Source review updated October 24, 2026. New York State Assembly District 45. Party positions appear first, followed by individual candidate evidence and all five NYC ballot proposals. The primary language of this guide is English.
1. Party positions first
The table summarizes the national parties’ 2024 platforms as historical context. It does not establish an individual candidate’s 2026 position. Federal, state and City powers differ.
| Issue | Democratic · national platform 2024 | Republican · national platform 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Gender identity at school | Protect transgender students from discrimination. | Oppose taxpayer-funded schools promoting gender transition. |
| Parental notification and involvement | The reviewed provision does not establish a specific notification rule. | Support parental rights; specific exceptions need separate verification. |
| Eligibility for female sports categories | A specific eligibility rule was not established in the reviewed provision. | Oppose male participation in women’s sports. |
| Sex education and parental opt-outs | Curriculum, starting age and opt-outs require separate sources. | Oppose inappropriate sexual content; this does not establish opposition to all sex education. |
| Puberty blockers, hormones and surgery for minors | Oppose government bans on gender-affirming care; recognize parents, families and doctors. | Oppose taxpayer funding for sex-change surgery. |
| Surgery for minors and parental consent | Supporting access to care does not establish support for surgery without parental consent. | The reviewed provision does not establish an exact parental-consent rule. |
| Pretrial release and cash bail | Specific New York bail changes require state-level sources. | Specific New York bail changes require state-level sources. |
| ICE notification, detention and transfers | Conditions for transferring a particular detainee require separate evidence. | Support deportations and oppose sanctuary policies. |
| Local police–ICE agreements under 287(g) | The position on New York’s 2026 law requires separate evidence. | Support local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement; verify 287(g) details separately. |
| Taxes and budgets | Family tax relief; higher contributions from wealthy taxpayers and corporations. | Tax reductions; permanent Trump-era tax provisions. |
| Housing, rent and construction | More housing, buyer and renter assistance, and tenant protections. | Fewer building restrictions; support first-time buyers. |
| Healthcare coverage and prescription costs | Expand affordable coverage; lower prescription costs. | Competition, choice and price transparency. |
| Abortion, contraception and IVF | Restore federal reproductive-rights protections. | State decision-making; oppose late-term abortion; support IVF. |
| School quality, funding and school choice | Public-school investment and preschool. | Universal school choice and support for homeschooling. |
| Wages, unions and paid leave | Higher federal minimum wage, unions and paid leave. | Protect manufacturing through tariffs; verify specific labor guarantees separately. |
| Small businesses and regulation | Financing and investment; support competition. | Reduce regulation; protect domestic production through tariffs. |
| Energy, climate and utility bills | Clean energy and pollution reduction. | Expand energy production and reduce restrictions. |
| Gun ownership and firearm safety | Universal background checks; assault-weapon and high-capacity-magazine bans. | Protect the right to keep and bear arms. |
| Policing and crime prevention | Police funding alongside reforms and prevention. | Support police and tougher responses to violent crime. |
| Social Security, Medicare and older residents | Protect Social Security and Medicare. | Preserve benefits without raising retirement age. |
| MTA, streets and congestion pricing | Specific NYC policy positions are not yet verified here. | Specific NYC policy positions are not yet verified here. |
| Homelessness, mental health and substance use | Housing first, combined with supportive services. | Specific local proposals require separate verification. |
| Voting rules and access | Expand access and protect voting rights. | Voter ID, citizenship verification and paper ballots. |
| Foreign policy: Israel, Ukraine and NATO | Current conditions for assistance require separate verification. | Current conditions for assistance require separate verification. |
| Transparency, oversight and corruption | NYC ballot-proposal endorsements require separate verification. | NYC ballot-proposal endorsements require separate verification. |
Sources: Democratic national platform 2024 · Republican national platform 2024.
Other ballot lines in this district: Conservative and Fgt Antisemitism have not yet been separately verified on these issues. Another party’s platform is not substituted for theirs.
New York legislative conferences: 2026 documents
Senate Republican Conference: proposes income-tax cuts, repeal of congestion pricing and an MTA audit, repeal of cashless-bail reforms, and changes to energy mandates; identifies S4496 on girls’ sports. NY Senate Republican Conference: Save New York 2026. These are conference proposals, not enacted law or every Republican candidate’s promises.
Senate Democratic majority: its 2026–2027 one-house budget proposal includes investments in housing, schools, childcare, healthcare and transit. NY Senate budget resolution R1722. A one-house proposal is not the enacted budget or a complete party platform.
