← All Assembly Members
D
Asm. J. Gary Pretlow
District 89
Democrat
First elected 2009
J. Gary Pretlow represents AD-89, a heavily Democratic district in New York State with a D+56 registration lean and a base electoral lean of D+66; he has held the seat since 2009 and ran uncontested in 2024, with his most contested general election on record being a 2022 race in which he defeated Andrae L. Mitchell by 82.2 points — the district is rated Safe D across all modeled 2026 scenarios. AD-89 is a majority-minority, high-density urban district with a population of 134,960 that is 41.0% Black, 36.4% Hispanic, and 20.5% white, with a 37.1% homeownership rate, a 15.6% poverty rate, and a median household income of $73,300; Democrats hold 65.4% of voter registrations against 9.2% Republican. Pretlow sponsored 194 bills in the 2025 session, with his heaviest concentrations in Education (20 bills), Appropriations (18 bills), Vehicle and Traffic (16 bills), Insurance (13 bills), and Tax (12 bills), and the floor record reflects an active role presenting budget extender and appropriations legislation, consistent with his listed chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee. His top sponsorship areas in Insurance, Vehicle and Traffic, and Tax align with sectors that are among the most active lobbying presences at the state level, warranting attention to potential overlap between his committee jurisdiction over appropriations and those industries.AI
Vulnerability Index AD-89
Base lean: D+66
Favorable D
Neutral
Favorable R
- 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+66). 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-89
General Elections
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | J. Gary Pretlow 100.0% (31,486) | Uncontested | — |
| 2022 | J. Gary Pretlow 91.1% (18,652) | Andrae L. Mitchell 8.9% (1,824) | 82.2pts |
| 2020 | J. Gary Pretlow 100.0% (35,853) | Uncontested | — |
| 2018 | J. Gary Pretlow 100.0% (28,114) | Uncontested | — |
| 2016 | J. Gary Pretlow 100.0% (34,615) | Uncontested | — |
| 2014 | J. Gary Pretlow 100.0% (15,739) | Uncontested | — |
| 2012 | Gary J. Pretlow 93.9% (33,141) | Rosemarie Jarosz 6.1% (2,147) | 87.8pts |
| 2010 | Robert J. Castelli 50.1% (21,231) | Thomas M. Roach, Jr. 49.9% (21,126) | ⚡ 0.2pts |
| 2008 | Adam T. Bradley 100.0% (40,238) | Uncontested | — |
| 2006 | Adam T. Bradley 100.0% (27,915) | Uncontested | — |
| 2004 | Adam T. Bradley 58.7% (32,675) | Robert J. Castelli 41.3% (22,949) | 17.4pts |
| 2002 | Adam T. Bradley 93.4% (21,455) | Joseph P. Giardina 6.6% (1,505) | 86.8pts |
| 2000 | Naomi C. Matusow 58.6% (34,608) | Francis T. Corcoran 39.9% (23,591) | 18.7pts |
| 1998 | Naomi C. Matusow 54.5% (23,689) | Ursula G. La Motte 45.5% (19,816) | ⚡ 9.0pts |
| 1996 | Naomi C. Matusow 55.1% (29,428) | Daniel W. Isaacs 42.6% (22,731) | 12.5pts |
Special Elections
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Robert J. Castelli 55.3% (6,966) | Peter B. Harckham 44.7% (5,639) | 10.6pts |
Source: NYS Board of Elections certified results. ⚡ = margin under 10 pts. District history reflects 2022 redistricted boundaries.
Voter Registration
District 89 Profile
Population
134,960
Median income
$73,300
Median rent
$1,699
Homeownership
37.1%
Education (BA+)
33.6%
Poverty rate
15.6%
Uninsured rate
7.4%
Unemployment rate
8.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024).
Demographics
White
20.5%
Black
41.0%
Hispanic
36.4%
Asian
2.8%
Median age
39.9
Foreign born
35.7%
Limited English households
9.0%
Veterans
2.7%
Disability rate
14.6%
Commute Mode
Drive alone
46.4%
Public transit
28.0%
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)
Bills sponsored
194
Joint hearing appearances
17
Floor debate appearances
25
Years in office
17
Bill sponsorship from NYS Open Legislation API. Joint hearing appearances from NYS Senate hearing transcripts.
