VoterLens
New York State Assembly District 23
Mount St. Mary’s University—Bachelor’s degree and MBA; U.S. Army War College—Master’s degree in Military Strategic Studies
Data last updated 10/21/2026
Thomas Sullivan is a retired U.S. Army Reserve colonel who served for more than 30 years, including combat deployments to Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He also has more than 30 years of experience in finance, has helped manage his family business, served on the Breezy Point Cooperative Board of Directors, and helped lead community rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy.
Committee Assignments: No committee assignments available.
Thomas Sullivan says he would improve healthcare access in Assembly District 23 by bringing a Level I Trauma Center back to the Rockaway Peninsula. He also says he supports policies to lower healthcare costs and healthcare investments in struggling communities.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Sullivan states that Rockaway residents deserve access to the highest level of emergency care close to home and says he will fight to bring a Level I Trauma Center to the Rockaways.
SourceIn the VOTE411 guide for New York Assembly District 23, Sullivan says he will improve access to quality healthcare and support policies that lower healthcare costs.
SourceThomas Sullivan, the Republican candidate for New York State Assembly District 23 in 2026, frames his Economy & Jobs platform around affordability, tax relief, small-business concerns, and workforce investment. He supports eliminating state income tax for lower- and middle-income filers, freezing and cutting taxes, investing in job training and small businesses in struggling communities, and opposing policies he says raise costs on ratepayers and working families.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Sullivan said he would make life more affordable for working families by eliminating income tax for single filers making up to $50,000 and joint filers making up to $100,000.
SourceA Sullivan campaign ad stated that in Albany he would fight to lower taxes and make the district a place families can afford to stay.
SourceAt a Howard Beach candidates forum, Sullivan said he would not support tax increases and called for greater competition in the energy market as part of his affordability agenda.
SourceThomas Sullivan, the Republican candidate for New York State Assembly District 23, has taken a restrictive stance on immigration-related state and city policy, criticizing spending on the migrant crisis and opposing sanctuary city/state policies. He has also opposed the Floyd Bennett Field migrant shelter through protests and by being listed as a petitioner in litigation seeking an injunction against the shelter.
Specific Actions & Proposals
At a 2024 candidate forum, Sullivan said, "I do not support NYC nor NY state as a sanctuary city or state," while criticizing spending on illegal immigration.
SourceSullivan criticized Albany spending on the migrant crisis, saying $2.4 billion could have been used for priorities such as small businesses and law enforcement.
SourceQueens Daily Eagle reported that Sullivan was listed as a petitioner on an injunction filed against the Floyd Bennett Field migrant shelter.
SourceQueens Daily Eagle reported that Sullivan had attended several protests surrounding the planned Floyd Bennett Field migrant shelter.
SourceA 2026 profile reported that Sullivan made border security a central campaign concern and argued that sanctuary policies worsen issues related to human trafficking, drug trafficking, and communicable diseases.
SourceThomas Sullivan, the Republican candidate for New York State Assembly District 23, says climate policy should pair cleaner energy with reliable and affordable electricity. He supports affordable renewable energy, QueensLink, green spaces, nuclear power, coastal resiliency measures, and opposes CLCPA mandates, gas stove bans, and carbon taxes.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Sullivan states that he supports developing renewable energy affordably while maintaining reliable electricity.
SourceSullivan states that he supports building QueensLink as part of his climate and resiliency approach.
SourceSullivan states that he supports expanding nuclear power as part of a cleaner-energy strategy that also preserves reliability.
SourceSullivan states that he supports maintaining indigenous grasses and coastal barriers to protect vulnerable coastal communities.
SourceSullivan states that he opposes the CLCPA’s aggressive mandates, gas stove bans, and carbon taxes because he says they impose unnecessary costs on ratepayers and middle-class workers.
SourceThomas Sullivan's education platform emphasizes strong public schools, school safety, parental voice, modern classrooms, expanded career and technical education, teacher support, and renewed focus on core academics including STEM. He also links education to broader social mobility by supporting investment in schools and job training in struggling communities.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Sullivan says he will advocate for strong public schools, modern classrooms, expanded career and technical education programs, greater teacher support, and a renewed focus on reading, writing, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
SourceIn his VOTE411 response, Sullivan said his social-justice approach would include investing in schools and job training, along with small businesses, transit, and healthcare, in struggling communities.
