Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Micah Lasher for US Congress NY-12
Candidate Name: Micah Lasher
Office Seeking Election for: US Congress NY-12
Campaign Website: https://micahlasher.com/
Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why do you believe you are best qualified to represent your district?
I still believe — even in these dark times — that the government is uniquely able to improve the material conditions of people’s lives at scale. Throughout my career, I have a long record of using government as a tool to make a difference for working families: enacting the largest affordable housing capital plan in New York’s history, more than doubling income eligibility for New York’s childcare program, and indexing New York’s minimum wage to inflation.
My record as a legislative leader in fighting back against Trump — in particular, against his fiscal attacks on New York and against his horrific campaign of cruelty against immigrants — meets
the moment and will demonstrate to voters that I will be ready on day one to take up the fight in Congress. I will make the case that voters should not have to choose between energy and experience — and with my candidacy, they can vote for someone who has both.
I have also been a champion of issues of concern to the LGBTQ+ community throughout my career. As Director of State Legislative Affairs for the City of New York, I organized advocacy and lobbying efforts by Mayor Bloomberg to pass marriage equality in New York State. As Chief of Staff in the New York State Attorney General’s Office, I helped end the Boy Scouts of America’s longstanding ban on openly gay leadership, took on anti-gay discrimination in professional sports, and worked to ensure equal access to healthcare for transgender New Yorkers. As Director of Policy for Governor Kathy Hochul, I helped enact New York’s Equal Rights Amendment, which expands the State’s constitutional anti-discrimination protections to include sexual identity and gender identity. And in the Assembly, I wrote and passed legislation to strengthen New York’s laws against housing discrimination and co-sponsored legislation to strengthen legal protections for individuals who provide or receive gender-affirming care.
In Congress, I will:
Support the Equality Act, prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Codify in law Biden-era Executive Orders to ensure trans and gender nonconforming individuals are protected from discrimination and able to access gender-affirming care.
Support the Do No Harm Act, which would restore the original intent of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, protecting religious freedom without causing harm to LGBTQ individuals and other minorities.
Work to ensure that transgender individuals get the healthcare they need by fighting for Medicare for All.
Fight for passage of the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act to prohibit public child welfare agencies from discriminating against foster or adoptive families on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status.
Finally, I will always fight for the rights and liberties of all residents of NY-12, regardless of sexual orientation or gender. I will take on the cost-of-living crisis head-on—fighting for major investments in affordable housing, real support for families struggling with the cost of childcare, and a meaningful increase in the federal minimum wage. And I will stand up for our most vulnerable neighbors by working to codify reproductive rights and gender affirming care, strengthening our gun laws, protecting our environment, and defending immigrant communities by abolishing ICE.
What LGBTQ+ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I have worked for, advised, and endorsed several LGBTQ+ candidates throughout my career, including Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Assemblymember Deborah Glick, and State Senator Erik Bottcher. I have also been proud to work closely with LGBTQ+ organizations throughout my career, including the Human Rights Campaign, Empire State Pride Agenda, and local clubs throughout the district.
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?
I have been a proud ally to New York’s incredible LGBTQ+ community throughout many years of public service. In recent months, this has included protesting outside of NYU Langone when they decided to end gender-affirming care for trans children, rallying outside of Stonewall when Trump tried to rip down their flag, marching at Pride parades throughout the district, and hosting campaign events at LGBTQ+-owned small businesses. I have also put my body on the line to protest against the Trump administration, including traveling to Minneapolis in January to show solidarity with the people there and bear witness to the reign of terror ICE brought to the city.
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 have been New York State’s leader in writing and passing laws that fight back against Trump and his administration. I wrote the bills — now taken up by the Governor and on track to pass in her Executive Budget — to keep ICE out of sensitive locations, such as schools, hospitals, and houses of worship, and to allow New Yorkers to hold individual ICE agents legally accountable. I am the sponsor of a constitutional amendment to fight fire with fire when it comes to redistricting and allow New York to redraw our congressional lines. I wrote the law to protect the right to organize in New York even as Trump whittles away at the NLRB. And when Trump rolled back protections for LGBTQ+ Americans, I updated New York’s anti-discrimination laws to ensure everyone is safe in our state.