Floor Session Activity 2025–2026
A11010
PASSED
2026-04-20
Budget extender — appropriations for support of government through April 22, 2026
The Assembly passed a fifth budget extender (A11010) on Monday, extending state funding through April 22 and bringing total appropriations to $12.6 billion. Sponsored by Asm. Pretlow, the bill funds state operations, school aid payments, public health programs, unemployment insurance, and services for people with developmental disabilities. The vote came amid continued frustration from the minority, with Asm. Palmesano criticizing the lack of progress on major policy issues including tax proposals, auto insurance reform, and climate policies. Palmesano expressed concern that school districts and local governments lack the certainty needed to finalize budgets ahead of statutory deadlines. Pretlow acknowledged negotiations continue but provided no updates on specific policy language, noting that the Governor controls the timeline. The extender suggests another will be needed by Wednesday.
A11010
PASSED
2026-04-20
Budget extender — appropriations for support of government through April 22, 2026
The Assembly passed its fifth consecutive budget extender (A11010), extending state funding through April 22, 2026, as negotiations between the Legislature and Governor Hochul remain stalled on major policy issues. Sponsor Asm. Pretlow said the measure appropriates $12.6 billion total and includes school aid payments, administrative payroll, public health programs, unemployment insurance, and support for OPWDD and veterans services. Minority Leader Asm. Palmesano criticized the repeated extensions and lack of transparency, noting that school districts face statutory deadlines to finalize budgets and send military ballots by Friday without knowing their final aid allocations. He also raised concerns about local governments needing certainty for infrastructure projects and questioned whether the Governor's structural control over the budget process, established by the Silver v. Pataki court ruling, gives the executive disproportionate leverage. Palmesano noted no substantive language has been shared on the Governor's proposed tax increases, SEQRA changes, auto insurance reform, immigration proposals, Tier 6 pension changes, or climate policies. He argued that late budgets, high taxes, and regulatory mandates are driving out-migration from New York. Pretlow acknowledged the Legislature's diminished authority under Silver v. Pataki and said rebalancing that power would require a constitutional amendment. Palmesano voted for the extender to keep government open but said the Legislature must "get to work and do the right thing" for constituents.
A11000
PASSED
2026-04-16
An act making appropriations for the support of government; to amend Chapter 98, 100, and 102 of the Laws of 2026, relating to making appropriations for the support of government
The Assembly passed a fourth budget extender (A11000) on Thursday, April 16th, authorizing $79.1 million in additional appropriations to fund State operations through April 20th. Sponsored by Asm. Pretlow, the bill includes funding for emergency payroll, unemployment insurance, public health programs, MTA support, OPWDD, and veterans programs. The total appropriations to date across three extenders reached $7.5 billion. Asm. Palmesano criticized the repeated extenders as a failure of process and leadership, noting the Assembly has passed four extenders since April 1st while nine budget bills remain unpassed. He also questioned the late introduction of new tax proposals without proper analysis and expressed concern that school districts lack budget certainty as they prepare their own budgets. Palmesano voted yes but called the extender "another Albany budget failure."
A11000
PASSED
2026-04-16
An act making appropriations for the support of government; to amend Chapter 98 of the Laws of 2026, Chapter 100 of the Laws of 2026, and Chapter 102 of the Laws of 2026, relating to making appropriations for the support of government
The Assembly passed A11000, a fourth budget extender since April 1st, providing $7.5 billion in appropriations to fund State operations through April 20th. Sponsored by Asm. Pretlow, the bill includes funding for emergency payroll, unemployment insurance, public health programs, MTA support, OPWDD, and veterans programs. Asm. Palmesano criticized the measure as symptomatic of institutional failure, noting the Legislature has now passed four extenders while nine additional budget bills remain unpassed. Palmesano also questioned the lack of analysis on newly proposed tax measures introduced after public budget hearings concluded, and expressed concern about the feasibility of climate and electric school bus mandates under discussion. The bill passed without recorded vote tallies being announced in the transcript.
