SENATE DISTRICT 20

DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRIMARY

★ Preferred Candidate ★

Zellnor Myrie – Dem
Candidate has returned a questionnaire
Questionnaire supplement
Age: 31
Occupation: Attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP Education: Fordham University, B.A.; Fordham University, M.A.; Cornell Law School, J.D.

Zellnor Myrie is a former legislative director for New York City Council Member Fernando Cabrera, and was chair of his Neighborhood Advisory Board. His top priorities are expanding affordable housing, protecting immigrant rights by passing the Liberty and DREAM Acts, fully funding public education, advancing criminal justice reform including ending cash bail and reforming speedy trial statutes, and increasing election transparency and turnout. Myrie supports Citizens Union’s entire reform agenda. He has pledged to strongly support the passage of a legislative package on voting rights, which would include a seven-day early voting period, no-excuse absentee voting, and the establishment of an online, streamlined voter registration process. In an interview with Citizens Union, Myrie spoke knowledgably about a host of ethics reforms to prevent corruption and remove opportunities for misconduct, including those supported by Citizens Union. In line with this priority, he seeks to ban outside compensation for legislators, thoroughly reform JCOPE, and change campaign finance laws. Citizens Union prefers Myrie because of his clarity and conviction on reform issues and the belief that he would be a productive and collaborative legislator.

Jesse Hamilton – Dem
Candidate has returned a questionnaire
Age: 54
Occupation: New York State Senator
Education: Ithaca College, B.S.; Long Island University, M.B.A.; Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D.

Jesse Hamilton has represented Senate District 20 since 2015. His top priorities are expanding affordable housing, protecting DREAMers and immigrants, increasing access 18 to education and prioritizing funding for SUNY, fighting for criminal justice reform, and supporting collective bargaining rights. Hamilton supports many important reforms but opposed making mayoral control of city schools permanent. In line with Citizens Union’s elections and voting agenda, Hamilton supports reforms to expand ballot access and engage voters through measures like pre-registration for 16 and 17-year-olds. Additionally, he supports criminal justice reform that would end the use of cash bail and change discovery rules. In an interview with Citizens Union, Hamilton spoke about the need for ethics reforms and nonpartisan, independent ethics oversight. He also sees outside compensation for legislators as a potential for conflicts of interest and seeks to ban it. Citizens Union applauds Hamilton’s many contributions to the district, but does not prefer him in this race due to the strength of his competitor.