Since the beginning of the 2026 Legislative Session, 27 members of the New York State Legislature have announced they will retire at the end of their current term, not seek reelection to the Legislature in November, or will run for another office. Two of the most notable announcements include Deputy Senate Majority Leader Michael Gianaris and now former Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay.
Deputy Senate Majority Leader Gianaris, who has served in the New York State Legislature for over 25 years, said his decision not to seek reelection was motivated by a desire to spend more time with his family. The announcement is expected to have implications beyond his western Queens district. Gianaris had long been viewed as a potential successor to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and his departure creates an opening in the Senate’s leadership ranks that could eventually elevate State Senator Jamaal Bailey, among others, into a more prominent role.
Gianaris represents the 12th Senate District, a safely Democratic area that now appears headed for a crowded and closely watched primary. Progressive groups, including the Democratic Socialists of America, have already begun signaling interest in the seat, with party insiders mentioning potential candidates such as Aber Kawas and Stylianos Karolidis. Assemblymember Steven Raga said Gianaris’ decision came as a surprise and has since announced he will run for the seat, while former New York City Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer is also widely viewed as a possible contender.
When announcing he would not seek reelection, now former Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay only said he believed it was “the right time” for him to move on. Barclay, who has represented portions of Central New York since 2002, also said he was stepping down as Minority Leader to ensure a smooth transition of power for the new Minority Leader going into the next legislative session.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie responded to the announcement, saying, “I’m normally happy when a Republican leaves office, but Minority Leader Will Barclay is a distinct exception to that rule. In all seriousness, he has been a good friend and partner in government. Even when we disagreed on policy, I knew we could always work together with respect and collegiality. I wish him all the best.”
Other members of the Legislature who have announced they will retire or have chosen not to seek reelection include:
Assembly
- Kenneth Blankenbush (R)
- Keith Brown (R)
- Marianne Buttenschon (D)
- Vivian Cook (D)
- Deborah Glick (D)
- Donna Lupardo (D)
- Brian Manktelow (R)
- David McDonough (R)
- Angelo Morinello (R)
- Daniel Norber (R)
- Stacey Pheffer Amato (D)
- Nader Sayegh (D)
Senate
- Brian Kavanagh (D)
- Alexis Weik (R)
The members who have announced campaigns for another office include:
Assembly
- Alex Bores (D) – Running for Congress (NY-12)
- Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas (D) – Running for State Senate (SD-13)
- Micah Lasher (D) – Running for Congress (NY-12)
- Amanda Septimo (D) – Running for Congress (NY-15)
- Robert Smullen (R) – Running for Congress (NY-21)
- Chris Tague (R) – Running for State Senate (SD-51)
- Claire Valdez (D) – Running for Congress (NY-7)
- Jarett Gandolfo (R) – Running for State Senate (SD-8)
- Steven Raga (D) – Running for State Senate (SD-12)
- Jonathan Rivera (D) – Running for State Senate (SD-61)
Senate
- Peter Oberacker (R) – Running for Congress (NY-19)