Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Emily Gallagher for NY Assembly District 50
Candidate Name: Emily Gallagher
Office Seeking Election for: NY Assembly District 50
Campaign Website: https://www.emilyforassembly.com/
1. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why do you believe you are best qualified to represent your district?
As the current representative for the State Assembly in District 50, I've spent five years in Albany as a defender of working people, our fragile climate, and those left behind by our political establishment wherever that may be. As a democratic socialist and longtime community organizer, I am dedicated to meeting our progressive district where their strongest needs are and using my platform to advocate for consistent change statewide. I’m running for reelection because our district deserves an Assemblymember who will continue to fight unapologetically for renters, immigrants, seniors, students, and families struggling to make ends meet in one of the most expensive cities in the world. My vision is a New York where housing is a human right, where workers have real power on the job, where small businesses can thrive, and where we meet the climate crisis with urgency and fairness.
2. What LGBTQ+ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or Professionally?
As a 15 year old I got my first job working at a food pantry for people living with AIDS. I started the first Gay-Straight alliance at my high school, which sounds so antiquated now but was a big deal in 1999. As an elected I have participated with Housing Works, Jim Owles, Stonewall Dems, New PRIDE Agenda, LID.
3. What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBTQ+ issues, pro-choice legislation, racial justice, criminal justice have you attended, including rallies specifically against Donald Trump and his policies?
Truly too many to name all of them– I recently was arrested at 26 Federal Plaza doing a high risk sit in against ICE, I’ve gotten arrested for Palestine, I’ve gotten arrested for Overdose Prevention Day, I carry several pieces of legislation to help incarcerated trans new yorkers, I wrote two of the bills in the Robert Brooks Omnibus package, I regularly visit prisons and jails to check in with incarcerated individuals, I really believe that my job is to use my white privilege to fight white supremacy and advance causes that take on our racist, colonial, heteronormative country. I am personally invested in reproductive rights orgs including those that help women across the country get abortions and gender affirming care and leave abusive relationships.
4. In light of the Trump Administration’s war on women, the LGBTQ+ community, minorities and immigrants, what are your plans to organize and combat the Trump agenda?
I am fighting the Trump agenda everyday by loudly saying NO to ICE, and to his racist and bigoted policies. I’ve shown up to immigration court to support our constituents, to picket lines and rallies against ICE – I’ve even been arrested protesting ICE. I will continue to push for equality and affordability for all people in NY and the United States no matter your race, orientation or gender. I’m a proud democratic socialist and will always lead as one.
5. Will you seek or accept endorsements from individuals who oppose LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights?
NO.
6. Do you support the unrestricted right to reproductive care and abortion?
YES 100% with all of my heart.
7. Have you hosted, funded or otherwise supported Drag Story Hours in your community?
We have them at our library and Marsha P Johnson state park, and I helped organize people to protect MPJ Drag story hour when right wing fascists were trying to confront them there.
8. How will you work to enhance protections for immigrants and uphold New York’s role as a “Sanctuary City”?
I will absolutely. I will stand by New York being a sanctuary city and uphold our responsibility to our immigrant neighbors. No matter what Trump throws at us, an injury to one is an injury to all.
9. Do you support New York becoming a Transgender Sanctuary State?
Yes.
10. If elected, will you commit to supporting legislation that raises taxes on the richest New Yorkers and large corporations in order to fund the services and investments our communities need?
Absolutely! I am a part of the Tax The Rich Campaign through DSA, and have proposed taxing the rich myself to fund one of my most important bills: a state social housing development authority.
11. How will you represent the most vulnerable, including individuals experiencing homelessness and asylum seekers? Have you ever opposed any shelter in your district?
I have never opposed a shelter in my district and will not; in fact I have fought my own constituents to keep one in my community. I am a fervent supporter of Alex Vitale’s “end of policing” framework, that other services and community supports are important investments for public safety, and I worked hard to have asylum seekers placed in my community when they were busing them from Texas, insisting the parks dept turn our community center into a temporary shelter.
