Melissa Orlando is from Manhattan. She is a working mom and a tenant organizer. She lives in Sunnyside, Queens.

Mayor backs trio of Queens state candidates

Melissa Orlando Talks Running for Office While Working Full Time

Melissa Orlando resides in Sunnyside, New York. She earned an associate's degree in social sciences from the State University of New York Orange and a bachelor's degree in political science from the State University of New York College at Purchase.  

Melissa currently works as a project manager of academic affairs for Nuvance Health and as the executive director and founder of Access Queens. She also serves as the president of the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce. She previously worked for Nuvance Health as a manager of human resources information systems and shared services and as a human resources business partner. Additionally, Melissa worked for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America as a director of human resources infrastructure and quality management, an assistant director of human resources systems and strategy, and a manager of organizational development and diversity.

Melissa is a former member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, representing the Merrimack 7 district from 2014 to 2016.

Melissa Orlando - Ballotpedia

Melissa's campaign for Member of Assembly in State Assembly District 37 is her first run for public office.  

This ballot may not list all local party officials on your official ballot. These individuals serve only within their political party and do not hold public office.

2026 New York General Election

2026 New York Primary Election

Conservative Party

Democrat

Republican

Working Families

Supports policies that help local entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Supports reducing barriers for small businesses.

Supports commercial rent regulation to protect small businesses from steep lease increases.

Plans to advance policies that support working families and strengthen small businesses.

- Supports policies that help local entrepreneurs and small businesses.
- Supports reducing barriers for small businesses.
- Supports commercial rent regulation to protect small businesses from steep lease increases.
- Plans to advance policies that support working families and strengthen small businesses.

Economy

As of June 18, 2026, Melissa Orlando’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Healthcare

Supports community outreach and voter engagement through direct voter interaction, canvassing, phone banking, attending events, and aiding voter registration.

- Supports community outreach and voter engagement through direct voter interaction, canvassing, phone banking, attending events, and aiding voter registration.

Voting & Elections

Opposes the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in local communities.

- Opposes the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in local communities.

Public Safety

Education

Supports affordable housing and believes it requires "real accountability," including holding landlords responsible, strengthening tenant protections, and ensuring responsible development to prevent community displacement.

Plans to create a mandatory, apartment-by-apartment database of rent-stabilized units to expose landlords who collect tax benefits while warehousing vacant apartments.

- Supports affordable housing and believes it requires "real accountability," including holding landlords responsible, strengthening tenant protections, and ensuring responsible development to prevent community displacement.
- Plans to create a mandatory, apartment-by-apartment database of rent-stabilized units to expose landlords who collect tax benefits while warehousing vacant apartments.

Housing & Urban Development

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

LinkedIn

Melissa Orlando

Emileigh Crouch

Edward Krutsch

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

Pia Rahman

Samantha Kattan

- 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.