VoterLens

Ruslan Shamal

Republican Party

STS · NY · District 23

Staten Island, NY

New York State Senate District 23

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Raised

$101,488

Cash on Hand

Small Donors

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PAC Support

Background

Ruslan Shamal came to the United States from Belarus, worked blue-collar jobs, built a small business, and became a longtime radio host. His campaign says he lives in Staten Island and works in Brooklyn; NYC Votes listed his current occupation as radio host and previous occupation as e-commerce.

Committee Assignments: No committee assignments available.

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Healthcare

Ruslan Shamal, the Republican candidate for New York State Senate District 23 in 2026, has emphasized preserving local hospital access and directing state healthcare safety-net funds to Staten Island. He supports requiring advance notice and community hearings before hospital or maternity-unit closures and says Staten Island should receive funding from New York's Safety Net Transformation Program.

Specific Actions & Proposals

SUPPORTS

Require notice and community hearings before hospital or maternity-unit closures

2026-10-16

Shamal supports passing legislation requiring notice and community hearings before a hospital or maternity unit closes.

Source

SUPPORTS

Seek Safety Net Transformation Program funding for Staten Island hospitals

2026-09-07

Shamal said he would fight for Staten Island to receive Safety Net Transformation Program funding, citing Richmond University Medical Center's financial losses and lack of local awards in prior funding rounds.

Source

Healthcare

Economy & Jobs

Ruslan Shamal frames his Economy & Jobs position around affordability and take-home pay for working families in New York State Senate District 23. He supports exempting tips and overtime from state income tax, reducing utility-bill costs, and reforming property-tax relief so homeowners and seniors can afford to stay in the district.

Specific Actions & Proposals

SUPPORTS

Exempt tips from New York state income tax

2026-09-07

Shamal said he supports legislation to exempt tips from state income tax so tipped workers can keep more of their earnings.

Source

SUPPORTS

Exempt overtime pay from New York state income tax

2026-09-07

Shamal said he supports legislation to exempt overtime compensation from state income tax, describing it as money back to workers pulling extra shifts.

Source

SUPPORTS

Return surplus climate-investment account funds to ratepayers

2026-09-07

Shamal said he supports returning unspent climate-account funds to ratepayers as part of lowering household costs.

Source

SUPPORTS

Create a utility-bill tax and surcharge holiday

2026-09-07

Shamal said he supports a one-year holiday from taxes and surcharges on utility bills to reduce cost pressures on residents.

Source

Economy & Jobs

Immigration

No immigration-specific position, bill, vote, or stated policy for Ruslan Shamal in the 2026 New York State Senate District 23 race was found in the searched sources. His campaign materials emphasize public safety, affordability, homeowners/neighborhoods, education, and opposition to socialism, but do not state a position on immigration.

Immigration

Climate & Energy

Ruslan Shamal's Climate & Energy position centers on energy affordability rather than emissions targets: he supports returning unused climate-account funds to ratepayers and suspending utility-bill taxes and surcharges for temporary relief.

Specific Actions & Proposals

SUPPORTS

Return unspent climate investment account funds to utility ratepayers

2026-09-07

Shamal said he would support legislation allowing surplus or uncommitted New York climate investment account funds to be credited back to utility ratepayers.

Source

SUPPORTS

One-year utility bill tax and surcharge holiday

2026-10-16

Shamal supports suspending taxes and surcharges embedded in utility bills for one year, a proposal framed as relief from high utility costs.

Source

Climate & Energy

Education

Ruslan Shamal, Republican candidate for New York State Senate District 23 in 2026, emphasizes preserving the specialized high school admissions exam, expanding test-prep access and specialized-school seats, and increasing parental involvement. He also supports school choice and says he wants to keep politics out of classrooms.

Specific Actions & Proposals

OPPOSES

Preserve specialized high school admissions exam

2026-09-07

Shamal said he would oppose legislation to replace the specialized high school exam with a multiple-measures admissions system and instead protect the Hecht-Calandra Act.

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SUPPORTS

Expand free test preparation and specialized school seats

2026-10-16

Shamal supports free test preparation and adding more specialized high school seats as an alternative to changing the admissions exam.

Source

SUPPORTS

Restore parental involvement and support school choice

2026-10-21

Shamal's campaign says he supports restoring parental involvement, backing school choice, and keeping politics out of classrooms.

Source

Education

Public Safety

Ruslan Shamal, the Republican candidate for New York State Senate District 23 in 2026, frames public safety as a top priority centered on repealing or reforming New York bail laws, supporting the NYPD, holding repeat offenders accountable, and prioritizing victims and families.

Specific Actions & Proposals

SUPPORTS

Repeal or reform New York bail laws

2026-10-21

Shamal says that as state senator he would fight to repeal or reform what he calls failed bail laws and restore common sense to the justice system.

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SUPPORTS

Back the NYPD and hold repeat offenders accountable

2026-10-21

Shamal's campaign says he would fight for public safety by backing the NYPD, holding repeat offenders accountable, and putting victims and families first.

Source

SUPPORTS

Restore public safety by putting victims and families first

2026-10-21

In his campaign announcement, Shamal listed restoring public safety as a key priority, including backing the NYPD, holding repeat offenders accountable, and putting victims and families first.

Source