I share a common lived experience with many of my neighbors as a Colombian-American Latina, born to an immigrant father and a

first-generation mother. When I ran for office, I was a community organizer for Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, and previously worked as a caregiver, a domestic worker, in the service industry and for a labor union.

Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Julia Salazar for NY Senate District 18 (2022)

Julia Salazar is a Colombian-American Latina.

Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Julia Salazar for NY Senate District 18

Before being elected to the State Senate in 2018, Julia worked as a community organizer with Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), working in coalitions to advance criminal justice reforms and police accountability legislation.

Meet Julia — Julia Salazar for State Senate

I share a common lived experience with many of my neighbors as a Colombian-American Latina, born to an immigrant father and a

first-generation mother. When I ran for office, I was a community organizer for Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, and previously worked as a caregiver, a domestic worker, in the service industry and for a labor union. I became interested in public policy through my own experience as a tenant when I led my neighbors in a rent strike to demand repairs and habitable conditions in our building, and realized the need for housing justice in New York.

Julia Salazar previously worked as a community organizer with Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, as a caregiver and domestic worker, in the service industry, and for a labor union.

Julia previously worked as a community organizer with Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, as a caregiver and domestic worker, in the service industry, and for a labor union.

Julia Salazar

Senator Julia Salazar represents the 18th Senate District, which includes parts of Brooklyn. She was elected to the New York State Senate in November 2018. Senator Salazar is a member of the Democratic Party and has been an advocate for progressive policies, including affordable housing, healthcare access, and criminal justice reform.

Senator Julia Salazar | NYSenate.gov

Offices Held

D NY SD-18 Jan. 1, 2019 – present · 4 terms

Election History

2026 Jun. 23 · Democratic Primary · NY SD-18 D Julia Salazar (i) 100.0% Won

2024 Nov. 5 · General Election · NY SD-18 D Julia Salazar (i) 99.1% 67,889 Won

2022 Nov. 8 · General Election · NY SD-18 D Julia Salazar (i) 98.6% 43,255 Won

2020 Nov. 3 · General Election · NY SD-18 D Julia Salazar (i) 97.5% 95,939 Won

2018 Nov. 6 · General Election · NY SD-18 D Julia Salazar 99.2% 71,329 Won

Julia Salazar — New York | MultiState Elections

Julia currently serves as the state senator for New York's 18th Senate District, which includes parts of Brooklyn. She was elected in November 2018 and is serving her fourth term.

New York State Senator Julia Salazar

New York Senate District 18 (General Election) - MultiState

2026 New York General Election

WORKERS’ RIGHTS

The cause of organized labor is the hope of the world. Julia has demonstrated her strong, unwavering support for the labor movement in New York by showing up in solidarity with workers at every opportunity and helping to win New York’s historic Excluded Workers Fund. She also cosponsors legislation to improve workplace conditions, increase wages, and ensure that all workers can exercise their right to organize and strike.

Platform — Julia Salazar for State Senate

ECONOMIC JUSTICE

JULIA SUPPORTS:

S17272A: Public Banking 

S2622: Progressive Income Tax 

S2522: Capital Gains Surcharge

S3462: Heir’s Tax

S4699: Wealth Tax Amendment

S2833: Corporate Tax

S3980: Financial Transaction Tax

Co-sponsors legislation to improve workplace conditions, increase wages, and protect workers’ rights to organize and strike.

Supports an additional tax on capital gains.

- Co-sponsors legislation to improve workplace conditions, increase wages, and protect workers’ rights to organize and strike.
- Supports public banking.
- Supports an additional tax on capital gains.
- Supports a capital gains surcharge.

Economy

CLIMATE

Julia fought to pass the All Electric Buildings Act and was the co-prime sponsor of the Build Public Renewables Act (BPRA), both of which became law in 2023, to mitigate the climate crisis by transitioning off of fossil fuels and expanding publicly-owned renewable energy across New York state. She also has fought to pass the NY HEAT Act, which would align the regulation of New York’s utility companies with our climate justice and emission reduction targets.

Julia fought to pass the All Electric Buildings Act and was the co-prime sponsor of the Build Public Renewables Act (BPRA), both of which became law in 2023, to mitigate the climate crisis by transitioning off of fossil fuels and expanding publicly-owned renewable energy across New York state. She also has fought to pass the NY HEAT Act, which would align the regulation of New York’s utility companies with our climate justice and emission reduction targets.

JULIA’S LEGISLATION:

S314: Ride Clean Rebate to make electric bikes more affordable for working class New Yorkers

S984: Establishes state and municipal composting programs

S314: Ride Clean Rebate to make electric bikes more affordable for working class New Yorkers

S984: Establishes state and municipal composting programs

WORKERS’ RIGHTS

Helped pass the All-Electric Buildings Act and co-sponsored the Build Public Renewables Act to reduce fossil-fuel use and expand publicly owned renewable energy.

Advocates for the New York Home Energy Affordable Transition Act, which would align utility regulation with state emissions-reduction targets.

