Who is running for New York State Assembly, District 143 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for New York State Assembly, District 143 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in New York State Assembly District 143.
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 | Ryan J. TaughrinDemocrat | Patrick J. ChludzinskiRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Safety net programs | Expand help for childcare, housing and paid family leaveSaid · medium | No public position |
| Healthcare | Government-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)Said · medium | No public position |
| Immigration | Much more open immigration with less enforcementSaid · low | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadySaid · low |
| Energy and climate | No single answer fits; see evidence | All of the above: oil, gas, nuclear and renewables, and let markets pickSaid · low |
| School choice | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsSaid · medium | No public position |
| Policing and crime | No single answer fits; see evidence | Tougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailSaid · high |
| Election rules | No public position | Photo ID required, with current access otherwiseOfficial action · medium |
| Childcare and pre-K | Offer free pre-K to every 4-year-old, and expand childcare aidSaid · medium | No public position |
| AI regulation | No public position | Let each state write its own targeted AI rulesVoted · medium |
| Transgender athletes | No public position | No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsOfficial action · medium |
Ryan J. Taughrin
DemocratPrivate citizen; education administrator
Ryan Taughrin grew up in South Cheektowaga, was the first in his family to graduate college (SUNY Fredonia, 2010), earned a master's degree at the University at Buffalo in 2012 and is finishing a doctorate there; he works in education administration and is a union member42. He appears on the Democratic and Working Families lines on the November 3, 2026 ballot1.
Where they stand 8 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
HealthcareGovernment-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)medium
Said · medium confidence- His platform says health care is a human right, supports single-payer health care and passage of the New York Health Act, and lowering prescription drug costs. (2026) source
- In his 2026 Ballotpedia survey he said he is running to get universal health care passed in New York or to pass laws lowering prescription and routine medical costs. (2026) source
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
Said · medium confidence- His platform says he will fight for full Foundation Aid for public schools and reject voucher schemes. (2026) source
Childcare and pre-KOffer free pre-K to every 4-year-old, and expand childcare aidmedium
Said · medium confidenceSafety net programsExpand help for childcare, housing and paid family leavemedium
Said · medium confidence- His platform calls for expanded childcare subsidies, investment in housing rehabilitation and stronger protections for workers. (2026) source
ImmigrationMuch more open immigration with less enforcementlow
Said · low confidence- His platform says he will stand against ICE raids that terrorize families and champion policies that welcome newcomers and refugees. (2026) source
Energy and climateNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- His platform says he will champion public power to lower energy costs and support the SUNNY act for lower-cost residential solar. (2026) source
Policing and crimeNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- His platform supports limits on government and corporate data collection and Community Control Over Police Surveillance legislation. (2026) source
Drug pricesNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- His platform calls for lowering prescription drug costs. (2026) source
No public position found on: Minimum wage, Business regulation, Abortion, Guns, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, 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, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Patrick J. Chludzinski
Republican · IncumbentMember of the New York State Assembly, District 143 (since January 2025)
Pat Chludzinski served 25 years with the Cheektowaga Police Department, rising to detective lieutenant, and is an Army and Army National Guard veteran who served at the World Trade Center site after 9/11 and in Iraq; he was elected to the Assembly on November 5, 20241. He appears on the Republican and Conservative lines on the November 3, 2026 ballot2.
Where they stand 7 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailhigh
Said · high confidence- Said he wants changes to the state's bail reform laws and repeal of parts of the Raise the Age law so juveniles involved in crimes like car theft face more accountability. (2026-07-01) source
- Sponsors bills to bar commutation for people convicted of murder or sentenced to life without parole, and to give crime victims notice and a voice at parole hearings. (2025) source
- Co-sponsors A6358, which would restore judges' discretion to set bail based on danger to the community. (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
Election rulesPhoto ID required, with current access otherwisemedium
Official action · medium confidence- 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
Energy and climateAll of the above: oil, gas, nuclear and renewables, and let markets picklow
Said · low confidenceImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadylow
Said · low confidence- Said he supports legal immigration and wants stronger cooperation between local and federal law enforcement when undocumented people commit crimes. (2026-07-01) source
- In 2024 he said migrants were placed in Cheektowaga without planning for service costs and that crime rose near migrant facilities. (2024-10-31) source
GunsNo single answer fitslow
Official action · low confidence- Sponsors A7024 to exempt certain people from the crime of possessing a firearm in a sensitive location. (2025) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, School choice, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, 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, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, 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.