Asm. Joe DeStefano — The Commons Gallery

Joe DeStefano represents AD-3, a nominally Democratic-leaning district (D+1 by registration, with Democrats at 31.8%, Republicans at 30.6%, and Independents at 31.9%) in what is a high-homeownership (80.3%), majority-white (67.1%) suburban Suffolk County community with a median household income of $109,846. Despite the district's marginal partisan lean, DeStefano has won comfortably since first being elected in 2018 by 8.0 points, expanding his margins to 13.8 points in 2020, 27.6 points in 2022, and 20.6 points in 2024; his 2026 outlook is rated Likely R in neutral and Democratic-favorable environments and Safe R in a Republican-favorable environment, with a base lean of R+14. His 57 sponsored bills in the 2025 session concentrate on Penal law (5 bills), Criminal Procedure (4 bills), and Suffolk County-specific legislation (4 bills), with additional sponsorship across Executive, General Municipal, Highway, Legislative, and Retirement law areas, reflecting a local and public-safety-oriented legislative focus. No committee chairmanship or lobbying sector data is identified in this brief.AI

Vulnerability Index AD-3

Base lean: R+14

Favorable D

Likely R

Neutral

Likely R

Favorable R

Safe R

Scenario model: ±5pt national environment shift applied to district base lean (R+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. 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-3

General Elections

Year	Winner	Runner-up	Margin
2024	Joseph P. De Stefano 60.3% (32,634)	Trina R. Miles 39.7% (21,451)	20.6pts
2022	Joseph P. De Stefano 63.8% (25,626)	Trina R. Miles 36.2% (14,555)	27.6pts
2020	Joseph P. De Stefano 56.5% (30,806)	Steven Polgar 42.7% (23,266)	13.8pts
2018	Joseph P. De Stefano 54.0% (20,916)	Clyde E. Parker 46.0% (17,822)	⚡ 8.0pts
2016	Dean Murray 62.6% (29,087)	Gregory D. Schoen 37.4% (17,404)	25.2pts
2014	Dean Murray 51.1% (12,233)	Edward J. Hennessey 48.9% (11,709)	⚡ 2.2pts
2012	Edward J. Hennessey 50.3% (19,379)	Dean Murray 49.7% (19,117)	⚡ 0.6pts
2010	Dean Murray 53.3% (16,521)	Robert T. Calarco 46.7% (14,493)	⚡ 6.6pts
2008	Patricia А. Eddington 64.8% (30,334)	Scott J. Salimando 35.2% (16,512)	29.6pts
2006	Patricia A. Eddington 63.4% (17,037)	Scott J. Salimando 36.6% (9,819)	26.8pts
2004	Patricia A. Eddington 63.7% (29,360)	Frederick Hall 36.3% (16,747)	27.4pts
2002	Patricia A. Eddington 52.0% (14,222)	Lee Snead 48.0% (13,141)	⚡ 4.0pts
2000	Patricia A. Eddington 50.8% (21,366)	Leah M. Jefferson 49.2% (20,730)	⚡ 1.6pts
1998	Debra J. Mazzarelli 56.4% (16,538)	Icilio W. Bianchi, Jr. 42.9% (12,570)	13.5pts
1996	Debra J. Mazzarelli 62.1% (23,069)	Keith R. Mc Hugh 35.1% (13,035)	27.0pts

Special Elections

Year	Winner	Runner-up	Margin
2010	L. Dean Murray 50.9% (4,396)	Lauren E. Thaden 49.0% (4,236)	⚡ 1.9pts

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

Voter Registration

32%

31%

38%

Dem 31.8% Rep 30.6% Ind/Other 37.6%

District 3 Profile

Population 136,388

Median income $109,846

Median rent $2,272

Homeownership 80.3%

Education (BA+) 27.2%

Poverty rate 8.7%

Uninsured rate 4.8%

Unemployment rate 6.1%

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

Demographics

White 67.1%

Black 8.9%

Hispanic 24.6%

Asian 2.8%

Median age 38.6

Foreign born 15.4%

Limited English households 3.0%

Veterans 4.0%

Disability rate 11.5%

Commute Mode

Drive alone 77.7%

Public transit 3.4%

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)

57

19

Years in office 7

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

Floor Session Activity 2025–2026

A10514-A PASSED 2026-03-23

An act to amend the Public Health Law, in relation to guidance, recommendations and best practices related to incorporating placenta accreta spectrum screenings into routine prenatal care

The Assembly passed A10514-A, legislation requiring the New York State Department of Health to develop guidance and best practices for incorporating placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) screenings into routine prenatal care. Sponsor Zaccaro noted that PAS incidence has surged from 1 in 1,250 pregnancies in 1980 to 1 in 272 by 2025, often going undetected until delivery and causing life-threatening complications. The bill mandates standardized, evidence-based screening guidelines to ensure consistent assessments across providers. Assemblywoman Forrest praised the legislation as part of addressing Black maternal health disparities. The bill passed on consent.

A08022-A PASSED 2026-02-09

An act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law, in relation to requiring certain covered platforms to provide a process for law enforcement agencies to contact such platform and to comply with search warrants within 72 hours

A05477-B / S05477 PASSED 2025-06-11

An act authorizing the Town of Brookhaven to alienate certain parklands for use as a recharge basin and to dedicate other lands as replacement parklands

A07235 PASSED 2025-06-06

An act to amend the Executive Law, the State Finance Law and the Public Authorities Law, in relation to establishing expanded construction mentorship opportunities for small and minority and women-owned business enterprises

A08193 PASSED 2025-06-04

An act in relation to authorizing the assessor of the Town of Brookhaven to accept an application for a real property tax exemption from Calvary Full Gospel Assembly of God Church.

