2026 New York General Election

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Carl Wilson is originally from Bowie, Maryland. He earned a bachelor's degree in drama from New York University. He lives in Hell's Kitchen, New York.

Carl previously served as chief of staff to then-Council Member Erik Bottcher. Before that, he worked as a community board 4 liaison in the New York City Council, and as an executive assistant at the Fifth Avenue Association, as well as a server at STARR Restaurants. Carl is also a founding member of Hell's Kitchen Democrats, a grassroots political organization he helped build following the 2016 presidential election. 

Wikipedia

Carl currently serves as the New York City Council member for District 3. He was first elected in the April 2026 special election and is now seeking re-election to the seat in the November 2026 general election.



Supports raising taxes on wealthy New Yorkers and large corporations.

Advocates for raising taxes on wealthy New Yorkers and large corporations.

- Advocates for raising taxes on wealthy New Yorkers and large corporations.

Economy

Supports maintaining clean, safe, and accessible public spaces, including well-maintained parks, vibrant streets, and reliable sanitation services.

Plans to maintain clean, safe, and accessible public spaces, including well-managed parks, vibrant streets, and reliable sanitation services.

Supports allocating 1% of the city budget to the Parks Department to enhance maintenance, safety, and equitable access due to historic underfunding.

Supports using the Human Rights Law to develop more artist housing, ensuring it is accessible and diverse.

Wants to use the Human Rights Law to develop more artist housing.

Supports protecting cultural institutions like galleries and performance spaces.

- Plans to maintain clean, safe, and accessible public spaces, including well-managed parks, vibrant streets, and reliable sanitation services.
- Supports allocating 1% of the city budget to the Parks Department to enhance maintenance, safety, and equitable access due to historic underfunding.
- Wants to use the Human Rights Law to develop more artist housing.
- Supports protecting cultural institutions like galleries and performance spaces.

Public Services

Supports expanding the housing supply to address affordability.

Supports expanding the housing supply to address affordability and urban development issues.

Supports the development of "permanently affordable homes, particularly through subsidized housing programs."

Supports building affordable housing on city and state-owned sites.

Advocates for building affordable housing on city and state-owned sites, and converting vacant office spaces into apartments.

Supports tenant protections, including legal representation and holding landlords accountable.

Pushes for tenant protections, including legal representation and holding landlords accountable.

- Supports expanding the housing supply to address affordability and urban development issues.
- Supports the development of "permanently affordable homes, particularly through subsidized housing programs."
- Advocates for building affordable housing on city and state-owned sites, and converting vacant office spaces into apartments.
- Pushes for tenant protections, including legal representation and holding landlords accountable.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports the creation of the Department of Community Safety, which would allow police to focus on crime and not "situations that should be handled by a social service professional."

Believes investing in youth programs is essential for long-term community safety.

Plans to maintain a "trusting and accountable relationship" with the NYPD and foster communication between police and residents by attending Community Precinct Council meetings.

Plans to foster communication between police and residents by attending Community Precinct Council meetings.

Opposes the use of solitary confinement in jail and prisons.

Supports decriminalizing drugs and "a public-health-centered approach that prioritizes safety and autonomy."

Supports parole reform and "compassionate release" for inmates deserving of a second chance.

- Supports the creation of the Department of Community Safety, which would allow police to focus on crime and not "situations that should be handled by a social service professional."
- Believes investing in youth programs is essential for long-term community safety.
- Plans to foster communication between police and residents by attending Community Precinct Council meetings.
- Opposes the use of solitary confinement in jail and prisons.
- Supports decriminalizing drugs.
- Supports parole reform and "compassionate release" for inmates deserving of a second chance.
- Opposes the death penalty.

Public Safety

Supports creating permanent infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, such as "concrete, tree pits, and planters," rather than temporary solutions like "paint and plastic cones."

Supports installing more dedicated bus lanes to increase bus speeds.

Believes there should be more benches and shelters so seniors can comfortably wait for the bus.

- Supports creating permanent infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, such as "concrete, tree pits, and planters," rather than temporary solutions like "paint and plastic cones."
- Supports installing more dedicated bus lanes to increase bus speeds.
- Believes there should be more benches and shelters so seniors can comfortably wait for the bus.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Believes climate change is causing more frequent super storms and increased flooding in District 3, which is bounded by the Hudson River.

Supports requiring more permeable materials in buildings, improving storm water retention, and limiting runoff by expanding bioswales and incentivizing solar use on buildings.

As a city council aide, led efforts to require expanding the city’s tree canopy to reduce temperatures, improve air quality, and increase biodiversity.

- Believes climate change is causing more frequent super storms and increased flooding in District 3, which is bounded by the Hudson River.
- Supports requiring more permeable materials in buildings, improving storm water retention, and limiting runoff by expanding bioswales and incentivizing solar use on buildings.
- As a city council aide, led efforts to require expanding the city’s tree canopy to reduce temperatures, improve air quality, and increase biodiversity.

Energy & the Environment

Supports expanding funding for mental health services and HIV prevention and treatment.

Promotes expanding funding for mental health services and HIV prevention and treatment.

- Supports abortion access.
- Promotes expanding funding for mental health services and HIV prevention and treatment.

Healthcare

Supports expanding access to school-based health services and implementing trauma-informed care.

Supports creating dedicated, mixed-income housing for teachers with a rent cap at 30% of income to improve recruitment and retention.

Advocates for creating dedicated, mixed-income housing for teachers with a rent cap at 30% of income to improve recruitment and retention.

Supports expanding "community schools" that offer wraparound services (nutritional, medical, and social-emotional support) as well as adult education for families.

Supports improving school facilities by installing new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, gymnasiums, and bathrooms.

Supports addressing teacher burnout through improved compensation, adhering to class size regulations, and enhancing school facilities.

Wants to address teacher burnout through improved compensation, adhering to class size regulations, and enhancing school facilities.

Supports using restorative justice practices instead of exclusionary discipline to enhance school climate and improve safety.

Supports addressing school segregation and underenrollment by redrawing district lines.

Wants to address school segregation and underenrollment by redrawing district lines.

- Supports expanding access to school-based health services and implementing trauma-informed care.
- Advocates for creating dedicated, mixed-income housing for teachers with a rent cap at 30% of income to improve recruitment and retention.
- Supports expanding "community schools" that offer wraparound services (nutritional, medical, and social-emotional support) as well as adult education for families.
- Supports improving school facilities by installing new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, gymnasiums, and bathrooms.
- Wants to address teacher burnout through improved compensation, adhering to class size regulations, and enhancing school facilities.
- Supports using restorative justice practices instead of exclusionary discipline to enhance school climate and improve safety.
- Wants to address school segregation and underenrollment by redrawing district lines.

Education

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Carl Wilson

Buket Urgen

- City Council Members work together to enact local laws, approve the city budget, and oversee land use and zoning regulations. ​
- Council Members oversee city agencies, ensuring they effectively serve the public and address community needs. ​

Passes laws and regulations for your city

New York City City Council Member, District 3

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