Who is running for New York State Assembly, District 142 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for New York State Assembly, District 142 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in New York State Assembly District 142.
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 | Patrick B. BurkeDemocrat | Gary A. DicksonRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Government-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)Official action · medium | No public position |
| Abortion | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Voted · medium | No public position |
| Guns | All of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazinesVoted · low | No public position |
| Immigration | No single answer fits; see evidence | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadyQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Energy and climate | An aggressive shift to clean energy with firm deadlinesVoted · high | All of the above: oil, gas, nuclear and renewables, and let markets pickSaid · medium |
| Policing and crime | Fund police and add reforms like body cameras and use-of-force limitsSaid · low | More police, with a focus on repeat offendersQuestionnaire answer · low |
| Election rules | Easier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyoneVoted · medium | No public position |
| Marijuana | Legalize it and clear past convictionsVoted · medium | No public position |
| Gender care for minors | Protect access to it by lawVoted · medium | No public position |
| Term limits | No public position | Yes, but longer limits that still allow long service, such as 12 years per chamberSaid · medium |
| AI regulation | Let each state write its own targeted AI rulesVoted · medium | No public position |
| School vaccines | Allow only medical exemptionsVoted · medium | No public position |
Patrick B. Burke
Democrat · IncumbentMember 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
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 confidencePolicing 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.
Gary A. Dickson
RepublicanTown Supervisor, West Seneca (since 2020)
Gary Dickson has been West Seneca Town Supervisor since 2020 (elected 2019, re-elected 2023) after six years in the U.S. Army and 27 years as an FBI special agent; he holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland and a master's in public policy from George Mason University25. He was the Republican nominee in the April 2024 special election for New York's 26th congressional district, losing to Tim Kennedy3. He appears on the Republican and Conservative lines on the November 3, 2026 ballot1.
Where they stand 5 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Energy and climateAll of the above: oil, gas, nuclear and renewables, and let markets pickmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site says the state's climate law mandates could cost upstate families thousands a year, supports repealing those mandates, and calls for an all-of-the-above energy strategy that keeps the lights on and costs down. (2026) source
Term limitsYes, but longer limits that still allow long service, such as 12 years per chambermedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site says he believes in term limits at every level, held a successful term limits referendum in West Seneca, and would push a constitutional amendment for state legislative term limits. (2026) source
- In his 2024 congressional survey he said five House terms (10 years) and two Senate terms (12 years) seemed reasonable. (2024) source
ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- In his 2024 congressional survey he said immigration must be brought under control, that most Americans' ancestors came legally, and that walls are a good thing. (2024) source
Policing and crimeMore police, with a focus on repeat offenderslow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- In his 2024 congressional survey he said citizens feel more vulnerable to crime and that he would advocate for police and for prioritizing victims' interests over those of criminals. (2024) source
- His campaign site cites 27 years fighting violent and organized crime and says law enforcement works best when agencies cooperate; his announcement cited respect for law enforcement as a reason for running. (2026) source
Campaign financeNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- Criticized his opponent for not co-sponsoring a bill to close the loophole that lets one owner give through multiple corporations, and called for closing it. (2026-07-27) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, School choice, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, 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.