=73189114Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov Legislation - S9821
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9821Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov Legislation - S9812
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9812Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov Legislation - S4048
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4048Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov Legislation - S7539
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S7539Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov Legislation - S9384
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9384Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Julia Salazar profile
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/julia-salazarFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Dignity Not Detention press release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/julia-salazar/dignity-not-detention-included-budget-bans-new-yorkFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Senate Bill S1359
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1359Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Senate Bill S9756
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9756Fetched: issuePositions
Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club - 2026 questionnaire
https://jimowles.org/news/candidate-answers-to-joldc-julia-salazar-for-ny-senate-district-18-2026Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Governor anti-ICE announcement response
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/julia-salazar/senator-salazar-governor-hochuls-recent-anti-ice?page=1Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Julia Salazar About
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/julia-salazar/aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Build Public Renewables Act bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S4134Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Gas Transition and Affordable Energy Act bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S8198Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Green New Deal for New York bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S1559Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Climate and Community Investment Act bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3346Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Solar for Schools Act bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2632Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov About Julia Salazar
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/julia-salazar/aboutFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov Dignity Not Detention press release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/julia-salazar/dignity-not-detention-included-budget-bans-new-yorkFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov Senate Bill S2667B
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2667/amendment/BFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov Senate Bill S1555
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1555Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov Senate Bill S1049A
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1049/amendment/AFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov Prison Safety is Public Safety PDF
https://www.nysenate.gov/sites/default/files/admin/structure/media/manage/filefile/a/2025-02/release012725psips.pdfFetched: issuePositions