Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Morgan Evers for NY Assembly District 81
Candidate Name: Morgan Evers
Office Seeking Election for: NY Assembly District 81
Campaign Website: https://www.morganeversforny.com/
1. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why do you believe you are best qualified to represent your district?
This district is not the same AD81 it has been historically. The incumbent has been in this seat/in office since 1994. The path to victory to win this seat has always been to secure turnout just in Riverdale with the rest of the district ignored and disenfranchised. In 2025 it all changed with the Mamdani campaign. While Riverdale still turned out for Cuomo, Mamdani won AD81– the Mamdani campaign overperformed in the rest of the district outside Riverdale by energizing new voters on his disciplined message around affordability, engaged voters of color, the South Asian and Muslim electorate in Norwood and working class voters from Woodlawn to Kingsbridge. This is a model I will repeat in the 2026 primary and I’m the best candidate to do so. Not only do I already have a base in Riverdale through the progressive/reform Jewish community, I also have a base in Kingsbridge and Norwood as a community organizer for the last 9 years as well as through my work with the Unity Democratic Club, a multi-ethnic, multi-generational coalition of progressives I helped found with breakaway progressives from the Bronx establishment. We have been working on social justice issues, food insecurity and voter initiatives throughout the NW Bronx. As a teacher married to a teacher raising two boys who attend Bronx public schools, I am committed to prioritizing the needs of everyday working people like myself in this district. Throughout my work in the NW Bronx, one thing has been clear. People are done with three decades of status quo governance.
During a time when our rights are under attack by the federal government, we need people we can trust to stand up for us in Albany and protect our communities. My opponent is about protecting his political career and dynasty.
2. What LGBTQ+ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I have volunteered for the KRVC event Riverdale Celebrates Pride and when I was a State Committee member in the AD81 (2022-2024) I was a co-signer of a resolution to add LGBTQIA inclusive curriculum in public schools this resolution was also added to the platform of the New York Democratic Party.
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?
I have organized rapid response trainings at my temple to help our vulnerable neighbors targeted by ICE, organized rallies to call for the release of a wrongfully detained teenager kidnapped by ICE, organized HandsOff NYC weekend of action events in the Northwest Bronx distributing whistles and Know Your Rights lit, attended to support any local No Kings and ICE OUT peaceful protests.
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 continue to organize local events that empower our vulnerable neighbors, and will advocate for the passage of specific state legislation that protects New Yorkers against the fascist federal regime’s lawlessness. I am 100% pro-choice and support a sanctuary state for all New Yorkers including trans people and children.
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 support Drag Story Hour programs, and I would like to explore hosting one in the North Bronx.
8. How will you work to enhance protections for immigrants and uphold New York’s role as a “Sanctuary City”?
I fully support the passage of NY for All, and will work with the advocate partners leading the push for the bill. I will also support the effort by continuing to educate and amplify the urgent necessity for this bill over the limited anti-ICE proposals by the Governor.
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, I believe corporations and ultra rich need to pay their fair share.
11. How will you represent the most vulnerable, including individuals experiencing homelessness and asylum seekers? Have you ever opposed any shelter in your district?
In the AD81st, we have incidents of unhoused sleeping in the stairwells of NYCHA buildings. I have never opposed a shelter in my district and I will ensure both city and state resources can be tapped for unhoused people to get immediate shelter, services and assistance. I will also follow through to ensure maintenance at public housing facilities are occurring. Another sector of vulnerable populations is the disability community and it is personal to me. As a blind woman, I should have joined millions of Americans celebrating the 35th anniversary of the ADA last year. Instead we are living in fear of disability rights under threat of eradication as the Trump administration promises to deliver Project 2025’s agenda to gut the ADA. When I’m in Albany, I will introduce legislation to codify disability protections including Section 504 of the ADA, which protects access to education for people with disabilities.
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
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?
I support the Second Look Act, Earned Time Act and Elder Parole. I support a rewrite of the Marvin Mayfield Act to remove the one provision to eliminate minimum sentencing for violent felonies.
14. Do you oppose the death penalty?
Yes
15. Do you support outlawing solitary confinement?
Yes. Solitary confinement is unconstitutional.
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 did not rank Cuomo at all. I ranked Brad Lander No. 1 and Zohran Mamdani No. 2. I volunteered for and voted for 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?
Tax the rich and close tax loopholes for the ultra wealthy so funding can be available to expand public housing. My priority for AD81–a moderate income co-op heavy community–is to preserve and expand the Mitchel Lama, low-equity co-op housing.
21. Will you refuse donations from AIPAC, SolidarityPAC, police and corrections associations, the fossil fuel industry, and the charter school industry?
Yes, including real estate lobby and corporate developers.
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).
Unsure at this moment
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?
When I started exploring a run for this seat last summer, I was met with overwhelming support from the community both in and outside Riverdale to challenge the incumbent. The sentiment was heavily based on many sectors of the district feeling that the incumbent has flat out neglected and ignored them. My decision to launch this campaign stems from the community wanting change and asking me to step up. At a time when New York is under threat every day from the Trump administration, and so many working people are experiencing upheaval, it is clear that leadership of compassion, being in touch, and proactive action has been missing. My campaign is focused on keeping families together, keeping working people in their homes, and in our state, keeping businesses open, keeping schools open, keeping our streets safe and keeping minds open. We need ethical and honest leadership we can trust. I am committed to meeting this moment and stepping up to this life of public service so we can actually bring improvement to the lives of the entire district, not just one community. Also, I am running a historic race. If elected, I will become the first blind woman elected to the New York state legislature. Though my eyesight is vanishing, my vision for a better, more affordable Bronx is crystal clear.
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