Now, I am the only candidate with detailed plans for Democrats in Congress to use their power to thwart the Trump agenda in the form of a 65-page “Project 2026”. Politico named me ‘one of the field generals’ in the ‘fight between red and blue America,’ and I’ll take this experience and fighting spirit to Washington.
Will you seek or accept endorsements from individuals who oppose LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights?
No. Equal rights and equal dignity are baseline commitments, and I will not seek or accept endorsements from individuals or organizations who oppose LGBTQ+ rights or reproductive freedom — including anti-trans organizations like PLACE NYC.
Do you support the unrestricted right to reproductive care and abortion?
Yes. I have been involved in the fight for abortion rights throughout my adult life, and as Policy Director I was centrally involved in enshrining the right to abortion in the New York State Constitution and in enacting laws to protect abortion providers and patients after the disastrous Dobbs decision. In Congress, I will fight to pass the Women's Health Protection Act, repeal the Hyde Amendment, and vigorously oppose any national abortion ban.
Have you hosted, funded or otherwise supported Drag Story Hours in your community?
Not yet — but I fully support these programs as a vital expression of LGBTQ+ community and culture and will enthusiastically support them as a member of Congress.
Do you support right-wing attempts to ban the teaching of "critical race theory"?
No. I will oppose any and all right wing assaults on academic freedom in our educational institutions.
How will you work to enhance protections for immigrants and uphold New York's role as a Sanctuary City?
I am the Assembly sponsor of the two significant pieces of legislation protecting immigrant communities that have been included in this year’s Executive Budget: one that would protect New Yorkers from warrantless ICE arrests at sensitive locations like schools, houses of worship, and healthcare facilities; and a second, known as a “converse-1983” law, that would allow New Yorkers to hold individual ICE agents legally accountable in State courts. I am also a proud and vocal supporter of New York for All, Assemblymember Reyes’s bill to protect immigrant communities by prohibiting state and local law enforcement and government agencies from collaborating with ICE.
Congressional Democrats must put an immediate end to the campaign of terror and violence that the Trump Administration has perpetrated against our immigrant communities. ICE should be abolished, a case I recently made in The New York Times. We should instead refocus Federal efforts and Federal policy on creating a path to citizenship for the millions of immigrants who make our economy run.
Do you support New York becoming a Transgender Sanctuary State?
Yes. In the Assembly, I co-sponsored legislation to strengthen legal protections for individuals who provide or receive gender-affirming care, and in Congress I will fight to codify Biden-era executive orders protecting transgender individuals from discrimination, as well as support the Transgender Health Care Access Act.
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. If elected to Congress, I would push to pass legislation that ensures that the rich are paying their fair share. For too long, America’s wealthiest have gotten away with paying less in taxes than the workers that built this country. I would champion comprehensive tax reform that would generate the revenue we need to fund a dramatic expansion of the social safety net, including the Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act, which would enact a sizeable wealth tax, the Equal Tax Act, which would equalize the tax rate for capital gains, and the recently-introduced Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act, which would raise $4.4 trillion from new taxes on billionaires and implement direct payments to working- and middle-class families.
How will you represent the most vulnerable, including individuals experiencing homelessness and asylum seekers? Have you ever opposed any shelter in your district?
Homelessness is a crisis that must be addressed head on, not ignored. I’ve helped create a program that’s helped hundreds of homeless New Yorkers get critical care and find permanent housing, and I will continue that fight in Congress.
I have not opposed any shelters in my district.
Do you oppose the death penalty?
Yes. I will support federal legislation to abolish it.
Do you support outlawing solitary confinement?
Yes. I will support legislation to ban it in federal facilities and compel states to follow suit.
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, I commit to visiting incarcerated constituents as well advocating for individuals who have been rehabilitated.
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.
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?
I did not rank Andrew Cuomo on my primary or general election ballot. In the primary election, I supported Scott Stringer; in the general election, I supported Zohran Mamdani.
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 renaming the former Queensboro Bridge?
Yes.
Do you support naming the soon to be reconstructed 42nd street bus terminal the Bella Abzug Port Authority?
