REPLACING:

Brian Higgins (D)

WORK HISTORY:

New York State Senate (Member, District 63 / District 58), Erie County (Legislator); Bornhava Preschool & Catholic Health System (Occupational Therapist)

EDUCATION:

BA, MA, D’Youville University

CAMPAIGNED ON:

Protecting Workers and Creating Jobs; Standing Up for Abortion Rights; Keeping Our Communities Safe; Making Health Care a Right; Saving Our Democracy

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

Kennedy has vowed to protect abortion rights, criticizing the Supreme Court’s “dangerous Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade.” In the New York Senate, Kennedy voted to enshrine abortion rights in state law and women’s equality in the New York State Constitution. He is committed to fighting an abortion ban and codifying Roe v. Wade in federal law. [i]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

In July 2024, Kennedy condemned Republican attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris’ border policies and “urged his colleagues to take up bipartisan legislation that would provide the resources and policy fixes required to solve the border crisis.” He called for more resources to be provided to border agents, saying, “At the heart of the matter are real people escaping extreme poverty, violence, natural disasters, and persecution. They are leaving their homes, their families, their culture, and their countries to do what many of our own ancestors did—to seek a better life. But what they experience in pursuit of the American Dream is nothing short of a nightmare. Unfortunately, because this body has failed to deliver resources to our borders, tens of thousands of personnel have to do more with less as the crisis worsens [...] The need to act could not be more dire.” [ii]

ECONOMY & JOBS:

Kennedy has worked to pass laws that promote American-made products and empower striking workers. He intends to support legislation that will stop union-busting and “fight efforts by extreme Republicans to roll back labor protections.” [iii]

TAXES:

Kennedy has vowed to fight against corporate tax breaks. [iv] Throughout his time in the legislature, he worked to decrease middle class tax rates. [v]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

Kennedy supports working to reinstate the federal assault weapons ban and take illegal guns off our streets in order to keep New York communities safer. [vi]

FOREIGN POLICY:

Kennedy has promised to “fight to defend democracy and democratic values abroad, including supporting our allies in Ukraine and across the globe.” [vii]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

Kennedy has promised to fight against rollbacks to the Affordable Care Act, protect and expand Medicare, and work to make prescription drugs more affordable. [viii]

DEMOCRACY:

Kennedy has worked to expand voting rights and election reforms in the State Senate and intends to continue those priorities in Congress. He supports the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and plans to “fight against extremist attempts to undermine our elections through voter disenfranchisement and misinformation.” [ix]

SOCIAL ISSUES:

Kennedy is committed to “maintaining and building on progress for LGBTQ+ rights.” He has fought for equality and social justice, voting to legalize marriage equality. [x] In a statement following an endorsement from the Human Rights Campaign, Kennedy said, “I wholeheartedly intend to prioritize the same LGBTQ and civil rights protections that I've advanced as a State Senator in Albany when I head to Washington. As MAGA extremists in D.C. attempt to dismantle the rights of Americans, I promise to uphold the freedoms and safety of the diverse communities that make our country more vibrant, and I commit to continuing to foster inclusive policies and dialogues." [xi]