12. Will you sponsor and support legislation which will ensure that state and local resources are not used to facilitate or cooperate with federal immigration enforcement (New York for All Act) to prevent the funneling of people into ICE custody, and the sharing of sensitive information with ICE?
Yes of course! To be clear, we should never coordinate with ICE, and we should take every step possible to get them out of New York. I participated in a hours long demonstration outside the capital to pass NY 4 All, which i am still active in pushing for.
13. To advance safety and justice, New York must address our archaic sentencing and parole laws. Do you support the following key legislation: 1) Second Look Act; 2) Earned Time Act; 3) Marvin Mayfield Act; 4) Elder Parole?
Yes to all:
Second Look Act: YES.
Earned Time Act: YES.
Marvin Mayfield Act: YES.
Elder Parole: YES.
14. Do you oppose the death penalty?
Absolutely it is 2026 people. And I consider life imprisonment to also be a version of the death penalty.
15. Do you support outlawing solitary confinement?
100%
16. Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated? Will you work to secure the release of individuals who have demonstrated sincere remorse, worked toward rehabilitation and are not deemed a threat to society?
I regularly visit our jails and prisons actually. Criminal justice and prison reform are some of my top issues. Our prison system is broken. There are many wrongfully and unfairly convicted people and many who are in the system because of racism and classism. I support the release of many, many incarcerated people and would love to work towards rehabilitation and not just punishment.
17. Do you commit to make applications for clemencies available to your constituency including a link to an application in a constituent newsletter? Will you submit it to our Club?
We regularly write letters for constituents and their family members for clemency, and in fact sometimes write them for people from entirely different parts of the state. An application is a good idea.
18. Did you rank Andrew Cuomo on your Democratic primary ballot in 2025? Who did you support for mayor in the 2025 Democratic primary and general election?
No i did not rank Cuomo. I supported Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander, and ranked the WFP slate.
19. In view of the fact that Ed Koch has been documented to have caused the deaths of scores of people with AIDS, excused city council members who voted against the gay rights bill and was blatantly racist, would you support and sponsor a bill to rename the former Queensboro Bridge?
Ed Koch’s record on AIDS, civil rights, and racism is well documented and deeply painful for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers. I would support and sponsor legislation to rename the bridge so our public infrastructure reflects values of dignity, equality, and accountability.
20. What is your legislative remedy to secure the building of low and moderate-income housing around the state?
We need a massive, statewide commitment to permanently affordable social housing, funded through progressive taxation and public financing. That means ending overreliance on private developers and empowering public and nonprofit entities to build and preserve deeply affordable homes.
21. Will you refuse donations from AIPAC, SolidarityPAC, police and corrections associations, the fossil fuel industry, and the charter school industry?
Yes, and trust me, they are not offering to donate to me either. In fact, I was one of the first targets of NY’s own AIPAC, “Solidarity PAC.”
22. Do you support removing criminal penalties for consensual commercial sex work between adults? Also known as Cecilia’s Act for Rights in the Sex Trades (S2513 Salazar / A3251 Forrest).
Yes, I support decriminalizing consensual adult sex work and I support Cecilia’s Act. Criminal penalties endanger sex workers and undermine public health, while decriminalization centers safety, autonomy, and labor rights.
23. There is an effort to have mandatory inclusion of the New York State proposal that would require public schools to teach about the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, commonly described in the bill text as an “insurrection.” Do you support this proposal?
Yes, I support mandatory instruction on the January 6th insurrection. Students deserve an honest, factual education about threats to democracy and the consequences of political violence. It’s a shame on our state that we are one of the top 5 J6 participant states.
24. What additional information would you like the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision?
I hope you consider my consistent record of showing up for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers in legislation, coalition-building, and public advocacy. I believe governing should be principled, transparent and rooted in solidarity with those most impacted by injustice.
25. If you receive our endorsement, do you agree to identify the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club on all appropriate literature and electronic materials?
Yes.