Election results from Brooklyn to Buffalo show that tenants want elected officials who will fight to make rent affordable
Tenant Bloc-endorsed candidates gain major ground in Western NY and Syracuse
NEW YORK – Following the results of the 2026 Democratic Primary, NYS Tenant Bloc director Sumathy Kumar released the following statement:
“Last night’s election results show from Brooklyn to Buffalo tenants want elected officials who will fight to make rent affordable. The housing crisis is the #1 issue facing most New Yorkers and it was on tenant voters’ minds when we went to the polls. Tenants showed up and voted for candidates who will fight for us. We voted for candidates who will fight to make rent affordable, expand rent stabilization, fund social housing, and crack down on slumlords. Tenants make up half the state, and it’s time for our representatives to put us first.”
“We are especially excited to congratulate Tenant Bloc endorsed candidates Adam Bojak, who won a Western New York Assembly seat, and Mo Brown, who is leading in the Syracuse race against incumbent Bill Magnarelli. Adam and Mo are long-time champions for tenants who made tenants rights and housing affordability central to their campaigns. We are excited for Adam and Mo to fight with us in Albany to expand rent stabilization and social housing, starting with passing the REST Act.”
BACKGROUND:
The Tenant Bloc endorsed two upstate candidates this cycle, Adam Bojak in District 149 and Mo Brown in District 129 after the state legislature did not bring the popular Rent Emergency Stabilization for Tenants (REST) Act for a vote in the last days of the legislative session. The REST Act would make it easier for municipalities outside New York City to adopt and expand rent stabilization.
Mo Brown is a county legislator in Onondaga who has been a long-time champion for Syracuse tenants including being a supporter of adopting Good Cause Eviction protections and rent stabilization. He recently wrote an op-ed in support of the REST Act and is running against incumbent Bill Magnarelli who is backed by real estate and has opposed expanding tenant protections.
Adam Bojak is a lawyer and organizer who has spent years helping tenants on a pro bono basis to fight evictions and organize with their neighbors to build power in their community. He is running for an open Assembly seat in Western New York, including parts of the city of Buffalo where nearly 60% of residents are renters. Adam campaigned on rent affordability and is a supporter of Good Cause Eviction, the REST Act, and social housing.
NYS Tenant Bloc also issued a Tenant Power Scorecard which rated state legislative candidates based on their support for tenant priorities in five categories: Make Rent Affordable, Fund Social Housing, Crack Down on Slumlords, House the Homeless, and Reject Real Estate Money. Candidates who support tenant priorities did well up and down the ballot across New York State including three long-time tenant organizers: Samantha Kattan, Illapa Sairitupac, and Adam Bojak.
