Asm. Vivian Cook — The Commons Gallery

Vivian Cook has represented AD-32 since 1996 and holds one of the most secure seats in the New York State Assembly, with a district partisan lean of D+69, a voter registration breakdown of 73.9% Democrat to 4.8% Republican, and a 2026 outlook rated Safe D across all modeled environments. Cook ran uncontested in 2024 and in five of the eight general elections on record, with her only contested recent race in 2022 producing a 76.9-point margin over her opponent. The district is a majority-minority, urban Queens constituency with a population of 131,317, where 54.6% of residents identify as Black, 19.6% as Hispanic, and 13.6% as Asian, alongside a poverty rate of 14.8% and a homeownership rate of 40.2%. In the 2025 session, Cook sponsored 58 bills, with her heaviest focus in Insurance (10 bills), Penal (5 bills), and General Municipal and Vehicle and Traffic law (3 bills each).AI

Vulnerability Index AD-32

Base lean: D+78

Favorable D

Safe D

Neutral

Safe D

Favorable R

Safe D

Limited contested election data — registration lean used as primary signal
Ran uncontested in most recent election

Scenario model: ±5pt national environment shift applied to district base lean (D+78). 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. Generic ballot from Silver Bulletin (Nate Silver), as of 5/1/2026. Not a prediction — reflects structural competitiveness under different cycle environments.

Electoral History AD-32

General Elections

Year	Winner	Runner-up	Margin
2024	Vivian E. Cook 100.0% (32,663)	Uncontested	—
2022	Vivian E. Cook 85.1% (18,385)	Marilyn Miller 8.2% (1,766)	76.9pts
2020	Vivian E. Cook 100.0% (42,061)	Uncontested	—
2018	Vivian E. Cook 100.0% (29,991)	Uncontested	—
2016	Vivian E. Cook 100.0% (39,305)	Uncontested	—
2014	Vivian E. Cook 100.0% (14,086)	Uncontested	—
2012	Vivian E. Cook 100.0% (34,415)	Uncontested	—
2010	Vivian E. Cook 100.0% (18,065)	Uncontested	—
2008	Vivian Е. Cook 100.0% (29,857)	Uncontested	—
2006	Vivian E. Cook 100.0% (13,727)	Uncontested	—
2004	Vivian E. Cook 95.8% (26,944)	Jereline Hunter 4.2% (1,190)	91.6pts
2002	Vivian E. Cook 95.9% (15,262)	Rachel A. Gordon 4.1% (645)	91.8pts
2000	Vivian E. Cook 100.0% (25,676)	Uncontested	—
1998	Vivian E. Cook 100.0% (15,576)	Uncontested	—
1996	Vivian E. Cook 90.2% (21,061)	Katherine A. James 8.8% (2,058)	81.4pts

Primary Elections

Year	Winner	Runner-up	Margin
2018 (Reform)	Andrew M Cuomo 39.1% (9)	Letitia A. James 30.4% (7)	⚡ 8.7pts
2016 (Democratic)	Vivian E. Cook 77.9% (4,021)	Rodney Reid 22.1% (1,141)	55.8pts

Source: NYS Board of Elections certified results. ⚡ = margin under 10 pts. District history reflects 2022 redistricted boundaries.

Voter Registration

74%

21%

Dem 73.9% Rep 4.8% Ind/Other 21.3%

District 32 Profile

Population 131,317

Median income $71,753

Median rent $1,653

Homeownership 40.2%

Education (BA+) 21.7%

Poverty rate 14.8%

Uninsured rate 7.8%

Unemployment rate 10.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024).

Demographics

White 3.0%

Black 54.6%

Hispanic 19.6%

Asian 13.6%

Median age 38.3

Foreign born 46.2%

Limited English households 11.4%

Veterans 1.9%

Disability rate 11.4%

Commute Mode

Drive alone 37.6%

Public transit 44.1%

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.

Legislative Activity (2025–2026)

58

13

Years in office 30

Bill sponsorship from NYS Open Legislation API. Joint hearing appearances from NYS Senate hearing transcripts.

Floor Session Activity 2025–2026

A01388-A PASSED 2026-03-31

Definition of coal tar and its use in pavement products

The Assembly passed A01388-A, sponsored by Assemblywoman Rosenthal, prohibiting the sale of pavement products containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons above 1,000 parts per million, lowering the threshold from a 2021 bill that set it at 10,000 ppm. Rosenthal explained that coal tar sealants contain the highest concentration of PAHs, which the EPA has classified as probable human carcinogens, and that unlike voluntary food preparation, consumers cannot opt out of exposure to treated driveways, playgrounds, and airports. She noted that Illinois, Washington, Texas, Wisconsin, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania have enacted similar bans, and that asphalt-based alternatives are readily available. Assemblyman Simpson opposed the bill, arguing it removes consumer choice and questioning why one product should be banned when PAHs are found in many sources including cooking and barbecuing. Rosenthal explained her affirmative vote by distinguishing between voluntary individual exposure and involuntary public exposure to coal tar sealants. The Majority Conference voted in favor; the Minority Conference voted against.

