Member of the New York State Assembly, District 139 (since 2006); Deputy Minority Leader

Steve Hawley won a February 28, 2006 special election for the Assembly seat covering Genesee and Orleans counties and has held it since; he is Deputy Minority Leader and sits on Ways and Means, Rules, Veterans' Affairs, Agriculture and Insurance¹. He ran an insurance agency and Hawley Farms, served seven years in the Ohio Army National Guard and Army Reserve, and was a Genesee County legislator¹. He appears on the Republican and Conservative lines on the November 3, 2026 ballot².

Where they stand 15 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailhigh

  Said · high confidence

  • Called again for an end to bail reform, saying it created a revolving door of crime that gives career criminals a free pass. (2023-03-01) source
  • Voted no 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
  • Co-sponsors A1658, which would require life without parole for first and second degree murder and aggravated murder. (2025) source
• GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • After a 2013 Second Amendment rally he said his petition to repeal the state's new gun control law (the SAFE Act) drew an overwhelming response and that the law betrayed democracy through its hurried passage. (2013-03-01) source
  • Voted no on the NY SAFE Act, which banned assault-style weapons and large magazines and expanded background checks (104 to 43). (2013-01-15) source
  • Voted no on the 2022 concealed carry law that added licensing requirements and sensitive locations after the Bruen decision (90 to 52). (2022-07-01) source
  • Voted no on requiring a license, and a minimum age of 21, to buy a semiautomatic rifle (102 to 47). (2022-06-02) source
• Term limitsOnly limit leadership posts like committee chairs, not members themselvesmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Said he supports the Public Officers Accountability Act, which would institute term limits for legislative leaders, restrict use of campaign money and bar corrupt officials from future office. (2015-02-13) source
• Electoral CollegeKeep it in the Constitution but have states join the National Popular Vote Compactmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on New York joining the National Popular Vote interstate compact (102 to 33). (2014-03-25) source
• Election rulesPhoto ID required, with current access otherwisemedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Voted no on the Early Mail Voter Act, which lets any registered voter request a mail ballot (94 to 51). (2023-06-09) source
  • Co-sponsors A3302, which would require a government photo identification card to vote. (2025) source
  • Co-sponsors A5204, which would require a government photo identification card to vote and give people a no-charge way to get one. (2025) source
• Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Co-sponsors A7741, which would bar students not assigned female at birth from school teams in grades 7 to 12 that are designated for female athletes. (2025) source
• Death penaltyKeep it for the worst murders under current rulesmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Multi-sponsors A5165, which would reinstate the death penalty for the intentional murder of a police officer, peace officer or corrections employee. (2025) source
• Nuclear powerBack new reactors with public funds, tax credits, and streamlined approvalsmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Co-sponsors A10027, which would create a state Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, a nuclear permitting coordinator and a development fund with grants to encourage new nuclear projects. (2025) source
• AbortionNo single answer fitslow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted no 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
  • Co-sponsors bills requiring parental notice before a minor has an abortion (A9090), requiring care for infants born alive after an abortion (A2195) and barring state funds for out-of-state patients seeking abortions (A7800); none of them bans abortion. (2025) source
• MarijuanaNo single answer fitslow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted no on the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act, which legalized adult use and expunged past convictions (94 to 56). (2021-03-30) source
• School vaccinesNo single answer fitslow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted no on repealing the religious exemption from school vaccination requirements (84 to 61). (2019-06-13) source
• Energy and climateNo single answer fitslow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted no on the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which set the state's emissions reduction deadlines (111 to 35). (2019-06-20) source
• Gender care for minorsNo single answer fitslow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted no on a law shielding gender-affirming care patients and providers from out-of-state investigations (97 to 47). (2023-06-10) source
• AI regulationNo single answer fitslow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted no 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
• 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, Healthcare, School choice, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Redistricting, Campaign finance, Ranked-choice voting, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, Kids online, E-Verify mandate, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.