A10935
PASSED
2026-04-13
Budget extender bill making appropriations for support of government through April 16, 2026; amending Chapters 98 and 100 of the Laws of 2026
The Assembly passed a budget extender bill (A10935) on April 13 that extends state spending authority through April 16 as negotiations on the full fiscal year budget continue. Sponsored by Asm. Pretlow, the measure provides $3.4 billion in funding for institutional payroll, public health programs, unemployment insurance, public assistance, veterans programs, and general state charges. This marks the third extender since the April 1 budget deadline, with total spending of $7.4 billion across all three extensions. Asm. Palmesano questioned the lack of progress on major policy issues including auto insurance reforms, climate proposals, and tax increases, criticizing the closed-door negotiation process and calling for greater transparency and public accountability. Despite his concerns about the budget process, Palmesano voted yes, stating the extender is necessary to maintain government operations and pay state employees. The bill passed without recorded vote tallies in the transcript.
A10935
PASSED
2026-04-13
Budget extender bill making appropriations for support of government through April 16, 2026; amending Chapters 98 and 100 of the Laws of 2026
The Assembly passed a $3.4 billion budget extender (A10935) on Monday that extends state funding through April 16 as negotiations on the full state budget continue. Sponsored by Asm. Pretlow, the measure covers institutional payroll, public health programs, unemployment insurance, public assistance, and veterans programs. This is the third extender since the April 1 budget deadline, bringing total extender spending to $7.4 billion. During debate, Asm. Palmesano pressed Pretlow on unresolved policy issues including auto insurance reforms, climate proposals, and tax increases, criticizing the lack of transparency in closed-door negotiations. Pretlow acknowledged policy discussions remain stalled and expressed hope the next extender would be final, though he was not optimistic. Palmesano voted yes despite his criticism, calling the extender necessary to keep government open but cautioning that supporting it should not be mistaken for supporting the budget process itself. The bill passed without recorded vote tallies in the transcript.
A10850
PASSED
2026-04-07
Budget extender bill making appropriations for support of government through April 14, 2026
The Assembly passed a budget extender bill (A10850) on Monday extending state funding through April 14 as negotiations on the full fiscal year budget continue to stall. Sponsored by Asm. Pretlow, the measure appropriates funds for administrative payroll, Medicaid, mass transit, unemployment insurance and other vital programs. The extender represents $2.9 billion in new appropriations, bringing total extender spending to $3.96 billion. Asm. Palmesano questioned the lack of progress, noting policy disputes over auto insurance reform, SEQRA changes and climate law modifications are blocking fiscal negotiations. He criticized the continued reliance on temporary measures, saying families and local governments need certainty to plan. The bill passed without recorded vote tallies in the transcript. The Assembly is scheduled to reconvene April 13 with hopes of passing a complete budget by April 14.
A10850
PASSED
2026-04-07
Budget extender bill making appropriations for support of government through April 14, 2026
The Assembly passed a second budget extender bill (A10850) on Monday, extending state funding through April 14 as negotiations on the full fiscal year budget continue to stall. Sponsored by Asm. Pretlow, the measure appropriates $2.9 billion in additional funding for administrative payroll, Medicaid, mass transit, unemployment insurance and other vital programs, bringing total extender appropriations to $3.96 billion. The bill passed without recorded vote tallies in the transcript. Asm. Palmesano questioned the lack of progress toward a complete budget agreement, noting that policy disputes over auto insurance reform, SEQRA changes and climate law modifications are blocking fiscal negotiations. He criticized the repeated reliance on extenders and expressed concern that the delay impacts school districts, local governments and families struggling with affordability. Despite his reservations, Palmesano voted in favor, calling for urgency in reaching a final budget agreement by the April 14 deadline.
A10760
PASSED
2026-03-31
Budget extender for state operations through April 7, 2026
The Assembly passed a one-week budget extender (A10760) extending state operations through April 7, 2026, appropriating $1.04 billion for institutional payroll, unemployment insurance, Medicaid, and other essential services. The bill includes $535 million annually for National Guard deployment in state correctional facilities. Assemblyman Palmesano supported passage but criticized the recurring pattern of late budgets, noting Governor Hochul's budgets have been late 7, 32, 20, and 38 days in the past four years respectively. He argued the late budgets compress transparency and create uncertainty for school districts and local governments planning infrastructure projects. Palmesano called for financial plans and out-year budget gap information before additional budget bills are considered.
