Member of the New York State Assembly, District 149 (since 2021)

Jonathan Rivera has represented Assembly District 149 (parts of Buffalo and Lackawanna, Hamburg, Blasdell and Lake View) since 2021 and chairs the Administrative Regulations Review Commission; he earlier worked for Congressman Brian Higgins, HSBC Bank and the Erie County Executive's office, and holds degrees from Buffalo State and George Washington University¹³. He defeated Senator Jeremy Zellner in the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary (56 percent to 44 percent) and is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Senate District 61, on the Democratic and Working Families lines³². His Assembly votes below are his own; a different member named Rivera also served through 2022, so 2021 and 2022 votes are read from the roll call entry marked Rivera JD.

Where they stand 10 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• HealthcareGovernment-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)medium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Co-sponsors the New York Health Act (A1466), which would create a state single-payer health plan covering all residents. (2025) source
• MarijuanaLegalize it and clear past convictionsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act, which legalized adult use, set up regulated sales and expunged past marijuana convictions (94 to 56). (2021-03-30) source
• GunsAll of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazinesmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on the 2022 concealed carry law that added training and licensing requirements and barred guns in sensitive locations (90 to 52). (2022-07-01) source
  • Voted yes on requiring a license, and a minimum age of 21, to buy a semiautomatic rifle (102 to 47). (2022-06-02) source
  • Multi-sponsors A2508, which would make manufacturers and dealers liable for harm caused by large capacity ammunition magazines. (2025) source
• Gender care for minorsProtect access to it by lawmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on a law shielding patients and providers of gender-affirming care from out-of-state investigations and protecting providers' licenses (97 to 47). (2023-06-10) source
• Election rulesEasier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyonemedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on the Early Mail Voter Act, which lets any registered voter request a mail ballot (94 to 51). (2023-06-09) source
  • Co-sponsors A6772, which would upgrade automatic voter registration at DMV and Medicaid offices. (2025) source
• AI regulationLet each state write its own targeted AI rulesmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on the RAISE Act, a state law setting safety and reporting rules for developers of the most powerful AI models (119 to 22). (2025-06-12) source
• Policing and crimeNo single answer fitslow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted yes on the Clean Slate Act, which automatically seals certain conviction records after a waiting period (82 to 65). (2023-06-09) source
• Minimum wageNo single answer fitslow

  Official action · low confidence

  • Co-sponsors A6086, which would raise the minimum wage outside New York City and its suburbs to match the downstate rate. (2025) source
• ImmigrationNo single answer fitslow

  Official action · low confidence

  • Co-sponsors bills to bar immigration detention contracts (A4181), bar immigration enforcement in schools (A5373) and create work permits for asylum seekers (A278). (2025) source
• AbortionNo single answer fitslow

  Official action · low confidence

  • Co-sponsors A2137, which would provide practical support for access to abortion care, such as travel reimbursement. (2025) source

No public position found on: Safety net programs, Business regulation, Energy and climate, School choice, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.