Proposes Ride Clean Rebate legislation to make electric bicycles more affordable for working-class New Yorkers.

Proposes legislation establishing state and municipal composting programs.

- Helped pass the All-Electric Buildings Act and co-sponsored the Build Public Renewables Act to reduce fossil-fuel use and expand publicly owned renewable energy.
- Advocates for the New York Home Energy Affordable Transition Act, which would align utility regulation with state emissions-reduction targets.
- Proposes Ride Clean Rebate legislation to make electric bicycles more affordable for working-class New Yorkers.
- Proposes legislation establishing state and municipal composting programs.

Energy & the Environment

Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services. 
We have a responsibility in New York, especially amidst efforts across the country to restrict people’s reproductive rights, to protect and expand reproductive rights in our state, including all FDA-approved forms of contraception and abortion services.

Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services. 
We have a responsibility in New York, especially amidst efforts across the country to restrict people’s reproductive rights, to protect and expand reproductive rights in our state, including all FDA-approved forms of contraception and abortion services. I was the sponsor of the CCCA (Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act) which expanded access to contraception statewide by prohibiting insurance companies from requiring people to pay a copay for any of the forms of FDA-approved form of contraception.

Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services. 
We have a responsibility in New York, especially amidst efforts across the country to restrict people’s reproductive rights, to protect and expand reproductive rights in our state, including all FDA-approved forms of contraception and abortion services. I was the sponsor of the CCCA (Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act) which expanded access to contraception statewide by prohibiting insurance companies from requiring people to pay a copay for any of the forms of FDA-approved form of contraception. Thanks to the Reproductive Health Act of 2019, New York essentially has the strongest laws in the country to protect abortion rights. However, we can take further action, such as by creating a public abortion access fund and passing legislation to regulate deceptive “crisis pregnancy centers.”

HEALTHCARE

Julia is fighting to improve healthcare for all New Yorkers by supporting bills such as Fair Pay for Home Care and the New York Health Act to make healthcare universal and comprehensive — including long-term care for seniors and New Yorkers living with disabilities.

S7590: New York Health Act — creates a single-payer healthcare system

S4861: Repeals the Global Medicaid Cap

S2237-A: Coverage for All — ensuring that all New Yorkers can obtain health insurance, regardless of immigration status

Supports protecting and expanding access to abortion services and all United States Food and Drug Administration-approved forms of contraception.

Sponsored the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, which barred insurers from requiring copayments for United States Food and Drug Administration-approved contraception.

Proposes a public abortion-access fund and regulation of deceptive crisis pregnancy centers.

Supports the New York Health Act and Fair Pay for Home Care legislation to provide universal, comprehensive healthcare, including long-term care.

Supports Coverage for All legislation to make health insurance available to all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status.

- Supports protecting and expanding access to abortion services and all United States Food and Drug Administration-approved forms of contraception.
- Sponsored the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, which barred insurers from requiring copayments for United States Food and Drug Administration-approved contraception.
- Proposes a public abortion-access fund and regulation of deceptive crisis pregnancy centers.
- Supports the New York Health Act and Fair Pay for Home Care legislation to provide universal, comprehensive healthcare, including long-term care.
- Supports Coverage for All legislation to make health insurance available to all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status.

Healthcare

Do you support term limits for statewide office holders? For State Legislators? Yes, for both

JULIA’S LEGISLATION:

S313: End Predatory Court Fees Act, to stop the criminalization of poverty by eliminating court surcharges and fees, and require the courts to assess an individual’s financial ability to pay fines

S316: Voting Rights for Incarcerated People

HOUSING

Supports term limits for statewide officeholders and state legislators.

Proposes legislation titled “Voting Rights for Incarcerated People.”

- Supports term limits for statewide officeholders and state legislators.
- Proposes legislation titled “Voting Rights for Incarcerated People.”

Voting & Elections

Do you support reducing the budget of law enforcement throughout the state, and if so, by how much? Yes, although this is difficult to quantify as I haven’t examined the locally-funded budgets of police departments across the state apart from the NYPD. The state budget accounts for slim percentages respectively of local police budgets across the state. Nonetheless, I support cutting the NYPD expense budget by at least $1 Billion in the upcoming fiscal year, and again in future fiscal years, to divest funds from our police department and invest them in alternative forms of public safety through education, healthcare and housing.

Are you in favor of removing police from any of the following? a) Schools; b) Mental health response calls; c) Homeless outreach and social services; or d) Traffic enforcement. Yes. On traffic enforcement: while I think that law enforcement is essential for effective traffic enforcement and the safety of our roads, this should be the responsibility of traffic agents without carrying firearms.

Do you oppose the efforts to weaken bail reform as written? Yes, I fully oppose any efforts to further weaken New York’s bail laws.

Do you support legislation outlawing solitary confinement in all prisons statewide including city jails? Yes. I also was the lead sponsor of the HALT Solitary Confinement Act, which became law in 2021.