A08193 PASSED 2025-06-04

An act in relation to authorizing the assessor of the Town of Brookhaven to accept an application for a real property tax exemption from Calvary Full Gospel Assembly of God Church.

A08193 PASSED 2025-06-04

An act in relation to authorizing the assessor of the Town of Brookhaven to accept an application for a real property tax exemption from Calvary Full Gospel Assembly of God Church.

A04938 PASSED 2025-05-05

An act to amend the Labor Law, in relation to providing protections for telecommunications tower technicians

A07617 PASSED 2025-05-05

An act to amend the Public Health Law, in relation to removing the prohibitions on patient participation in multiple transplant programs in New York State

The Assembly passed legislation removing prohibitions on patients participating in multiple transplant programs in New York State. Sponsored by Assemblywoman Peoples-Stokes and 18 co-sponsors, the bill addresses a critical gap in access to organ transplants for Medicaid patients, who under current law can only apply to one program and be on one wait list. Peoples-Stokes noted that approximately 8,000 New Yorkers are currently on transplant wait lists, with roughly 400 expected to die before receiving a transplant. The measure was championed by Dr. Kayler, a transplant surgeon at Erie County Medical Center, and supported by Donate Life New York. The bill allows patients to remove themselves from dependence on dialysis machines by expanding their opportunities to access kidney transplants across multiple programs.

A08186-A PASSED 2024-06-06

Highway Law - designating portion of state highway as 'Medford FD Commissioner Niel Marturiello Memorial Bridge'

S06635 PASSED 2024-06-05

Workers' Compensation Law amendment — mental injury claims for extraordinary work-related stress

The Assembly passed legislation expanding Workers' Compensation eligibility for mental injury claims to all workers, removing restrictions that previously limited such claims to police officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and emergency dispatchers. The bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Reyes and others, allows workers in any profession to file claims for mental injuries stemming from extraordinary work-related stress, provided claims are evaluated by the Workers' Compensation Board and supported by physician diagnosis. Supporters cited examples of nurses during COVID, correction officers, and supermarket workers affected by traumatic events. Opponents, including Assemblywoman Walsh and Assemblyman Goodell, warned the bill lacks clear standards for defining 'extraordinary stress,' could invite fraud and unlimited claims, and would increase costs for businesses already burdened by New York's Workers' Compensation rates, which are 69 percent higher than the national average. The measure passed despite Republican opposition and concerns about unknown fiscal impact.

S06635 PASSED 2024-06-05

Expand Workers' Compensation claims for mental injury from extraordinary work-related stress to all employees

The Assembly passed legislation expanding Workers' Compensation eligibility for mental injury claims based on extraordinary work-related stress to all employees, removing current restrictions limiting such claims to police officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and emergency dispatchers. Sponsor Assemblywoman Reyes argued the expansion is necessary to cover workers like nurses, correction officers, and supermarket employees who experience extraordinary stress but are currently excluded. The bill allows claims to be evaluated by the Workers' Compensation Board and a physician rather than requiring a specific work-related emergency. Opponents, including Assemblywoman Walsh and Assemblyman Goodell, raised concerns about undefined standards for "extraordinary stress," potential fraud, unknown costs to businesses, and the impact on New York's already-strained Workers' Compensation system and business climate. Goodell cited New York's 69% higher Workers' Comp rates compared to the national average and the state's loss of 200,000 residents last year. The bill passed without a recorded tally being announced in this segment.

A09887-A PASSED 2024-06-05

An act in relation to authorizing the Town of Brookhaven to alienate and discontinue the use of certain parklands

A06028-A PASSED 2023-06-10

General Municipal Law - Town of Brookhaven parkland alienation

A03486-A PASSED 2023-06-10

An act in relation to authorizing the assessor of the Town of Brookhaven to accept an application for exemption from real property taxes from Al-Muneer Foundation, Inc.

A05844-B PASSED 2023-06-08

Authorizing the assessor of the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk to accept an application for a real property tax exemption from De Bathesda Eglise

A03451 PASSED 2023-06-01

Authorizing the Ruth AME Zion Church to file with the Town of Brookhaven Assessor an application for certain real property tax exemptions

A03486 PASSED 2023-06-01

Authorizing the assessor of the Town of Brookhaven to accept an application for exemption from real property taxes from Al-Muneer Foundation, Inc.

A03007-C PASSED 2023-05-01

Budget bill — Part A through Part H covering healthcare reimbursement, Medicaid, managed long-term care, and related health and social services provisions

The New York State Assembly passed a comprehensive budget bill (A03007-C) on May 1, 2023, following extended floor debate on multiple contentious provisions. The legislation includes amendments to the Concealed Carry Improvement Act addressing concerns about the Amish community's inability to purchase ammunition without photo identification, clarifications on park definitions and military ceremony exemptions, and security guard carry provisions. The budget allocates $2.5 million for Civil Service continuous recruitment testing fee waivers to address workforce shortages, though members raised concerns about potential nepotism in test selection by localities. A four-year extension of the Lower Manhattan Sales and Use Tax Exemption (estimated at $10 million in foregone revenue) drew criticism from Republicans and some Democrats who questioned why wealthy Lower Manhattan receives tax breaks while poorer districts receive no similar relief. Healthcare provisions addressed Medicaid reimbursement rates, managed long-term care, and temporary alcohol retail permits. The Republican Conference opposed the overall budget, though individual members were permitted to vote in favor. The bill passed with party-line support from the Democratic Majority.

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.