Historic Election Results Give New York State Legislature 10 Frum Lawmakers for First Time

For the first time in New York State history, the halls of the State Capitol in Albany will be home to a full minyan of Orthodox Jewish legislators, following Tuesday’s elections, which brought the number of frum lawmakers serving in the State Senate and Assembly to an unprecedented ten.

The remarkable milestone means that eight members of the State Assembly and two members of the State Senate will represent districts stretching from Brooklyn and Queens to Rockland and Nassau counties.

The historic achievement follows several significant election victories, including those of newly elected State Senator Sam Sutton of Brooklyn, Assemblyman-elect Joey Cohen-Saban of Brooklyn, and Assemblyman-elect Pesach Osina of Queens, who will join an established group of frum elected officials in Albany.

Former New York City Councilman David G. Greenfield, a longtime communal leader and executive director of Met Council, highlighted the extraordinary development in a social media post following the election.

“We may have MINYAN of state legislators who are Orthodox in New York!” Greenfield wrote, accompanying his message with a list of the ten lawmakers.

The milestone is especially significant considering that, for decades, Orthodox Jewish communities throughout New York relied primarily on relationships with elected officials from outside the community to advance their interests in state government.

Now, with ten frum lawmakers serving simultaneously, the community will have an unprecedented number of legislators who are personally familiar with the needs of yeshivos, families, shuls, mosdos, and communal organizations.

The eight Assembly members are Simcha Eichenstein, Kalman Yeger, Joey Cohen-Saban, Sam Berger, David Weprin, Pesach Osina, Aron Wieder, and Ari Brown.

In the State Senate, Sam Sutton of Brooklyn and Lisa Vider of Nassau County complete the ten-member group.

The lawmakers represent a geographically diverse collection of communities, reflecting the expanding political participation and influence of Orthodox Jewish voters across New York.

Brooklyn, home to some of the nation’s largest frum communities, accounts for three Assembly members and one senator.

Queens will be represented by three Orthodox Assembly members, while Rockland County will have one Assembly member. Nassau County will have one Assembly member and one senator.

Among the most closely watched victories was that of Joey Cohen-Saban, who defeated Republican incumbent Michael Novakhov in Brooklyn’s 45th Assembly District.

Cohen-Saban’s victory represented a significant reversal from 2024, when he narrowly lost to Novakhov. This time, the Democratic challenger won decisively, securing approximately 60 percent of the vote according to election-night returns.

The district encompasses portions of Midwood, Gravesend, Sheepshead Bay, and surrounding neighborhoods, including areas with substantial Orthodox Jewish populations.

Celebrating his victory Tuesday night at a kosher restaurant in Midwood, Cohen-Saban emphasized that he intended to represent all residents of the district, regardless of how they voted.

“To everyone who voted for me tonight, thank you,” Cohen-Saban told supporters. “And to those who didn’t, I want them to hear this clearly: I did not win a seat for half of this district. I won a seat for all of it, and my door to all those folks is open starting tomorrow morning.”

His election adds another frum voice to the Assembly and further expands the community’s representation in southern Brooklyn.

Another important victory came in Queens, where longtime community activist Pesach Osina defeated Republican Thomas Sullivan in the 23rd Assembly District.

Osina, a familiar figure in Far Rockaway communal affairs, will succeed retiring Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato, who represented the district for approximately a decade.

The race was closely contested, with Osina receiving strong support from Orthodox Jewish voters in Far Rockaway as well as other communities throughout the district.

Early election-night returns showed Osina leading with approximately 52 percent of the vote, and Sullivan subsequently conceded.