A10761
PASSED
2026-03-31
Article VII bill extending Department of Motor Vehicles funding provisions
The Assembly passed A10761, a two-year Article VII extender allowing the Department of Motor Vehicles to continue collecting transaction fees and depositing them into the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Fund for road repairs and related services. The bill extends provisions that would otherwise expire April 1st and does not raise fees. Assemblyman Palmesano asked Pretlow about annual fee collection amounts, which the sponsor could not specify.
A10760
PASSED
2026-03-31
Budget extender — State operations appropriations through April 7, 2026
The Assembly passed a one-week budget extender (A10760) extending state operations through April 7, 2026, appropriating $1.04 billion for institutional payroll, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, and other essential services. The bill includes $535 million annually for National Guard deployment in state correctional facilities. Asm. Palmesano supported passage but criticized the recurring pattern of late budgets, noting that under Governor Hochul, budgets have been delayed by 7 to 38 days over the past four years. He urged leadership to provide financial plans and out-year budget projections before considering additional budget measures, warning that late budgets compress transparency and create uncertainty for school districts and local governments planning capital projects.
A10761
PASSED
2026-03-31
Article VII bill — Department of Motor Vehicles funding extension
The Assembly passed A10761, a two-year Article VII extender allowing the Department of Motor Vehicles to continue collecting transaction fees and depositing them into the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Fund for road and bridge repairs. Asm. Pretlow stated the bill does not raise fees and was taken directly from the Governor's proposed budget. The measure extends DMV funding authority that would have expired April 1st.
A10000-A
2026-03-12
Assembly Resolution No. 1034 - 2026-2027 Executive Budget Response and Assembly One-House Budget Resolution
The New York State Assembly advanced its One-House Budget Resolution (A10000-A and companion bills A10001-A10009-A) on March 12, with Chair Pretlow outlining a $266 billion spending plan emphasizing tax relief and social investments. The resolution proposes $10.8 billion in combined personal income tax relief, including one-time energy rebate checks of $500-$300 for residential consumers, a two-year utility rate freeze, and $2.1 billion in education funding. The budget includes $1.2 billion in healthcare investments, $750 million for affordable housing programs, and revenue proposals totaling $3.6 billion from corporate income tax increases on companies earning over $10 million, personal income tax rate increases for top earners, and a new crypto mining excise tax. Ranking Member Palmesano raised fiscal concerns, noting the budget represents 1.2% growth over the Governor's proposal and projects cumulative out-year deficits of $30.3 billion through 2030. He questioned whether tax increases on high earners and financial firms—amid evidence that one-third of New Yorkers are considering leaving the state—would prove counterproductive, and raised concerns about energy policy costs and workforce retention in corrections. No vote was taken during this segment.
A10000-A
2026-03-12
Assembly Resolution No. 1034 - 2026-2027 Executive Budget Response and Assembly One-House Budget Resolution
The New York State Assembly advanced its One-House Budget Resolution for fiscal year 2026-2027, proposing $266 billion in all-funds spending (excluding $6 billion in Federal Medicaid reactivation) with major investments in education, healthcare, housing, and tax relief. Chair Pretlow highlighted $10.8 billion in combined personal income tax relief, including one-time energy rebate checks of $500-$300 for residential consumers, $2.1 billion in education funding, and $238 million to raise direct care worker wages. The budget includes revenue proposals totaling $3.6 billion through increased corporate and personal income taxes on top earners and a new crypto mining excise tax. However, Ranking Member Palmesano raised significant concerns about the budget's fiscal sustainability, noting cumulative out-year deficits of $30.3 billion and questioning whether tax increases on high earners and corporations—amid evidence of out-migration and financial sector flight—would undermine competitiveness. Palmesano also pressed on energy policy impacts, corrections workforce recruitment, and school bus electrification mandates. The resolution was advanced for further consideration.