Do you support ending qualified immunity for police officers? Yes; I am the co-prime sponsor of Senator Jackson’s bill to end qualified immunity.

Will you actively oppose legislation (S.6040 / A.7069) that would implement the dangerous Nordic model instead of the decriminalization of prostitution? Explain in detail your views on full decriminalization, the Nordic model, legalization, and the existing criminalization approach. Yes; In 2019, I introduced the bill to fully decriminalize sex work, and continue to carry that bill. The trading (buying or selling) of sex between consenting adults should be legal. Criminalization of sex work is incredibly harmful for every person who is impacted by the sex industry, including individuals who are survivors of trafficking or people who are subjected to abuse, because fear of criminalization deters individuals from reporting and exposing abuse.

What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a “Sanctuary State”? I am the lead sponsor of New York for All, a bill that would prevent local and state law enforcement from disclosing individuals’ immigration information to federal immigration enforcement (ICE). I also was proud to support the Protect Our Courts Act to prevent ICE from seeking to intercept or arrest individuals without a court order or judicial warrant at courthouses in New York.

Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces? Yes

PUBLIC SAFETY

Julia advocates for public safety in our communities as the Chair of the Senate’s Crime Victims, Crime & Correction Committee. She has led the passage of legislation to make it easier for victims to access resources and compensation and to bring accountability and transparency to New York’s police departments and legal system.

She is the lead sponsor of the Fair & Timely Parole Act to bring fairness to New York’s parole system, and cosponsors Treatment Not Jail to ensure that mental health care is prioritized in our justice system.

Supports cutting the New York Police Department expense budget by at least $1 billion annually and investing the funds in education, healthcare, housing, and alternative public-safety approaches.

Supports assigning traffic enforcement to unarmed traffic agents rather than armed police officers.

Opposes further weakening New York’s bail laws.

Sponsored the HALT Solitary Confinement Act, which became law in 2021.

Co-sponsors legislation to end qualified immunity for police officers.

Introduced and continues to sponsor legislation to fully decriminalize consensual adult sex work.

Sponsors New York for All, which would bar state and local law enforcement from sharing individuals’ immigration information with federal immigration enforcement.

Supports establishing supervised drug-consumption spaces.

Led efforts on legislation to expand resources and compensation for crime victims and increase accountability and transparency in police departments and the legal system.

Sponsors the Fair and Timely Parole Act to change New York’s parole system.

Co-sponsors Treatment Not Jail to prioritize mental healthcare in the justice system.

- Supports cutting the New York Police Department expense budget by at least $1 billion annually and investing the funds in education, healthcare, housing, and alternative public-safety approaches.
- Supports assigning traffic enforcement to unarmed traffic agents rather than armed police officers.
- Opposes further weakening New York’s bail laws.
- Sponsored the HALT Solitary Confinement Act, which became law in 2021.
- Co-sponsors legislation to end qualified immunity for police officers.
- Introduced and continues to sponsor legislation to fully decriminalize consensual adult sex work.
- Sponsors New York for All, which would bar state and local law enforcement from sharing individuals’ immigration information with federal immigration enforcement.
- Supports establishing supervised drug-consumption spaces.
- Led efforts on legislation to expand resources and compensation for crime victims and increase accountability and transparency in police departments and the legal system.
- Sponsors the Fair and Timely Parole Act to change New York’s parole system.
- Co-sponsors Treatment Not Jail to prioritize mental healthcare in the justice system.

Public Safety

What legislation or other policy changes do you support in order to make college and graduate school affordable for poor, working-class, and middle-class Americans and to alleviate the crushing loan debt that many students and alumni are facing? I support full and complete federal student debt relief. There are also actions that we can take at the state level, though,

to make higher education affordable for all New Yorkers, such as eliminating tuition in New York’s public universities by passing the New Deal for CUNY.

Supports full federal student-debt relief and eliminating tuition at New York public universities through the New Deal for CUNY.

- Supports full federal student-debt relief and eliminating tuition at New York public universities through the New Deal for CUNY.

Education

Instagram

Twitter

Julia Salazar

- Supports the New York Health Act and Fair Pay for Home Care legislation to provide universal, comprehensive healthcare, including long-term care.
- Supports Coverage for All legislation to make health insurance available to all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status.

- Proposes legislation titled “Voting Rights for Incarcerated People.”

- Led efforts on legislation to expand resources and compensation for crime victims and increase accountability and transparency in police departments and the legal system.
- Sponsors the Fair and Timely Parole Act to change New York’s parole system.
- Co-sponsors Treatment Not Jail to prioritize mental healthcare in the justice system.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

- Your state senator is involved in the legislative process at the state level as part of the New York State Senate, which consists of 63 members and serves as the upper house of the New York State Legislature, the state's lawmaking body. 
- State senators are responsible for representing your interests and assisting you with navigating state services while bringing resources back to your district.  
- State senators 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 state senator can serve on committees, where many bills may be delayed before reaching a vote.  
- State senators 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 Senate.