Citizens Union Releases Full Candidate Interview Videos for 2026 Primary Elections
This marks the first time the organization has publicly released its full candidate interviews, which are now available on Citizens Union's YouTube channel
New York, N.Y. (June 8, 2026) – Citizens Union today released the full video recordings of all candidate interviews conducted as part of its 2026 primary election evaluation process, providing voters, journalists, and the public with an unprecedented window into how candidates seeking state office think about ethics, transparency, accountability, and the issues facing their districts.
The interviews, now available on Citizens Union’s YouTube channel, feature 39 candidates running for New York State Senate, Assembly, and State Comptroller. The recordings capture candidates responding to detailed questions about government reform, campaign finance, ethics, voting rights, housing, public accountability, and district-specific concerns.
This marks the first time Citizens Union has publicly released its full candidate interviews.
“These interviews offer a unique opportunity for New Yorkers to hear directly from candidates in a setting that goes far beyond campaign speeches, mailers, or social media posts,” said Grace Rauh, Executive Director of Citizens Union. “Voters deserve to see how candidates respond to difficult questions, explain their priorities, and engage with issues of ethics, transparency, and effective governance. By making these interviews public, we’re giving New Yorkers the same information our evaluators used when making endorsement decisions.”
For more than a century, Citizens Union has conducted candidate evaluations as part of its nonpartisan voter education work. Candidates seeking the organization’s support participate in interviews with volunteer committees composed of civic leaders and policy experts. Candidates are evaluated on their commitment to good government principles, ethical conduct, knowledge of the issues, and ability to serve effectively in office.
The newly released videos capture substantive conversations that covered a wide range of topics. Unlike traditional candidate forums or debates, the interviews allow for detailed follow-up questions and extended discussion of candidates’ records, policy positions, and governing philosophies.
“We hope these videos become a resource not only for voters, but also for reporters, researchers, and anyone interested in understanding how candidates approach public service,” Rauh added. “Strong democracy depends on an informed electorate, and transparency should extend to the candidate evaluation process itself.”
Candidate Interview Links
State Comptroller
State Senate
Steven Raga (SD-12) *** Unfortunately we were unable to record this interview, due to technical issues.
Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas (SD-13)
State Assembly