Who is running for New York State Assembly, District 146 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for New York State Assembly, District 146 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in New York State Assembly District 146.
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 | Karen M. McMahonDemocrat | Terence G. McGuireRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Abortion | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · medium | No public position |
| Guns | All of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazinesSaid · medium | No public position |
| Energy and climate | An aggressive shift to clean energy with firm deadlinesSaid · high | No public position |
| Policing and crime | Fund police and add reforms like body cameras and use-of-force limitsVoted · low | No single answer fits; see evidence |
| Election rules | Easier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyoneSaid · high | 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 |
| 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 |
Karen M. McMahon
Democrat · IncumbentMember of the New York State Assembly, District 146 (since 2019)
Karen McMahon was elected in November 2018 to represent Amherst and Williamsville after nearly 30 years as a law clerk to judges of the state Appellate Division and the federal Western District of New York, followed by private practice in special education law; she holds undergraduate and law degrees from the University at Buffalo1. She appears on the Democratic line only on the November 3, 2026 ballot2.
Where they stand 12 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Election rulesEasier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyonehigh
Said · high confidenceEnergy and climateAn aggressive shift to clean energy with firm deadlineshigh
Said · high confidence- Her campaign site says she co-sponsored the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and supports renewable energy development. (2026) source
- 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
GunsAll of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazinesmedium
Said · medium confidence- Said she helped pass common sense gun safety measures including the red flag law, safe storage, raising the age to buy semiautomatic rifles to 21, ending grandfathering of high-capacity magazines, and barring concealed weapons in sensitive locations, while respecting lawful gun owners. (2022-07-18) source
- 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
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)medium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says she supports women's reproductive health choices, and in 2022 she said she voted to strengthen the right to safe reproductive health care and protect providers treating out-of-state patients. (2022-07-18) source
- 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
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
Policing and crimeFund police and add reforms like body cameras and use-of-force limitslow
Voted · low confidence- 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
- Her campaign site lists support for first responders among her quality of life priorities. (2026) source
HealthcareNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- Her campaign site says access to affordable health care is a right of all citizens, not a privilege. (2026) source
Drug pricesNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- Her campaign site says she worked to reduce prescription drug costs, particularly insulin. (2026) 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, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, Kids online, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Terence G. McGuire
RepublicanPrivate citizen; retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and businessman
Terry McGuire is a West Point graduate and retired Army lieutenant colonel who worked in the medical device industry and returned to Western New York; he and his wife are raising a daughter with autism2. He announced his run on June 4, 2026, saying his campaign would focus on affordability, public safety, taxes and government accountability2. He appears on the Republican and Conservative lines on the November 3, 2026 ballot1.
Where they stand 2 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Policing and crimeNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- His announcement listed supporting law enforcement and assisting veterans and first responders among his priorities. (2026-06-04) source
Safety net programsNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- His announcement said he wants to reduce taxes and government spending and criticized the recently approved state budget. (2026-06-04) source
No public position found on: Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, School choice, 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, 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.