A01388-A PASSED 2026-03-31

Definition of coal tar and its use in pavement products

The Assembly passed A01388-A, sponsored by Assemblywoman Rosenthal, prohibiting the sale of pavement products containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons above 1,000 parts per million. The bill lowers the allowable PAH threshold and extends the effective date one year. Rosenthal argued that coal tar sealants contain the highest concentration of PAHs, which the EPA has classified as probable human carcinogens, and that asphalt-based alternatives are readily available. She distinguished between voluntary PAH exposure from cooking and unavoidable exposure from driveways and playgrounds affecting entire communities. Assemblyman Simpson opposed the measure, arguing it removes consumer choice and questioned why one product is targeted when PAHs exist in many everyday sources like grilling and cooking. He suggested reducing exposure without bans. The Majority Conference voted in favor; the Minority Conference voted against.

A06833 PASSED 2026-03-04

An act to amend the Insurance Law, in relation to requirements for making of policy loans

A08426 PASSED 2025-06-16

An act to amend Chapter 548 of the Laws of 2010, amending the New York City Charter relating to authorizing the City of New York to sell to abutting property owners real property owned by such City, consisting of tax lots that cannot be independently developed due to the size, shape, configuration and topography of such lots and the zoning regulations applicable thereto, in relation to the effectiveness thereof

A10351 PASSED 2024-06-06

Waiver of costs, fees, and expenses for persons of insufficient means; elimination of term 'poor person'

The Assembly passed A10351, replacing the term 'poor person' with 'party with insufficient means to pay costs, fees and expenses' in civil and criminal procedure law. The bill makes no substantive change to the law but updates terminology deemed pejorative. Sponsor Mr. Lavine argued that legal language evolves to reflect modern standards and plain English so laws are not derogatory. However, Asm. Goodell criticized the measure as a meaningless waste of time that creates practical problems for attorneys. He noted that legal database searches for 'poor person' will no longer return relevant case law, and the new nine-word phrase is unwieldy and unlikely to be found by standard searches, potentially costing lawyers time and money in research.

A10351 PASSED 2024-06-06

Waiver of costs, fees, and expenses for persons of insufficient means; elimination of 'poor person' terminology

The Assembly passed a bill replacing the term 'poor person' with 'party with insufficient means to pay costs, fees and expenses' in the Civil Practice Law and Rules and Criminal Procedure Law. The measure makes no substantive changes to the law but modernizes language the sponsor argued is now considered pejorative. Sponsor Mr. Lavine, appearing on behalf of Assemblywoman Cook, emphasized that legal language evolves to reflect modern standards and plain English so laws are not derogatory. However, Asm. Goodell criticized the bill as a meaningless waste of time from the Office of Court Administration, arguing it creates practical problems for lawyers researching case law. He noted that lawyers searching legal databases for 'poor person' won't find cases under the new terminology, and searching for the new 10-word phrase won't retrieve existing case law, effectively wasting lawyers' time without substantive benefit.

A07494-B 2024-04-03

Relating to requiring allergen labeling for prepackaged foods

The Assembly debated legislation requiring supermarkets, delis, and bakeries to label prepackaged foods with major food allergen information, a measure prompted by sponsor Assemblywoman Lunsford's personal experience when her three-year-old son suffered a severe allergic reaction to unlabeled walnuts in bakery cookies. The incident resulted in hospitalization, two EpiPen injections at the hospital, and $3,500 in medical costs. The bill requires labeling of the eight major food allergens identified by the FDA on prepackaged containers prepared in-house by retailers. Assemblywoman Jensen raised concerns about potential drafting ambiguity regarding whether retailers must list all ingredients or only major allergens, and questioned the implementation burden on small businesses. Lunsford clarified the bill requires labeling only major allergens and noted the one-year effective date allows businesses time to acquire labeling technology. Jensen suggested an alternative approach using posted allergen lists at food counters, but Lunsford countered that individual package labeling is necessary for consumer convenience and safety, noting nearly 2 million New Yorkers have food allergies.

A05646-A 2023-06-09

Collateral Estoppel Effect of Issues Decided by Certain Arbitrators

A06140-A PASSED 2023-05-22

An act to amend the New York State Urban Development Corporation Act, in relation to requiring the small business revolving loan fund to target and market to veteran-owned enterprises and service-disabled veteran-owned enterprises

A00703-A LAID ASIDE 2023-05-08

An act to amend the General Business Law, in relation to changes in energy service pricing.

A02570 LAID ASIDE 2023-05-08

An act to amend the Public Authorities Law, in relation to providing notification to customers of bed bug infestations on MTA subways, trains and buses.

A02883 LAID ASIDE 2023-05-08

An act to amend the Civil Practice Law and Rules, in relation to requiring a certificate of merit in proceedings to recover possession of real property.

A04504-A LAID ASIDE 2023-05-08

An act to amend the Public Authorities Law, in relation to requiring one voting member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority be a transit dependent individual.

Source: Official NY Assembly floor session transcripts (Granicus). AI-processed. Includes sessions from 2023 onward where transcripts are available.

Bill Focus Areas 2025–2026

bills

Grouped by law section from sponsored Assembly bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation API.

Lobbying Activity

No lobbying disclosures on record for this member in the available dataset (JCOPE filings targeting Assembly members).

Source: NY Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government via data.ny.gov.