Member of the New York State Assembly, District 146 (since 2019)

Karen McMahon was elected in November 2018 to represent Amherst and Williamsville after nearly 30 years as a law clerk to judges of the state Appellate Division and the federal Western District of New York, followed by private practice in special education law; she holds undergraduate and law degrees from the University at Buffalo¹. She appears on the Democratic line only on the November 3, 2026 ballot².

Where they stand 12 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• Election rulesEasier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyonehigh

  Said · high confidence

  • Her campaign site says she helped pass early voting and registration portability in 2019 and supports voting by mail and same-day voter registration. (2026) source
  • Voted yes on the Early Mail Voter Act, which lets any registered voter request a mail ballot (94 to 51). (2023-06-09) source
• Energy and climateAn aggressive shift to clean energy with firm deadlineshigh

  Said · high confidence

  • Her campaign site says she co-sponsored the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and supports renewable energy development. (2026) source
  • Voted yes on the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which requires an 85 percent cut in emissions by 2050 and net zero across the economy (111 to 35). (2019-06-20) source
• GunsAll of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazinesmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Said she helped pass common sense gun safety measures including the red flag law, safe storage, raising the age to buy semiautomatic rifles to 21, ending grandfathering of high-capacity magazines, and barring concealed weapons in sensitive locations, while respecting lawful gun owners. (2022-07-18) source
  • 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
• AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)medium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Her campaign site says she supports women's reproductive health choices, and in 2022 she said she voted to strengthen the right to safe reproductive health care and protect providers treating out-of-state patients. (2022-07-18) source
  • Voted yes on the Reproductive Health Act, which allows abortion through 24 weeks and later to protect the patient's life or health or when the fetus is not viable (95 to 49). (2019-01-22) 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
• School vaccinesAllow only medical exemptionsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on repealing the religious exemption from school vaccination requirements, leaving only medical exemptions (84 to 61). (2019-06-13) 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
• 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 crimeFund police and add reforms like body cameras and use-of-force limitslow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted yes on repealing Civil Rights Law 50-a, which opened police disciplinary records to the public (101 to 43). (2020-06-09) source
  • Voted no on the Clean Slate Act, which automatically seals certain conviction records after a waiting period (82 to 65). (2023-06-09) source
  • Her campaign site lists support for first responders among her quality of life priorities. (2026) source
• HealthcareNo single answer fitslow

  Said · low confidence

  • Her campaign site says access to affordable health care is a right of all citizens, not a privilege. (2026) source
• Drug pricesNo single answer fitslow

  Said · low confidence

  • Her campaign site says she worked to reduce prescription drug costs, particularly insulin. (2026) source
• ImmigrationNo single answer fitslow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted no on the Green Light law allowing driver's licenses for residents without legal immigration status (87 to 61). (2019-06-12) source

No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, 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, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, Kids online, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.