2. Candidates: individual positions and departures from party positions
No departures from party positions have yet been established in this review. This does not establish complete agreement. A departure requires evidence of a specific party position and a different individual position. The table records verified statements and remaining research gaps.
| Issue | Joey Cohen-Saban Democratic / Fgt Antisemitism | Michael Novakhov Republican / Conservative |
|---|---|---|
| Gender identity at school | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Parental notification and involvement | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Eligibility for female sports categories | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Sex education and parental opt-outs | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Puberty blockers, hormones and surgery for minors | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Surgery for minors and parental consent | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Pretrial release and cash bail | The reviewed campaign page supports policing but does not establish a separate bail position. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | On March 7, 2023, supported bail eligibility for fentanyl-dealing charges. He is also listed as a co-sponsor of A632 (2025–2026), concerning specified firearm-related bail-qualifying charges. The bill is in committee; sponsorship is not a vote. Novakhov statement on bail for fentanyl charges · A632: bill text, co-sponsors and status Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| ICE notification, detention and transfers | Criticizes migrant-shelter placement without meaningful neighborhood input. That does not establish a position on transferring detainees to ICE. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Local police–ICE agreements under 287(g) | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Taxes and budgets | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Housing, rent and construction | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Healthcare coverage and prescription costs | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Abortion, contraception and IVF | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| School quality, funding and school choice | Promises higher funding for schools and yeshivas, per-pupil support and capital grants, including nonpublic schools. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Wages, unions and paid leave | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Small businesses and regulation | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Energy, climate and utility bills | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | On March 4, 2026, called for an overhaul of energy mandates, an all-of-the-above energy approach and the LOWER plan. Projected cost claims are not independently verified here. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Gun ownership and firearm safety | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Policing and crime prevention | Supports more foot patrols and community policing. This does not establish a position on every punishment or bail rule. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Social Security, Medicare and older residents | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| MTA, streets and congestion pricing | Identifies overcrowded transit as a quality-of-life problem. Specific positions on fares, congestion pricing and MTA budgets were not established. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | Called for a full forensic audit of the MTA on March 3, 2025, while explicitly supporting MTA funding. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Homelessness, mental health and substance use | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Voting rules and access | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Foreign policy: Israel, Ukraine and NATO | Supports the US–Israel relationship and New York State’s support for Israel. Positions on Ukraine, NATO and specific military-aid conditions were not established on this page. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
| Transparency, oversight and corruption | A direct statement or legislative vote has not yet been verified for this issue. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. | Calls for an MTA financial audit to identify inefficient spending. This does not establish his position on the five NYC ballot proposals. Roll-call vote: not added. Checked October 24, 2026. |
“Not verified” describes the limits of this research. It does not mean support, opposition or refusal to answer. Candidate statements, bill sponsorship and roll-call votes are distinct forms of evidence.
3. The back of the ballot: all five NYC proposals
These citywide proposals apply across all five boroughs. Summaries below explain YES and NO; follow the NYC Votes links for official wording, explanations and submitted-statement summaries. An organization’s position is not an endorsement by an entire political party.
Proposal 1. Public-space permits: ramps, benches and sidewalk cafés
YES: Remove mandatory hearings and the City Council’s power to disapprove sidewalk-café consents; retain notice and opportunities for local comments.
NO: Retain mandatory hearings and Council review of sidewalk cafés.
Arguments in support: Open Plans and New York Lawyers for the Public Interest emphasize lower costs and fewer delays, including for accessibility ramps.
Arguments in opposition: CIDNY and D9 Harlem Votes warn that fewer hearings could weaken accessible participation and local oversight.
The new process would begin March 1, 2027, without affecting previously submitted petitions.
Party and candidate endorsements: not yet verified. NYC Votes: official text, explanation and statement summaries. Checked October 24, 2026.
Proposal 2. City contracting and the Procurement Policy Board
YES: Allow the PPB to revise contractor questionnaires; require quarterly meetings; remove hearings on annual direct-services plans; expand delegation of certain contract approvals.
NO: Keep existing requirements and questionnaire responsibilities.
Arguments in support: Abundance New York and New York Lawyers for the Public Interest emphasize easier participation for small contractors and nonprofits.
Arguments in opposition: D9 Harlem Votes argues that reducing paperwork should not reduce public review.
Quarterly meetings would begin January 1, 2027. A separate public-comment threshold authority would begin October 1, 2030.
Party and candidate endorsements: not yet verified. NYC Votes: official text, explanation and statement summaries. Checked October 24, 2026.
Proposal 3. Street safety, City property and office leasing — one bundled proposal
YES: Simplify street-project review, disposition of specified City properties and office leasing; remove some Council review.
NO: Retain existing interagency consultation and Council powers over property dispositions and office leases.
Arguments in support: Transportation Alternatives supports faster safety projects; Open New York supports putting unused land and development rights to use.
Arguments in opposition: Municipal Art Society objects to bundling three subjects. Long Island City Partnership raises concerns about local businesses losing input on street projects.
One vote applies to all three parts. Expedited land review is limited to specified properties and conditions.
Party and candidate endorsements: not yet verified. NYC Votes: official text, explanation and statement summaries. Checked October 24, 2026.
