Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Julia Salazar for NY Senate District 18
Candidate Name: Julia Salazar
Office Seeking Election for: New York State Senate District 18
Campaign Website: https://www.salazarforsenate.com/
1. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why do you believe you are best qualified to represent your district?
Over these past seven years that I’ve had the privilege of representing my district in the State Senate, my experiences as a community organizer and public policy advocate have made me an effective leader who is fully accountable to my constituency of working people.
2. What LGBTQ+ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
Jim Owles LDC and Lambda Independent Democrats (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?
Countless direct actions of all of the types above, and on each of these important policy issues, since long before I was elected and throughout my time as an elected official.
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?
The Trump Administration’s fascistic and discriminatory policies make our work at the state level even more important because state policy is a crucial mechanism for us to protect marginalized communities (queer and TGNC New Yorkers, immigrant neighbors and people of color). I organize as a longtime member of the Democratic Socialists of America to reject Trump’s agenda and build power among working people. I am committed to continuing electoral organizing to elect more Democrats at every level who will fight back in the streets, in the courts and in the legislature to strengthen our civil rights and to enact policies that advance social and economic justice.
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.
7. Have you hosted, funded or otherwise supported Drag Story Hours in your community?
I have fully supported Drag Story Hour events at the public libraries in my district.
8. How will you work to enhance protections for immigrants and uphold New York’s role as a “Sanctuary City”?
New York must become a true sanctuary state, and NYC a sanctuary city. As a state legislator, this means demanding that New York for All, Dignity Not Detention and Access to Representation are passed and become law. It also means using my role to participate in direct action and civil disobedience to stand up for our neighbors who have precarious immigration status or are targeted by ICE.
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?
YES
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. On the contrary, I have worked with other local elected officials in my district to ensure that law enforcement are held accountable for how they treat our neighbors experiencing homelessness and that they treat asylum seekers and people facing housing insecurity with respect. In Albany, I fight to fund programs like the Housing Access Voucher Program to help people obtain permanent and dignified housing, and have sponsored legislation to ensure asylum seekers in the shelter system are not forced out.
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 - I was the author of the New York for All Act when it was introduced, and I’m the sponsor of the Dignity Not Detention bill.
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 (S.158/A.1283), which would allow judges to review and reconsider excessive sentences by considering if incarcerated people have transformed while incarcerated or based on changes in law and norms; 2) Earned Time Act (S.342/A.1085), which would strengthen and expand “good time” and “merit time” programs in prison that encourage personal transformation and reunite families?; 3) Marvin Mayfield Act (S.1209/A.1297), which would eliminate mandatory minimum sentences, thereby allowing judges to consider individual factors in a case?; 4) Elder Parole (S.454/A.514), which would allow incarcerated people over age 55 who have served 15 years the opportunity to go before the parole board?
YES; I’m the sponsor of two of these bills and a cosponsor of the others.
14. Do you oppose the death penalty?
YES
15. Do you support outlawing solitary confinement?
YES - I was the Senate sponsor of the HALT solitary confinement act.
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?
YES!
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?
YES
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 made a ranked choice endorsement in the 2025 mayoral primary, ranking Zohran Mamdani, Brad Lander, Zellnor Myrie, Adrienne Adams, and Michael Blake. I supported Zohran Mamdani in the general.
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?
YES
20. What is your legislative remedy to secure the building of low and moderate-income housing around the state?
I cosponsor the bill to create a Social Housing Development Authority that would build environmentally sustainable, deeply affordable housing more efficiently. I also support ending discriminatory and exclusionary zoning in localities statewide to allow much more housing to be built. I support funding land banks and community land trusts robustly so that land can be more easily acquired by not- for-profit entities and used to build deeply and permanently affordable housing.
21. Will you refuse donations from AIPAC, SolidarityPAC, police and corrections associations, the fossil fuel industry, and the charter school industry?
YES
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
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
24. What additional information would you like the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision?
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