Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Omar Mohamad for NY Assembly District 23
Candidate Name: Omar Mohamad
Office Seeking Election for: NY Assembly District 23
Campaign Website: https://omarfornys.com/
1. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why do you believe you are best qualified to represent your district?
I believe that I am best qualified to represent my district because I not only grew up in it, but also spent five years serving it as an EMT. I have taken care of New Yorkers at their most vulnerable and seen firsthand the issues that are facing this district from the back of an ambulance. I am committed to taking care of the people of my district, this time as an elected official.
2. What LGBTQ+ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I am a member of Democratic Socialists of America.
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 attended No Kings marches, supported striking NYSNA nurses on the picket line, and attended a May Day rally targeting Amazon and its cloud service contracts with the DHS and surveillance companies.
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 will fight to pass laws that provide statewide protection for these marginalized groups, ensuring their continued safety in New York.
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?
I fully support access to reproductive healthcare and believe that it is an individual’s right to choose.
7. Have you hosted, funded or otherwise supported Drag Story Hours in your community?
No
8. How will you work to enhance protections for immigrants and uphold New York’s role as a “Sanctuary City”?
N/A.
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 any shelter in my district. We must ensure that shelters are distributed evenly throughout the city.
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?
I am fully committed to supporting the New York For All Act and other similar legislation.
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 these pieces of legislation.
14. Do you oppose the death penalty?
Yes
15. Do you support outlawing solitary confinement?
Yes
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. I will always fight to support those who are unfairly imprisoned and those who have worked toward rehabilitation.
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?
I did not rank Andrew Cuomo. I supported Zohran Mamdani in both the primary and general elections.
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. Do you support naming the soon to be reconstructed 42nd street bus terminal the Bella Abzug Port Authority?
Yes
21. What is your legislative remedy to secure the building of low and moderate-income housing around the state?
I support the expansion of the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing rule in New York City to be statewide, requiring the developers to set aside 20-30% of units in new developments as permanent affordable housing. .
22. Will you refuse donations from AIPAC, SolidarityPAC, police and corrections associations, the fossil fuel industry, and the charter school industry?
Yes. I have not accepted, nor will I accept PAC money.
23. 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).
I am open to reviewing legislation as it comes to the senate floor.
24. 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.
25. What additional information would you like the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision?
I am fully committed to supporting the New York Health Act, which would establish a single-payer universal healthcare system in the state of New York, so that all New Yorkers can have high-quality comprehensive healthcare without worrying about how they will pay for it.
26. If you receive our endorsement, do you agree to identify the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club on all appropriate literature and electronic materials?
Yes.