Asm. Lester Chang
Lester Chang represents AD-49, a heavily Democratic district with a D+33 partisan lean and a voter registration breakdown of 48.7% Democrat, 16.1% Republican, and 33.0% Independent. Despite the district's strong Democratic tilt, Chang — first elected in 2022 by a margin of just 4.0 points over incumbent Peter J. Abbate, Jr. — ran uncontested in 2024; the 2026 scenario model rates the seat as at minimum Likely D even under a favorable Republican environment, underscoring his structural vulnerability. The district, centered in Brooklyn, is majority Asian at 51.2% of the population, with a 21.1% poverty rate, a homeownership rate of 33.3%, and a median household income of $65,630. In the 2025 session, Chang sponsored 25 bills with concentrations in Education (5 bills) and Executive matters (4 bills), alongside smaller clusters in New York City Administrative Code, Energy, Financial Services, and General Business.AI
Topic Focus AI
Topics extracted by AI from joint Senate-Assembly committee hearing transcripts and floor debate. Tag size reflects number of supporting citations.
Key Issues AI
Key issue areas derived from floor debate speeches and sponsored bill law sections.
Legislative Activity (2025–2026)
Bill sponsorship from NYS Open Legislation API. Hearing appearances from joint Senate-Assembly committee transcripts. Floor debate from official Assembly session transcripts (Granicus, 2023–present).
Bill Focus Areas 2025–2026
Grouped by law section from sponsored Assembly bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation API.
Floor Speeches: In Support (4) AI
Noted acupuncture is an ancient Eastern medicine treatment approved by the Veterans Administration, provides a non-drug option for pain relief, and is affordable and harmless.
Cosponsor who supports the bill to help mainstream communities understand diverse Asian cultures; noted Asian Americans represent 60% of world population but only 12% in New York and less than 4% nationally.
Supported the bill, noting that printing costs for financial statements are expensive for elderly, public assistance recipients, and those with limited means. Suggested the bill could be expanded to more clearly define investment houses and brokerage entities.
Voted affirmatively and thanked sponsors, expressing hope the bill could be expanded to include notifications about roaches and rats in the subway.
Floor Speeches: In Opposition (4) AI
The bill has flawed language regarding application to out-of-state creditors and debt sales; creates too much conflict for lawyers and courts to interpret, and lacks clear protection for debtors when debt is sold to collectors outside New York.
Parents are ultimately responsible for their children and should have the right to determine what material is appropriate until age 18. Parental rights must be preserved as the core family value.
Argued that lowering premiums by more than 50 percent defies logic for an insurance product meant to protect lives, and that the current monopoly situation means lowering requirements won't increase competition. Stated he would vote no on the bill.
Stated the bill does not go far enough and suggested it should address school food waste, noting he observes significant food waste in schools that could be legislatively addressed.
Electoral History AD-49
General Elections
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Lester Chang 100.0% (15,093) | Uncontested | — |
| 2022 | Lester Chang 52.0% (7,424) | Peter J. Abbate, Jr. 48.0% (6,842) | ⚡ 4.0pts |
| 2020 | Peter J. Abbate, Jr. 100.0% (18,104) | Uncontested | — |
| 2018 | Peter J. Abbate, Jr. 84.3% (10,799) | Rosemary Mangino 15.7% (2,017) | 68.6pts |
| 2016 | Peter J. Abbate, Jr. 75.5% (13,824) | Rosemary A. Mangino 24.5% (4,474) | 51.0pts |
| 2014 | Peter J. Abbate, Jr. 76.0% (4,872) | Henry Lallave 24.0% (1,536) | 52.0pts |
| 2012 | Peter J. Abbate, Jr. 89.4% (12,108) | Vincent Katinas 10.6% (1,429) | 78.8pts |
| 2010 | Peter J. Abbate, Jr. 61.4% (7,416) | Peter Cipriano 38.6% (4,659) | 22.8pts |
| 2008 | Peter J. Abbate, Jr. 71.9% (14,034) | Lucretia Regina-Potter 28.1% (5,487) | 43.8pts |
| 2006 | Peter J. Abbate, Jr. 74.2% (7,884) | Lucretia Regina-Potter 25.8% (2,737) | 48.4pts |
| 2004 | Peter J. Abbate 72.9% (14,553) | Fred Martorell 27.1% (5,417) | 45.8pts |
| 2002 | Peter J. Abbate, Jr. 93.4% (7,603) | Cynthia Gallo 6.6% (541) | 86.8pts |
| 2000 | Peter J. Abbate, Jr. 75.1% (15,705) | Josephine N. Frediani 24.9% (5,212) | 50.2pts |
| 1998 | Peter J. Abbate, Jr. 67.0% (10,249) | Luigi R. Marano 33.0% (5,059) | 34.0pts |
| 1996 | Peter J. Abbate, Jr. 71.5% (13,570) | Vincenzo Di Giacomo 24.1% (4,572) | 47.4pts |
Source: NYS Board of Elections certified results. ⚡ = margin under 10 pts. District history reflects 2022 redistricted boundaries.
Vulnerability Index AD-49
Base lean: D+14
- Ran uncontested in most recent election
- Won last contested race by only 4.1 points
Scenario model: ±5pt national environment shift applied to district base lean (D+14). Base lean blends voter registration (40%) with recent contested general election margins (60%), using up to the last 4 general elections with margins under 40 points. Ratings: Safe D/R = 15+ pts, Likely = 8–14 pts, Lean = 3–7 pts, Toss-up = within 2 pts (Assembly districts are smaller and more homogeneous than Senate districts, so tighter thresholds are used). Generic ballot from Silver Bulletin (Nate Silver), as of 6/18/2026. Not a prediction — reflects structural competitiveness under different cycle environments.
District 49 Profile
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024).
Voter Registration
Demographics
Commute Mode
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2024). Race and ethnicity figures may not sum to 100% — Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity category that overlaps with racial groups.
Lobbying Activity
No lobbying disclosures on record for this member in the available dataset.
Source: NY Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government via data.ny.gov.