Member of the New York State Assembly, District 142 (since 2019); Chair, Committee on Cities

Pat Burke, a Buffalo native, served on the Erie County Legislature from 2014 to 2018 and has represented Assembly District 142 (South Buffalo, Lackawanna, West Seneca and part of Orchard Park) since 2019; he teaches political science at Buffalo State and chairs the Assembly Committee on Cities¹⁴. He appears on the Democratic and Working Families lines on the November 3, 2026 ballot².

Where they stand 11 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• Energy and climateAn aggressive shift to clean energy with firm deadlineshigh

  Voted · high confidence

  • 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
  • The League of Conservation Voters' candidate page says he supported the climate law and scored 100 percent on its scorecard. (2026) source
• 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
• AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)medium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • 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
• 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
• GunsAll of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazineslow

  Voted · low 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
• Policing and crimeFund police and add reforms like body cameras and use-of-force limitslow

  Said · low confidence

  • Said the old cash bail system was broken but the 2019 reforms were flawed too, and proposed dangerousness hearings so judges could hold people charged with violent crimes before trial regardless of wealth. (2020-02-11) source
  • 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
• 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, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, Kids online, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.