Who is running for New York State Assembly, District 139 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for New York State Assembly, District 139 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in New York State Assembly District 139.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Stephen M. HawleyRepublican | Sarah R. WolcottDemocrat |
|---|---|---|
| Guns | Remove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightSaid · medium | No public position |
| Policing and crime | Tougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailSaid · high | No public position |
| Election rules | Photo ID required, with current access otherwiseOfficial action · medium | No public position |
| Term limits | Only limit leadership posts like committee chairs, not members themselvesSaid · medium | No public position |
| Electoral College | Keep it in the Constitution but have states join the National Popular Vote CompactVoted · medium | No public position |
| Death penalty | Keep it for the worst murders under current rulesOfficial action · medium | No public position |
| Nuclear power | Back new reactors with public funds, tax credits, and streamlined approvalsOfficial action · medium | No public position |
| Transgender athletes | No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsOfficial action · medium | No public position |
Stephen M. Hawley
Republican · IncumbentMember 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.
Sarah R. Wolcott
DemocratPrivate citizen; manufacturing worker
Sarah Wolcott, 42, is a lifelong Batavia resident who works on an assembly line at a manufacturing company in Alden and holds two associate degrees from Genesee Community College34. She announced her run on February 2, 2026 and says she is running so working-class and rural voices have a seat in Albany34. She appears on the Democratic line only on the November 3, 2026 ballot1.
Where they stand 3 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
HealthcareNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- Her campaign site calls for universal access to quality, affordable health care close to home, and her announcement listed accessible, affordable health care for all New Yorkers as a priority. (2026) source
Safety net programsNo single answer fitslow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- In her 2026 Ballotpedia survey she said working a full-time job should cover basic necessities and that she would support legislation that makes life more affordable, including health care, housing and utility costs. (2026) source
Business regulationNo single answer fitslow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- In her 2026 Ballotpedia survey she said corporations should not get subsidies and should pay their fair share of taxes and of development costs such as data centers, and she wants stronger labor protections. (2026) source
No public position found on: Minimum wage, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, School choice, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, 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, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.