SourceThomas Sullivan, Republican candidate for New York State Assembly District 23 in 2026, emphasizes public safety by supporting greater resources, respect, compensation, and tools for police, firefighters, EMS, prosecutors, and other first responders. He also supports holding criminals accountable and says penalties should be appropriate to the crimes committed, while taking mixed positions on police-accountability process reforms.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Sullivan says he would make communities safer by promoting law enforcement and providing greater resources to police and prosecutors, with resources deployed in proportion to offense severity.
SourceSullivan's campaign states that he will support police, firefighters, and EMS personnel by investing in the training, resources, and tools needed to keep communities safe.
SourceIn his Citizens Union questionnaire, Sullivan says he will fight to ensure police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, and other first responders receive respect, resources, and compensation, and that he supports holding criminals accountable with appropriate sentences and penalties.
SourceSullivan answered yes to supporting legislation giving the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board access to certain sealed and confidential records in matters involving potential police discipline.
SourceCitizens Union reported that Sullivan opposes transferring disciplinary hearings involving police officers from the NYPD to the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.
SourceCitizens Union
https://citizensunion.org/voters-guide/2026-general-election/new-york-state-assembly-district-23/Fetched: biography
Branch
https://www.branch.vote/races/2026-new-york-general-election-ny-state-state-representative-ny-state-house-23/candidates/thomas-p-sullivanFetched: biography
Transparency USA
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/candidate/thomas-sullivanFetched: campaignFinance, votingRecord
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York%27s_23rd_State_Assembly_districtFetched: votingRecord
New York Young Republican Club
https://nyyrc.com/endorsements/endorsement-tom-sullivan-for-new-york-state-assembly-ad-23/Fetched: endorsements
Sullivan for State Assembly campaign website
https://www.sullivanforstateassembly.com/Fetched: issuePositions
VOTE411 Voter Guide
https://onyourballot.vote411.org/candidate-detail.do?id=73189397Fetched: issuePositions
77 WABC MiniCasts / Podscan.fm
https://podscan.fm/podcasts/77-wabc-minicasts-1/episodes/bruce-blakeman-continues-run-to-unseat-incumbent-kathy-hochul-to-become-nys-next-governorFetched: issuePositions
Breitbart News
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/19/exclusive-army-colonel-sullivan-runs-for-state-assembly-on-cutting-taxes-improving-safety/Fetched: issuePositions
The Rockaway Times
https://www.rockawaytimes.com/pheffer-amato-sullivan-talk-issues-at-bhpoa-candidates-night/Fetched: issuePositions
Spectrum News NY1
https://ny1.com/nyc/queens/politics/2024/10/25/pheffer-amato--sullivan-rematch-in-assembly-district-23Fetched: issuePositions
Queens Daily Eagle
https://sphere-piccolo-d7rm.squarespace.com/all/2024/1/18/whos-running-for-assembly-in-queensFetched: issuePositions
Queens Daily Eagle
https://sphere-piccolo-d7rm.squarespace.com/all/2023/9/28/several-queens-assemblymembers-to-face-challengersFetched: issuePositions
Political.org
https://political.org/2026/09/19/retired-army-col-tom-sullivan-mounts-third-bid-for-southern-queens-state-assembly-seat-touting-military-service-and-tax-relief/Fetched: issuePositions
Citizens Union Voters Guide
https://citizensunion.org/voters-guide/2026-general-election/new-york-state-assembly-district-23/Fetched: candidateIdentity
Sullivan for State Assembly campaign website
https://www.sullivanforstateassembly.com/detailed-issuesFetched: issuePositions
Citizens Union Questionnaire PDF
https://citizensunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/TSullivan_Questionnaire.pdfFetched: issuePositions
Citizens Union Endorsement Announcement
https://citizensunion.org/document/2026-10-15/citizens-union-endorses-letitia-james-for-attorney-general-and-tom-dinapoli-for-comptroller/Fetched: issuePositions