With New York’s Primary approaching on June 23 and the General Election on Nov. 3, there’s no better time to get acquainted with the candidates on your ballot.
But first, what counts as a candidate? Under New York State law, a candidate is any individual who seeks nomination or election to public office or party position, regardless of whether they appear on the ballot. That includes anyone who has taken qualifying action, or for whom money has been raised or spent toward that goal.
In New York, you may be voting for candidates at multiple levels of government — federal offices like U.S. House and Senate, statewide offices like Governor and Attorney General, state legislative seats, and local offices ranging from county legislator to school board member. New York City voters will also see city-specific races like Mayor, City Council, and Borough President.
This guide walks you through how to find who is running in your district, how to vet their positions, and where to dig into the money behind their campaigns.
Step 1: Find Out Who’s on Your Ballot
New Yorkers will see wildly different ballots across the state, with federal, state, and local races varying by zip code and legislative district. The first step, then, is knowing exactly which races are yours.
VOTE411, launched by the League of Women Voters (LWV) in 2006, is the best place to start. Type in your address and you’ll get a personalized ballot view comprising candidate bios, their direct responses to policy questions, and a side-by-side comparison tool for the issues that matter to you most. The platform tracks nearly 14,000 candidates and 6,500 races nationwide.
Beyond the national platform, local LWV chapters produce their own materials. The League of Women Voters of Albany County, for instance, publishes a perennial guide called “Facts for Voters,”covering current officials and upcoming races.
For New York City residents, NYC Votes offers a dedicated “Compare Candidates” tool that pulls up everyone on your ballot by address, with each candidate’s positions on housing, public safety, climate, and economic inequality laid out side by side.
Ballotpedia goes deeper still, covering the full range of local, state, and federal races in New York alongside candidate backgrounds and election history.
For congressional races, it also helps to know who currently holds the seat. The “Find Your Representative” tool at House.gov identifies your sitting U.S. Representative by zip code, while Congress.gov offers a searchable member directory.
Such tools can make a measurable difference in participation. In Albany County, fewer than 200,000 active voters participated in the off-year 2021 elections, according to MaryKate Owens, president of the League of Women Voters of Albany County. Less than 70% of eligible citizens cast a ballot in a typical cycle; in some races, turnout drops as low as 32%.
“We want to encourage people to get out, learn about the issues, and vote,” Owens said. “When people go to VOTE411, they’re hoping to get information about their candidates—even the ones running unopposed.”
Step 2: Research Candidates’ Positions
Once you know who’s running, the next step is understanding what they actually stand for. Start with their own words: the campaign website’s “Issues” or “Platform” page and their social media are the most direct window into where a candidate wants you to think they stand.
From there, nonpartisan voter guides can help you cut through the campaign messaging. Organizations like the NAACP frequently publish issue-specific guides that hold candidates to a more rigorous standard than their own platforms will.
Local and independent media, like New York Focus and Hell Gate, are equally indispensable. Reporters covering your area will publish candidate Q&As, endorsements, and accountability journalism in the months leading up to the election.
Step 3: Follow the Money
Campaign finance records are public in New York, and they can reveal a lot about where a candidate’s loyalties actually lie.
For federal candidates (US House and Senate), OpenSecrets is the go-to resource for tracking industry-specific donations and PAC contributions.
For state-level candidates—be it Governor, State Senate, State Assembly, Attorney General, or others—use the NYSBOE Public Reporting System to search contributions and expenditures.
New York City candidates—including those running for Mayor, City Council, Public Advocate, Comptroller, and Borough President—are required to register and file only with the NYC Campaign Finance Board. You can also search their records here.
Step 4: Consider Endorsements as Another Data Point
Labor unions, local civic organizations, and editorial boards all publish endorsements that reflect their own values and priorities. No single one should be your deciding factor, but reading a few in concert gives you a fuller picture of where a candidate stands.
The Working Families Party, for example, has endorsed dozens of progressive candidates across New York for 2026, including Letitia James for Attorney General and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for US House District 14.
EMILY’s List, which endorses pro-choice Democratic women up and down the ballot, has backed Governor Kathy Hochul for re-election and Laura Gillen for U.S. House New York District 4 in 2026.
The Democratic Socialists of America are running an ambitious slate of New York candidates for the state legislature and Congress in 2026, buoyed by NYC-DSA’s February special election win in Astoria, where Diana Moreno succeeded newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani in the Assembly.
“If you’re not voting for president,” Owens said, “it may matter more and not less.”
Still figuring out how and when to vote? check out our Early Mail Voting Guide (link tk)for everything you need to know about casting your ballot before Election Day.
