VoterLens
New York State Assembly District 115
SUNY Plattsburgh—Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication; Master’s degree in Counselor Education Student Affairs
Data last updated 10/21/2026
Michael S. Cashman was elected in a November 2025 special election to represent New York State Assembly District 115, which includes Clinton and Franklin counties and portions of Essex County. Before joining the Assembly, he served nearly a decade as Town Supervisor of the Town of Plattsburgh, where he focused on infrastructure investment, economic development, housing, and long-term community planning. He has also served in higher education and national service leadership roles, including on the SUNY Plattsburgh University Council and as Chair of the New York State Commission on National and Community Service.
Committee Assignments: Task Force on New York Canada Relations (Chair) · Committee on Aging · Committee on Agriculture · Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse · Committee on Small Business · Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development · Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Michael Cashman supports protecting and expanding rural health care access in the North Country, including defending rural healthcare from federal cuts and making care more reliable and affordable. As an Assembly member for District 115, he has sponsored healthcare-related bills on rural home health Medicaid reimbursement, clinician shortage-area incentives, insurance coverage, local health records access, and event-based authorization for health professionals.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Cashman's campaign states that he will fight to protect rural healthcare from federal cuts as part of his healthcare platform for the North Country.
SourceMichael Cashman emphasizes an Economy & Jobs agenda centered on lowering costs for North Country families, supporting small businesses, expanding economic opportunity for farmers and local employers, and investing in infrastructure, housing, broadband and workforce-related programs. As Assembly District 115 member, he has prime-sponsored bills using tax credits, procurement preferences, and infrastructure funds to support small businesses, veterans’ employment, local products, construction, tourism, and municipal capacity.
Michael Cashman's immigration record is mixed: as an Assembly member for NY District 115, he is listed as a Democratic co-sponsor of legislation restricting government, police, school, and municipal collection or disclosure of immigration-status information. During the 2025 District 115 special election, he said he opposed a large ICE detention center and state dollars for Dream Act tuition assistance for undocumented immigrants, while supporting a small ICE field office in the border community.
Specific Actions & Proposals
As the Democratic candidate for New York Assembly District 115, Cashman said he did not support a large ICE detention facility in the Town of Plattsburgh and characterized his support as limited to a smaller project.
SourceCashman clarified that he would not support a large detention center like "Alligator Alcatraz" but would back plans for a small, one-cell ICE field office in Plattsburgh.
SourceDuring the District 115 special-election homestretch, Cashman said he did not support state dollars going toward tuition assistance for undocumented immigrants under New York's Dream Act.
SourceMichael Cashman emphasizes energy affordability, especially fighting heating and electricity rate hikes for North Country households. As a sitting Assembly member for District 115, he has introduced bills to cap or reduce utility costs, expand home energy assistance, allow renewable bioheating fuels, and reduce environmentally harmful road salt use.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Cashman's candidate profile lists an Environment/Energy position to fight rate hikes on heating and electricity to stop expenses from rising.
SourceMichael Cashman supports investing in education, workforce trades, and higher-education access, with an emphasis on rural North Country needs and pathways for volunteer first responders. As an Assembly member for District 115, he has prime-sponsored education-related bills on school recruitment access, tuition-free courses, scholarships, and school safety practices.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Cashman's campaign issues page states he supports investing in education and the trades to help future generations get ahead in the North Country.
SourceMichael Cashman has made public safety a stated Assembly focus and has sponsored bills emphasizing law-enforcement staffing, firefighter support, bail/pretrial risk assessment, and local public-safety authority in Clinton and Franklin counties. His record shows support for more resources and discretion for police, firefighters, courts, and corrections-related public-safety systems.
SUNY Plattsburgh
https://wwwtest.plattsburgh.edu/news/news-archive/from-alma-mater-to-assembly-cashman-serves-with-conviction.htmlFetched: education, background
PagPol
https://pagpol.com/2026/09/24/meet-michael-cashman-the-north-countrys-new-assemblyman/Fetched: age, location, background
New York State Assembly Member Directory
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Michael-Cashman/Fetched: votingRecord
Transparency USA
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/race/new-york-state-assembly-district-115-74527Fetched: campaignFinance
Transparency USA
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/candidate/michael-cashman?s=%7Bsearch_term_string%7D%2F1000Fetched: campaignFinance
New York State Public Campaign Finance Board
https://pcfb.ny.gov/october-9-2025-public-matching-funds-distributionFetched: campaignFinance
NYSUT Voter Guide Endorsements
https://www.nysut.org/resources/special-resources-sites/voter-guide/endorsementsFetched: endorsements
The Business Council of New York State PAC Announces 2026 Political Endorsements
https://www.bcnys.org/news/business-council-new-york-state-pac-announces-2026-political-endorsementsFetched: endorsements
CSEA This Week in Albany - October 10, 2025
https://cseany.org/twia/this-week-in-albany-october-10-2025/Fetched: endorsements
North Country Public Radio
https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/52538/20251025/115th-assembly-district-candidates-make-their-case-to-north-country-votersFetched: endorsements
WPTZ
https://www.mynbc5.com/article/new-yorks-115th-assembly-districts-candidate-endorsements/69169301Fetched: endorsements
New York State Assembly Member Directory - Michael S. Cashman Sponsored Legislation
https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Michael-S-Cashman/sponsor/Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Open Legislation - A9679
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9679Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Open Legislation - A9513
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9513Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly Bill Search - A09656
https://nyassembly.gov/leg/?bn=A09656&leg_video=Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly Bill Search - A09659
https://nyassembly.gov/leg/?bn=A09659&leg_video=Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly Member Directory - Michael S. Cashman Biography
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Michael-Cashman/Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly - Michael S. Cashman Sponsored Legislation
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Michael-S-Cashman/sponsor/Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly Bill Search - A09682
https://www.nyassembly.gov/leg/?bn=A09682&leg_video=Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly Bill Search - A09672
https://www.nyassembly.gov/leg/?bn=A09672&leg_video=Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly Bill Search - A09696
https://www.nyassembly.gov/leg/?bn=A09696&leg_video=Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly Bill Search - A09667
https://www.nyassembly.gov/leg/?bn=A09667&leg_video=Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly member directory
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Michael-Cashman/Fetched: issuePositions
WPTZ / MyNBC5
https://www.mynbc5.com/article/ny-115-candidate-potential-ice-facility-in-plattsburgh/69127063Fetched: issuePositions
WWNY / WCAX
https://www.wwnytv.com/2025/10/29/candidates-north-country-assembly-seat-hit-homestretch/Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly member profile and sponsored legislation
https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Michael-S-Cashman/sponsor/Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Open Legislation
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9426Fetched: issuePositions
BallotReady candidate profile
https://www.ballotready.org/people/michael-s-cashmanFetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly energy affordability letter
https://www.nyassembly.gov/write/upload/member_files/109/pdfs/20260223_0116975.pdfFetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly member biography
https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Michael-S-Cashman/Fetched: issuePositions
Michael Cashman for State Assembly campaign website
https://cashmanforassembly.com/Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly sponsored legislation page
https://www.assembly.ny.gov/mem/Michael-S-Cashman/sponsor/Fetched: issuePositions
WCAX debate coverage
https://www.wcax.com/2025/10/14/ny-assembly-candidates-meet-first-head-to-head-debate/Fetched: issuePositions