New York's Orthodox Jewish community will have 10 lawmakers serving at once in the state legislature after Tuesday's elections, eight in the Assembly and two in the Senate. According to The Yeshiva World, it is the largest Orthodox delegation in Albany's history. Two years ago, the record was six.
The lawmakers represent Orthodox communities in Brooklyn, Queens, Rockland County and Nassau County. They are expected to raise their constituents' priorities directly in the state capital, including yeshiva education and school funding, religious liberty, community security, housing and support for communal institutions.
The Assembly members are Simcha Eichenstein, Kalman Yeger and Joey Cohen-Saban of Brooklyn; Sam Berger, David Weprin and Pesach Osina of Queens; Aron Wieder of Rockland County; and Ari Brown of Nassau County. In the Senate, the group includes Sam Sutton of Brooklyn and Lisa "Malkie" Vider of Nassau County.
Former New York City Councilman David Greenfield noted the milestone on social media, writing that the state may now have a "minyan" of Orthodox legislators. The Yeshiva World pointed out that because Vider is a woman, the group would not count as a minyan under halacha.
Vider's apparent victory is one of the most significant results of the night. The Democrat, a health care administrator from Hewlett, challenged Republican Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick in the 9th Senate District, which includes the Five Towns. Unofficial early returns gave Vider about 51 percent of the vote, and the Long Island Press reported Wednesday morning that the incumbent had not yet conceded. Vider campaigned on health care, affordability, public safety and fighting antisemitism. Matzav reported that, if her win is confirmed, she would be the first Orthodox Jewish woman to serve in the New York State Senate.
In Brooklyn's 45th Assembly District, Democrat Joey Cohen-Saban unseated Republican Assemblyman Michael Novakhov, reversing his narrow loss to Novakhov in 2024. Matzav reported that Cohen-Saban won about 60 percent of the vote in a district that includes parts of Midwood, Gravesend and Sheepshead Bay.
In Queens, Pesach Osina, a longtime political staffer, defeated Republican Thomas Sullivan in the 23rd Assembly District, which includes Far Rockaway. He succeeds Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato, who is retiring after about a decade in office and endorsed Osina. Sullivan conceded after early returns showed Osina with roughly 52 percent of the vote.
Assemblyman Aron Wieder won a second term in Rockland County's 97th District, defeating Republican Rob Bonomolo and Conservative Party candidate Abraham Klein in a three-way race, Arutz Sheva reported. Sam Sutton, who became the first Sephardic Jew in the State Senate after winning a 2025 special election to succeed Simcha Felder, held his 22nd District seat against Republican Nachman Caller.
Most of the 10 lawmakers are Democrats, though Brown is a Republican and several members have run on additional party lines. The mix reflects the place of Orthodox communities in New York politics. Party affiliation often matters less than communal, religious and educational concerns, and these concerns frequently cut across party lines.
The Yeshiva World described the outcome as a sign of the growth of Orthodox communities across the state and of their increasing involvement in public life.
