Key Races in the 2026 New York State Legislative Elections

Republican incumbent Steve Chan faces a significant challenge from Democrat Larry He in the upcoming election. After defeating Democrat Iwen Chu in the 2024 state Senate race with 54.7% of the vote, Chan’s seat is now contested in this district known for its plurality of Asian voters. This victory previously contributed to the Democrats losing their supermajority in the state Senate.

He, a district leader and former chief of staff to Assembly Member William Colton, presents himself as a “common-sense Democrat” focused on community safety, education, and cleanliness. Despite political differences, analysts note that ideological gaps between He and Chan are minimal. He has faced scrutiny related to past affiliations with a Chinese state-owned oil company, which he has denied linking to the Chinese Communist Party. Financially, Chan reported $350,000 in campaign funds 11 days prior to the election, while He had approximately $375,000 available.