A08870 / S08413
PASSED
2025-06-17
An act authorizing a loan from the State to the City of Dunkirk and making an appropriation therefor
The Assembly passed a bill authorizing a state loan to the City of Dunkirk despite bipartisan local opposition. Asm. Molitor, voting against the measure, reported that a majority of the Dunkirk City Council and Bob Bankowski, a Democratic Chautauqua County legislator representing the city, both opposed the legislation. The Republican Conference generally opposed the bill while the Majority Conference supported it.
A04613-B
PASSED
2025-06-17
An act to amend the Education Law, in relation to modernizing the scope of the practice of podiatry
A08870
2025-06-13
An act in relation to authorizing a loan from the State to the City of Dunkirk (Part A); and making an appropriation therefor (Part B)
A07341-C
PASSED
2025-06-10
An act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to authorizing the City of Mount Vernon to impose a hotel and motel tax; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
A07341-C
PASSED
2025-06-10
An act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to authorizing the City of Mount Vernon to impose a hotel and motel tax; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
A05298
2025-05-21
An act to amend the Local Finance Law, in relation to bonds and notes of the City of Yonkers
A07348
PASSED
2025-05-21
An act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to increasing the tax on deeds in the City of Mount Vernon
A07265
PASSED
2025-05-12
An act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law and the Executive Law, in relation to authorizing a court to file non-family offense temporary orders of protection and orders of protection with the computerized registry established for such information
A03006-C
2025-05-08
Budget Bill - Education, Labor and Family Assistance (ELFA) components for State Fiscal Year 2025-2026
The Assembly took up Rules Report No. 183, containing A03006-C, the major budget bill implementing the State Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget for Education, Labor and Family Assistance. Chair Pretlow presented a $254.3 billion All-Funds budget, representing a $2.3 billion increase over the Governor's proposal and a 5.3 percent increase over the prior fiscal year. The General Fund totals $126.6 billion, up $10.3 billion from the Executive proposal, with $8 billion allocated to pay down the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund debt—a decision the Legislature made to prioritize reducing UI costs for small businesses over maintaining the Governor's 50 percent reserve goal. Out-year budget gaps were projected at $6.7 billion for 2026-2027, $10.5 billion for 2027-2028, and $11.7 billion for 2028-2029, totaling approximately $28.5 billion in cumulative out-year deficits. Assemblymember Ra questioned Chair Pretlow extensively on the financial plan, Foundation Aid formula changes, debt outstanding, and reserve fund levels. The Legislature accepted most of the Governor's Foundation Aid formula changes with small exceptions, including replacing census poverty data with small area income quality estimates.
A03003-D
PASSED
2025-05-08
Revenue Budget Bill
The New York State Assembly passed the $254 billion revenue budget bill on May 8, with debate centered on competing fiscal priorities. Sponsored by Assemblymember Pretlow, the bill extends and expands film tax credits by $100 million, restructures the MTA payroll tax to reduce burdens on small businesses while increasing rates on large employers, and includes provisions restricting private equity purchases of residential properties. Supporters highlighted benefits to the film industry, affordable housing preservation, and disability employment incentives. Critics, including Assemblymember Sempolinski, argued the $111 million film credit expansion diverts resources from direct care workers serving vulnerable populations. The bill includes $2 billion in rebate checks to residents, expanded semiconductor R&D incentives, and an organ donation tax credit. A party vote was requested, with the Minority Conference voting generally in the negative while allowing individual members to vote affirmatively. The bill passed with multiple members explaining their votes in support.
A03004-D
2025-05-08
Capital Projects Budget Bill
The Assembly considered the $30.5 billion Capital Projects Budget on May 8, with Assemblymember Pretlow explaining the bill authorizes up to $19.3 billion in disbursements and $8.9 billion in new debt for fiscal year 2025-26. Transportation and economic development account for $12.3 billion (40.4 percent) of spending. Assemblymember Ra conducted detailed questioning on discretionary funding mechanisms, Director of Budget contingency powers, and specific allocations including $90 million for Empire AI expansion, $100 million each for FAST NY and POWER UP economic development programs, and $1 billion for the City of Yes housing initiative. Ra also questioned disparities in community college funding, with CUNY receiving $35.1 million (nearly double prior year) while SUNY community colleges face $7.7 million cuts. The bill includes $900 million for SUNY hospital capital improvements and $44 million for library construction aid.
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
bills
bills
bills
bills
bills
bills
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.