VoterLens
New York State Assembly District 49
Brooklyn College (CUNY)—BS in Accounting; State University of New York Maritime College—Master’s in International Transportation
Data last updated 10/21/2026
Lester Chang was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2022 and represents Assembly District 49 in Brooklyn. He initially worked in banking and finance, then moved into global logistics, holding senior management roles at Wen-Parker Logistics and Seagate Logistics. He served nearly 24 years as a Navy reservist, deployed to Afghanistan as a military analyst, and is a current member of the New York State Naval Militia.
Committee Assignments: Committee on Aging · Committee on Banks · Committee on Cities · Committee on Education · Committee on Housing · Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus · Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force
Lester Chang's healthcare-related record centers on co-sponsoring bills to expand or alter access to care and health insurance, including opioid reversal agents, rare-disease treatment coverage, and small-business health plans. He has also backed more conservative public-health measures such as religious exemptions from school vaccination requirements and restrictions on cannabis/tobacco advertising near schools.
Lester Chang emphasizes a pro-small-business, tax-cutting approach to the economy, including job creation, small-business recovery, expanded sales-tax relief on clothing, and targeted forgivable loans. As Assemblymember for New York Assembly District 49, he has also sponsored workforce-related bills focused on public-sector employment access and unemployed job applicants.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Chang's campaign issues page says he supports expanding the sales-tax-free clothing limit to $250 and providing additional forgivable loans to small businesses in targeted communities to stimulate growth.
SourceLester Chang has at least one documented immigration-related legislative position: he co-sponsored a 2025 New York Assembly bill to expand local law enforcement participation in federal immigration enforcement through the 287(g) program.
Lester Chang’s Climate & Energy record emphasizes energy affordability, reliability, and public scrutiny of climate/energy mandates, while also backing restrictions and setback rules for battery energy storage systems near homes and schools. His campaign says he supports New York’s energy industry and wants energy decisions to account for costs to families and businesses and energy supply needs.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Chang’s campaign states that he supports New York’s energy industry and wants state energy decisions to consider family and business costs and whether New York has needed energy supply.
SourceLester Chang supports school choice policies, including lifting New York City’s charter school cap, preserving merit-based admissions for specialized high schools, and using education tax credits to broaden family options. As a sitting Assemblymember for District 49, he also introduced education-related legislation requiring schools and higher education institutions to donate unused edible food to local food banks.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Chang states he will fight to lift the charter school cap and supports more charter schools as part of expanding educational options.
SourceChang’s campaign states he is committed to preserving merit-based admissions for specialized high schools and defending meritocracy in education.
SourceChang stated that an Education Investment Tax Credit would give families more choices when they are unhappy with local public schools and would ease tuition burdens.
SourceChang criticized the 2023-24 One-House Budget for inadequate attention to education choice and said students deserve access to top educational options, including charter schools.
SourceLester Chang prioritizes public safety through tougher criminal penalties, bail-law changes, police support, transit-safety penalties, and targeted fire-safety rules. His campaign/Assembly materials say he supports modifying bail laws to give judges discretion, a three-strike rule for serial offenders, and stronger laws on mental-health commitments when people pose risks.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Chang's campaign issues page states he supports modifying bail laws to give judges discretion in setting bail and implementing a three-strike rule for serial offenders.
SourceCitizens Union
https://citizensunion.org/voters-guide/2026-general-election/new-york-state-assembly-district-49/Fetched: age, biography, education
Open States / Plural Policy - New York Legislators
https://open.pluralpolicy.com/ny/legislators/Fetched: votingRecord
Open States / Plural Policy - Vote A 128
https://open.pluralpolicy.com/vote/5cf7e4ca-b8d2-420f-8694-9fc45d7dddf8/Fetched: votingRecord
Open States / Plural Policy - Vote S 3626
https://open.pluralpolicy.com/vote/0dcb4396-3c94-4b0d-adbe-0335a6f76136/Fetched: votingRecord
Open States / Plural Policy - Vote A 8151
https://open.pluralpolicy.com/vote/90a65ead-fd92-4b1a-94bb-09837cf9a9c5/Fetched: votingRecord
Transparency USA
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/candidate/lester-chang/?cycle=2017-to-nowFetched: campaignFinance
New York Young Republican Club
https://nyyrc.com/endorsements/nyyrc-endorses-assemblyman-michael-novakhov-and-assemblyman-lester-chang/Fetched: endorsements
NFIB
https://www.nfib.com/news/press-release/nfib-ny-pac-announces-endorsements-for-state-legislature-2/Fetched: endorsements
New York League of Conservation Voters
https://www.nylcv.org/wp-content/uploads/NYS-Scorecard-2025.pdfFetched: endorsements
New York League of Conservation Voters
https://nylcv.org/wp-content/uploads/NYLCV_2023_StateScorecard_DIGITAL.pdfFetched: endorsements
Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts
https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/uploads/filer_public/b1/1e/b11e9b50-900f-45df-a922-1a3c9feff9a6/2024_ratings_assmb_oct.pdfFetched: endorsements
Vote Smart
https://j.futurefacts.votesmart.io/election/2026/L/NA/2026-state-legislative-election?p=2&party=5&stageId=PFetched: endorsements
New York State Assembly Member Biography
https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Lester-Chang/bio/Fetched: issuePositions
LegiScan Lester Chang Profile
https://legiscan.com/NY/people/lester-chang/id/24502?type=billFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Open Legislation
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A10904Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly member sponsored legislation page
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Lester-Chang/sponsor/Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly bill page for A04851
https://www.nyassembly.gov/leg/?bn=A04851&leg_video=Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly bill page for A05159
https://www.nyassembly.gov/leg/?bn=A05159&leg_video=Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate bill page for A4771
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4771Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly Member Directory
https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=049&sh=bioFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Open Legislation
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5467Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly bill page for A08508
https://nyassembly.gov/leg/?Actions=Y&Summary=Y&Text=Y&bn=A08508&default_fld=&leg_video=&term=2025Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly biography for Lester Chang
https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Lester-Chang/bio/Fetched: issuePositions
BallotReady profile for Lester Chang
https://www.ballotready.org/people/lester-changFetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly press release: Chang: Crime and Education Have not Been Addressed in the One-House Budget
https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Lester-Chang/story/105407Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly Member Biography
https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=049&sh=bioFetched: issuePositions
NY Senate Open Legislation - A5876
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5876Fetched: issuePositions
NY Senate Open Legislation - A11222
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A11222Fetched: issuePositions
NY Senate Open Legislation - A4852
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4852Fetched: issuePositions
NY Senate Open Legislation - A4861
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4861Fetched: issuePositions