Her commitment to service extends beyond politics—she’s also a former Community Board 8 member and previously co-chaired the Tikkun Olam ("social justice") Committee at Park Avenue Synagogue, where she worked to support our most vulnerable neighbors and ensure the community’s voice would be heard. Vanessa’s academic credentials include degrees from University of Chicago and Harvard. Vanessa lives on the Upper East Side with her husband, Reid, and their two children.

Meet Vanessa | Vanessa for NY

Her commitment to service extends beyond politics—she’s also a former Community Board 8 member and previously co-chaired the Tikkun Olam ("social justice") Committee at Park Avenue Synagogue, where she worked to support our most vulnerable neighbors and ensure the community’s voice would be heard.

Vanessa Aronson has degrees from the University of Chicago and Harvard. She previously co-chaired the Tikkun Olam Committee at Park Avenue Synagogue. She lives with her husband, Reid, and their two children.

Most recently, Vanessa served as the Senior Director of Strategy at the ASPCA, where she worked to protect animals and strengthen our communities. She previously ran for City Council, placing in a close second place and is thrilled to be stepping up once again to serve our community.

Before entering politics, Vanessa was a NYC public school teacher, deeply committed to students, families, and our community. Prior to that, she spent a decade as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, representing our country on the global stage.

Vanessa Aronson is a tireless, tested and trusted champion for the East Side. She served as president of the Lexington Democratic Club, bringing more East Siders into the democratic process and building up the next generation of community leaders. She is a Judicial Delegate and a member of the County Democratic Committee, serving on the Ethics Committee and defending our values. Vanessa held leadership roles on our Community Board and at Park Avenue Synagogue, where she supported our most vulnerable neighbors. She taught in NYC public schools and, as an advisor to the president of Hunter College, strengthened our education system. As a Foreign Service Officer, she tackled food insecurity around the world. Throughout her career, Vanessa has fearlessly lived her values and promoted democracy, safety and security.

Vanessa for NY

Vanessa most recently served as senior director of strategy at the ASPCA. She previously worked as a New York City public school teacher and a U.S. Foreign Service officer, and as an advisor to the president of Hunter College.

Vanessa previously ran for City Council and placed second.

2026 New York General Election

I will also support job training, technology access, and age-inclusive employment policies that value older New Yorkers, while working to combat age discrimination and ensure retirees receive the full benefits they have earned.

Vibrant Communities Where Seniors Can Age in Place | Vanessa for NY

Supports job training, technology access, age-inclusive employment policies, protections against age discrimination, and full retiree benefits.

- Supports job training, technology access, age-inclusive employment policies, protections against age discrimination, and full retiree benefits.

Economy

At the state level, I will advocate for sustained investment in sanitation, waste reduction, and environmental programs. That includes supporting policies that expand recycling and composting, reduce waste, and ensure consistent and fair enforcement of sanitation standards.

Clean and Healthy Communities | Vanessa for NY

I will also support efforts to hold businesses accountable for maintaining clean and safe conditions, while making sure they have the tools and information needed to comply. Protecting green spaces and improving environmental conditions will remain a key priority.

Advocates for investment in sanitation and waste-reduction programs, including recycling, composting, and enforcement of sanitation standards.

Supports holding businesses accountable for clean and safe conditions and prioritizes protection of green spaces.

- Advocates for investment in sanitation and waste-reduction programs, including recycling, composting, and enforcement of sanitation standards.
- Supports holding businesses accountable for clean and safe conditions and prioritizes protection of green spaces.

Energy & the Environment

Healthcare is too expensive, and too many New Yorkers are forced to choose between getting care and making ends meet.

I will work to expand access to affordable, high-quality healthcare across the state, reduce out-of-pocket costs, and close coverage gaps so that every New Yorker can get the care they need.

Affordable, High-Quality Healthcare | Vanessa for NY

I will also fight to lower prescription drug costs by increasing transparency and accountability in pricing practices, ensuring that seniors, people with chronic conditions, and working families are not priced out of essential medications.

I will also fight to lower prescription drug costs by increasing transparency and accountability in pricing practices, ensuring that seniors, people with chronic conditions, and working families are not priced out of essential medications.

Strengthening our healthcare workforce and expanding emergency medical capacity will also be a priority, so that all New Yorkers can receive timely, reliable, and life-saving care when they need it most.

Vibrant Communities Where Seniors Can Age in Place

Our seniors deserve the dignity of aging in place, with the support they need to remain in the communities they helped build.

I will work to expand access to affordable home care and strengthen services that allow seniors to stay connected to their families and neighborhoods.

With federal attacks on LGBTQ+ rights escalating, including the targeting of trans healthcare and anti-discrimination programs, we must protect and expand state funding streams for critical services. I will work to shield LGBTQ+ programs, shelters, healthcare services, and educational initiatives from budget cuts and ensure they remain fully funded and fully staffed.

Championing the LGBTQ+ Community | Vanessa for NY

Plans to expand affordable, high-quality healthcare access, reduce out-of-pocket costs, and close coverage gaps statewide.

Plans to lower prescription-drug costs through greater transparency and accountability in pricing practices.

Prioritizes strengthening the healthcare workforce and expanding emergency medical capacity.

Plans to expand affordable home care and services that help seniors remain in their communities.

Plans to protect LGBTQ+ healthcare services from budget cuts and maintain their funding and staffing.

