VoterLens
New York State Senate District 59
Columbia University—BA
Data last updated 10/21/2026
Kristen Gonzalez is a former tech worker and community organizer who was born and raised in Queens and represents New York State Senate District 59, covering parts of Western Queens, Northern Brooklyn, and Manhattan’s East Side. Before joining the State Senate, she worked in the New York City Council, the Obama White House, and Senator Chuck Schumer’s office; she also organized with the Western Queens Community Land Trust, served on her community board, and helped launch a citywide public-internet campaign.
Committee Assignments: Elections · Internet and Technology · Children and Families · Consumer Protection · Energy and Telecommunications · Health · Legislative Women's Caucus · Rules
Kristen Gonzalez supports expanding healthcare access, including single-payer healthcare through the New York Health Act, reproductive healthcare access, gender-affirming care, mental health access, and reduced patient financial burdens. As the Democratic incumbent for New York State Senate District 59, she has sponsored, co-sponsored, and voted for healthcare-related measures in the New York State Senate.
Kristen Gonzalez’s Economy & Jobs record emphasizes worker protections, especially around AI and algorithmic management, along with policies to improve wages, work-life balance, workforce transition, and employee ownership. As the Democratic/Working Families senator for New York State Senate District 59, she has sponsored or co-sponsored labor and economic-development bills regulating AI in the workplace, limiting algorithmic wage-setting, incentivizing four-day workweeks, and supporting worker-owned businesses.
Kristen Gonzalez supports immigrant-rights policies that limit state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, expand legal representation for immigrants in removal proceedings, and reduce immigration detention in New York. As a sitting New York State Senator for District 59, she has co-sponsored multiple immigrant-protection bills and voted to expand state health coverage eligibility regardless of immigration status.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Gonzalez publicly called on legislative leaders and colleagues to prioritize passing the NY for All Act and Dignity Not Detention Act, stating that New York must protect immigrant communities from federal immigration enforcement.
SourceKristen Gonzalez, Democratic State Senator for New York's 59th District, emphasizes clean energy, climate resiliency, utility affordability, and regulation of high-energy data centers. Her record includes sponsoring data-center energy and environmental bills, supporting offshore-wind transmission tied to Renewable Ravenswood, and securing state budget funding for public renewables, NYCHA sustainability, resiliency projects, and pre-electrification work.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Signed a letter urging Governor Kathy Hochul not to impede the Queensboro Renewable Express, describing it as essential to Renewable Ravenswood, offshore wind delivery, and New York's 100% emission-free electricity goal by 2040.
SourceAnnounced state budget funding she secured for public renewables, NYCHA sustainability, Western Queens resiliency projects near Ravenswood Power Plant, and an additional $1 million for the Green Affordable Pre-Electrification pilot program.
SourceKristen Gonzalez supports increased public-school funding, smaller class sizes, student debt cancellation, expanded STEAM access, inclusive curricula, and protections for vulnerable students. As a sitting New York State Senator for District 59, she has co-sponsored education bills related to LGBTQIA+ curriculum, transgender and gender non-conforming student protections, and school access regardless of immigration status.
Kristen Gonzalez frames public safety as a prevention-oriented agenda that includes street safety, protection for election workers, immigrant community trust, and investments in schools, housing, and healthcare rather than expanded criminalization. As a sitting New York State Senator for District 59, she has sponsored or co-sponsored public-safety-related bills on e-motos, election-worker intimidation, immigration detention, sex-work decriminalization, and immigrant access to public services.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Gonzalez publicly called for passage of the NY for All Act, stating it would help all New Yorkers report crimes and access schools and medical care without fear regardless of immigration status.
SourceNYSenate.gov - About Kristen Gonzalez
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/kristen-gonzalez/aboutFetched: biography, committees, education, district
Re-Elect Kristen Gonzalez - About
https://www.gonzalezforny.com/aboutFetched: biography, hometown, background
Wikipedia - Kristen Gonzalez
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristen_GonzalezFetched: age, education, biography
Transparency USA - New York State Senate District 59 Election
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/race/new-york-state-senate-district-59-74500Fetched: campaignFinance
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
https://www.nylcv.org/press-item/nylcv-gives-green-announces-2026-endorsements-for-state-legislative-races/Fetched: endorsements
Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts
https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/uploads/filer_public/f2/02/f202ff2c-c444-49b0-b57d-795cc2cf2b3c/2024_ratings_senate_oct.pdfFetched: endorsements
Turning Point Action
https://www.tpaction.com/scorecard/legislators/kristengonzalezFetched: endorsements
New York State Senate - Kristen Gonzalez About
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/kristen-gonzalez/aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Bill S7590
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S7590Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Bill S9036
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9036Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Bill S7924
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S7924/amendment/originalFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Bill S4907
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S4907Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Bill S4497
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4497Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senator Kristen Gonzalez profile
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/kristen-gonzalez/aboutFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S10147
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S10147Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S9442
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9442Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S9132
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9132Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S1854
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1854/amendment/originalFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S339
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S339Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - S2235 New York for All Act
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2235/amendment/originalFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - S141 Access to Representation Act
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S141Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - S316 Dignity Not Detention Act
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S316Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Gonzalez press release on NY4All
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/kristen-gonzalez/state-senator-kristen-gonzalez-calls-passage-ny4all?page=11Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - S2237B 1332 State Innovation Program coverage
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S2237Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - About Kristen Gonzalez
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/kristen-gonzalez/aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Responsible Data Center Development Act bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S10642Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Queensboro Renewable Express letter
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/kristen-gonzalez/nys-senator-kristen-gonzalez-and-queens-electedsFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Sustainable Data Centers Act bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6394/amendment/BFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Host Community Benefits bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S10546Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Sustainability and NYCHA budget press release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/kristen-gonzalez/sen-kristen-gonzalez-funds-sustainability-nycha-26-27Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senator Gonzalez Protects Students from Immigration Enforcement
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/kristen-gonzalez/senator-gonzalez-protects-students-immigrationFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S10450
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S10450Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S6806
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6806Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S3848
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3848Fetched: issuePositions
NYC Votes - Kristen S. Gonzalez Candidate Profile
https://www.nycvotes.org/whats-on-the-ballot/2024-state-and-federal-primary-election/member-of-the-assembly/profile/?bannerTitle=Kristen+S.+Gonzalez&boroughCode=null&candidateId=V907&districtID=null&electionCycle=2024+June+Primary&geoAreaAbbr=71&officeType=null&officelevel=null&partyId=DFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S10700
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S10700Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S8646
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8646/amendment/originalFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S316
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S316Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S4396
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S4396Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - State Senator Kristen Gonzalez calls for the passage of the NY4All Act
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/kristen-gonzalez/state-senator-kristen-gonzalez-calls-passage-ny4all?page=11Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Statement on Suspicious Mail Sent to Elections Officials and Congressional Offices
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/kristen-gonzalez/statement-senator-kristen-gonzalez-suspicious-mailFetched: issuePositions