Proposal 4. Centralized construction permitting and waterfront permits
YES: Create a centralized application system by 2030, transfer waterfront permitting from SBS to DOB, and authorize additional DOB officials to approve documents.
NO: Leave the law unchanged.
Arguments in support: Abundance New York and other supporters emphasize simpler applications and reduced time and costs.
Arguments in opposition: NYC Votes summarizes opponents’ concerns about transparency, oversight and public participation; D9 Harlem Votes is the listed institutional opponent.
Existing waterfront permits remain unchanged. The waterfront transfer has a separate effective date: December 31, 2030, or when a new waterfront-structure code takes effect.
Party and candidate endorsements: not yet verified. NYC Votes: official text, explanation and statement summaries. Checked October 24, 2026.
Proposal 5. Budget reserves and the Rainy Day Fund
YES: Set a reserve goal of at least 12% of the previous year’s tax revenue and require a deposit methodology; contributions remain subject to the normal budget process.
NO: Leave the law unchanged, without the new reserve target.
Arguments in support: D9 Harlem Votes and Hotel and Gaming Trades Council emphasize protecting public services during financial downturns.
Arguments in opposition: Reinvent Albany argues that the framework is insufficiently binding and vulnerable to manipulation of reserve and deposit calculations.
The target is not an immediate 12% deposit: contributions may be phased or skipped during hardship. Reinvent Albany’s criticism is an attributed argument, not an established outcome.
Party and candidate endorsements: not yet verified. NYC Votes: official text, explanation and statement summaries. Checked October 24, 2026.
Legal context and evidence limits
- School names, pronouns, permanent records, sports participation and medical care are separate questions. NYC Public Schools: transgender student guidelines.
- Sexual-health lessons and parental opt-outs depend on the specific curriculum. NYC Public Schools: Health Education.
- Medical-consent law contains exceptions for specified circumstances and categories of minors; this review does not establish permission for a particular procedure. NY Public Health Law §2504.
- A person charged with an offense has not necessarily been convicted. Pretrial release, bail and detention depend on statutory categories. NY Criminal Procedure Law §510.10.
- ICE notification, transfers, additional detention and 287(g) agreements are separate measures. NY Executive Law §170-k contains restrictions and exceptions, including judicial orders, judicial warrants and actions otherwise required by law. Governor’s explanation of immigration legislation provides an explanation of the May 2026 legislation.
Sources reviewed — October 24, 2026
Democratic national platform 2024
Date / version: 2024.
Historical national-party context; not an individual 2026 candidate pledge.Republican national platform 2024
Date / version: 2024.
Historical national-party context; not an individual 2026 candidate pledge.NY Senate Republican Conference: Save New York 2026
Date / version: 2026.
Legislative-conference proposals, not enacted law or every Republican candidate’s position.NY Senate budget resolution R1722
Date / version: 2026–2027 budget; 2025–2026 legislative session.
One-house budget proposal, not the enacted budget or a complete Democratic Party platform.Cohen-Saban campaign: Issues
Date / version: Publication date not shown.
Campaign statements; limited source review.Novakhov statement on bail for fentanyl charges
Date / version: March 7, 2023.
Official statement; not a roll-call vote.A632: bill text, co-sponsors and status
Date / version: 2025–2026 session; latest listed action January 7, 2026.
Novakhov is a co-sponsor; in Assembly committee. Co-sponsorship is not a floor vote.Novakhov statement on energy policy
Date / version: March 4, 2026.
Evidence of his stated preference; projected cost claims are not independently verified here.Novakhov calls for an MTA forensic audit
Date / version: March 3, 2025.
Supports an audit and explicitly supports MTA funding; not a floor vote.NYC Public Schools: transgender student guidelines
Date / version: Publication date not shown.
Names, pronouns, permanent records and school sports; not authorization for medical procedures.NYC Public Schools: Health Education
Date / version: Publication date not shown.
Sexual health education in grades 6–12 and opt-outs from certain lessons, not the entire health course.NY Public Health Law §2504
Date / version: Displayed revision August 8, 2025.
General medical-consent rules and exceptions; not procedure-specific permission.NY Criminal Procedure Law §510.10
Date / version: Displayed revision June 9, 2023.
Release, bail and detention depend on statutory categories. A pending charge is not a conviction.NY Executive Law §170-k
Date / version: Displayed revision September 18, 2026.
Restrictions on specified immigration agreements; subsection 6 preserves compliance with judicial orders, judicial warrants and other actions required by law.Governor’s explanation of immigration legislation
Date / version: May 28, 2026.
Explanatory release; statutory text controls the precise rules and exceptions.
Research remains incomplete for many individual positions, current roll-call votes and additional ballot-line platforms. The five NYC Votes sources are linked with each proposal above. No candidate inquiries have been sent.