- Plans to expand affordable, high-quality healthcare access, reduce out-of-pocket costs, and close coverage gaps statewide.
- Plans to lower prescription-drug costs through greater transparency and accountability in pricing practices.
- Prioritizes strengthening the healthcare workforce and expanding emergency medical capacity.
- Plans to expand affordable home care and services that help seniors remain in their communities.
- Plans to protect LGBTQ+ healthcare services from budget cuts and maintain their funding and staffing.

Healthcare

Government must be accountable to the people it serves.

I will fight to strengthen ethics laws, increase transparency, and ensure that elections are decided by New Yorkers, not outside interests. I will support stronger oversight and enforcement so that public trust in government is earned and maintained.

Most importantly, I will lead with openness and responsiveness, ensuring that constituents always have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.

Transparent and Responsive Government | Vanessa for NY

Plans to strengthen ethics laws and transparency and limit the influence of outside interests on New York elections.

- Plans to strengthen ethics laws and transparency and limit the influence of outside interests on New York elections.

Voting & Elections

Everyone deserves to feel safe in their homes, at their places of worship, on their streets, and in their communities. I will support smart, evidence-based strategies to reduce crime, combat antisemitism and other forms of hate, and strengthen trust between communities and those responsible for public safety.

Safe and Accessible Communities | Vanessa for NY

I will work to improve street safety by strengthening regulations and enforcement around vehicles like mopeds and e-bikes, and by holding large delivery platforms accountable for unsafe practices that put both workers and pedestrians at risk.

Accessibility must also be central to how we design our communities. I will support investments in infrastructure that make our streets safer and more navigable for everyone, including seniors, people with disabilities, and families with strollers.

Supports evidence-based strategies to reduce crime, combat antisemitism and other forms of hate, and strengthen community trust in public safety institutions.

Plans to strengthen regulation of mopeds and e-bikes and enforcement and hold delivery platforms accountable for unsafe practices.

Supports infrastructure investments to make streets safer and more navigable, including for seniors and people with disabilities.

- Supports evidence-based strategies to reduce crime, combat antisemitism and other forms of hate, and strengthen community trust in public safety institutions.
- Plans to strengthen regulation of mopeds and e-bikes and enforcement and hold delivery platforms accountable for unsafe practices.
- Supports infrastructure investments to make streets safer and more navigable, including for seniors and people with disabilities.

Public Safety

I will fight to fully fund public schools, protect critical resources, and ensure that every student has access to a high-quality education from early childhood onward. That includes expanding access to 3-K and pre-K, safeguarding funding for essential programs like school meals, and ensuring schools are equipped with the tools they need to keep students safe.

Strong Public Education | Vanessa for NY

I will also support data-driven programs to address bullying and ensure that schools remain safe, inclusive spaces for every child. At a time when public education faces increasing pressure, I will be a strong advocate for students, families, and educators in Albany.

As your Assemblymember, I will fight to enforce the New York State Equal Rights Amendment, which makes it unconstitutional to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. I will champion LGBTQ+-inclusive curricula in public schools to foster safe, affirming environments for all students. I will also push the state to invest in supportive housing and shelter programs specifically designed to meet the needs of homeless LGBTQ+ individuals with safety and dignity.

Plans to fully fund public schools, expand 3-K and pre-K access, and protect school-meal funding.

Supports data-driven anti-bullying programs in public schools.

Advocates for LGBTQ+-inclusive curricula in public schools.

- Plans to fully fund public schools, expand 3-K and pre-K access, and protect school-meal funding.
- Supports data-driven anti-bullying programs in public schools.
- Advocates for LGBTQ+-inclusive curricula in public schools.

Education

New York is in the middle of a housing crisis. Rising rents, increasing operating costs, and the loss of rent-stabilized units are making it harder for families to stay in their homes.

At the state level, I will prioritize protecting existing affordable housing while also increasing supply. That means supporting investments to stabilize rent-stabilized and affordable buildings that are at risk, and ensuring those homes remain available to the tenants who depend on them.

Affordable Communities & Housing | Vanessa for NY

The State must play a direct role in creating and sustaining housing that is truly affordable. I will support expanding mixed-income housing development and ensuring that affordability standards reflect real local income levels, so that “affordable” housing is actually accessible to the people it is meant to serve.

Prioritizes protecting existing affordable housing and increasing supply, including investments to stabilize at-risk rent-stabilized and affordable buildings.

Supports expanding mixed-income housing and setting affordability standards based on local income levels.

Advocates for state investment in supportive housing and shelter programs for homeless LGBTQ+ people.

- Prioritizes protecting existing affordable housing and increasing supply, including investments to stabilize at-risk rent-stabilized and affordable buildings.
- Supports expanding mixed-income housing and setting affordability standards based on local income levels.
- Advocates for state investment in supportive housing and shelter programs for homeless LGBTQ+ people.

Housing & Urban Development

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Vanessa Aronson

- Supports data-driven anti-bullying programs in public schools.
- Advocates for LGBTQ+-inclusive curricula in public schools.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

- Your assembly member is involved in the legislative process at the state level as part of the New York State Assembly, which consists of 150 members and serves as the lower house of the New York State Legislature.  
- Assembly members are responsible for representing your interests and assisting you with navigating state services while bringing resources back to your district.  
- Assembly members draft laws, approve budgets, oversee the state executive branch, and engage in debates and votes on proposed legislation.  
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your assembly member can serve on committees, where many bills may be delayed before reaching a vote.  
- Assembly members are elected for a two-year term with no term limits.  
- Their annual salary is $142,000.  

Your representative and state lawmaker in the New York State Assembly.