Yes. Bella Abzug was a trailblazer for women's rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and progressive causes, and naming this major landmark after her would be a fitting tribute to her extraordinary legacy and enduring impact on New York City. I would be especially proud to see her honored as a representative of Manhattan’s West Side, Representative Abzug’s long-time home.
If an incumbent, how did you vote on House Res. 719 "Honoring the Life and Legacy of Charles Kirk"? If not an incumbent, how would you have voted?
As a non-incumbent, I would have voted no. I strongly condemn political violence and believe that Charlie Kirk’s tragic death should not have been used for a vote that amounted to political theater.
Do you support the immediate impeachment of Trump and other administration officials? If yes, which?
Yes. The Trump administration has engaged in an unprecedented assault on our democracy, the rule of law, and the rights of every American — and accountability demands impeachment proceedings. In Congress, I will use the full tools of oversight and investigation to expose the scope of law-breaking both by Trump and his cabinet officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
When Democrats regain power, do you favor Justice Department prosecutions to hold Trump's administration officials accountable for criminal offenses?
Yes. Anyone in the Trump administration who committed crimes must be held accountable by a fully independent Justice Department.
Would you vote to defund ICE?
Yes. I believe it is the role of Democrats to fight with every ounce of energy to protect our communities in this time of crisis. ICE must be abolished. While we fight to build support for the agency’s abolition, I will support Democratic efforts in Congress to withhold DHS funding until we ensure that ICE agents must carry judicial warrants, must show their IDs, and are not permitted to enter sensitive locations nationwide.
If an incumbent, how did you vote on House Resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib? If not an incumbent, how would you have voted?
As a non-incumbent, I would have voted against censuring Representative Tlaib. While I strongly, vehemently condemn the offensive language and falsehoods that Rep. Tlaib used, I believe the censure was used for political reasons and would have tread on free speech.
If an incumbent, how have you voted on allowing NSA to conduct warrantless searches? If not an incumbent, how would you vote?
As a non-incumbent, I would vote against warrantless searches by the NSA. Given the Trump administration's demonstrated willingness to weaponize law enforcement, granting expanded surveillance powers without judicial oversight is especially dangerous.
If an incumbent, how did you vote on House Res 58 "Denouncing the Horrors of Socialism"? If not an incumbent, how would you have voted?
As a non-incumbent, I would have voted no. This resolution was cynical political theater designed to score points rather than address the real economic challenges facing working families.
If an incumbent, how did you vote on a resolution directing the removal of all troops in foreign nations not authorized by Congress? If not an incumbent, how would you have voted?
As a non-incumbent, I would have voted yes. Congress must reclaim its constitutional authority over the authorization of military force — no president of either party should be able to deploy troops abroad without explicit Congressional approval, and I will fight to restore that check.
Do you support allowing DC to fund its own government, including the criminal justice system, without oversight by Congress?
Yes. Washington, D.C. residents are denied basic democratic representation and self-governance, and I support D.C. statehood and full independence for the District's government.
What is your legislative remedy to secure the building of low and moderate-income housing around the state?
We desperately need to build more housing in the United States, including housing that is affordable to low- and middle-income Americans, and to reinvest in and upgrade our stock of public housing. We also must ensure that every housing plan is equitable and inclusive of the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups. In the Assembly, I sponsored and passed legislation to bring the full force of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 into New York State law, at a time when the Trump Administration was dismantling Fair Housing Act enforcement at the Federal level. In Congress, I would support the Equality Act, which would provide explicit federal protections against discrimination in housing, alongside an infusion of funds into Section 9 to enable NYCHA to regain its footing, an expansion of Section 8 vouchers, and Rep.
Ocasio-Cortez’s efforts to repeal the Faircloth Amendment, which presently prohibits the construction of new public housing.
Will you refuse donations from AIPAC, SolidarityPAC, police and corrections associations, the fossil fuel industry, and the charter school industry?
I do not accept any corporate PAC money in this campaign, regardless of its source.
Do you support removing criminal penalties for consensual commercial sex work between adults?
I support the decriminalization of sex work, along with harsher penalties for sex trafficking.
What additional information would you like the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision?
N/A.
If you receive our endorsement, do you agree to identify the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club on all appropriate literature and electronic materials?
Yes, proudly.