Founder, Attorney General's Anti-Crime Advocates
Member, Board of Citizen Action of New York
Former Member, Children and Families Committee, New York State Senate
Former Chair, Codes Committee, New York State Senate
Former Member, Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation Committee, New York State Senate
Former Member, Energy and Telecommunications Committee, New York State Senate
Former Member, Environmental Conservation Committee, New York State Senate
Former Member, Higher Education Committee, New York State Senate
Former Member, Judiciary Committee, New York State Senate
Member, New York State Commission on Sentencing Reform, 2007
Executive Committee, New York County Democratic Committee, 1993-1999
Principal Legal Adviser, Clean Money Clean Election, New York, 1998
Founder, Attorney General's Anti-Crime Advocates
Member, Board of Citizen Action of New York
Former Member, Children and Families Committee, New York State Senate
Former Chair, Codes Committee, New York State Senate
Former Member, Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation Committee, New York State Senate
Former Member, Energy and Telecommunications Committee, New York State Senate
Former Member, Environmental Conservation Committee, New York State Senate
Former Member, Higher Education Committee, New York State Senate
Former Member, Judiciary Committee, New York State Senate
Member, New York State Commission on Sentencing Reform, 2007
Executive Committee, New York County Democratic Committee, 1993-1999
Principal Legal Adviser, Clean Money Clean Election, New York, 1998
1. What is your stance on abortion?
- Pro-choice
Should there be more restrictions on the current process of purchasing a gun?
- Yes
Do you support the legalization of same sex marriage?
- Yes
Should gay couples have the same adoption rights as straight couples?
- Yes
Should employers be required to pay men and women the same salary for the same job?
- Yes
Should the government enforce a "stay-at-home" order to combat the coronavirus?
- Yes
Should the government increase environmental regulations to prevent climate change?
- Yes
Should the government continue to fund Planned Parenthood?
- Yes
Do you support the impeachment of President Donald Trump?
- Yes
Should the government require children to be vaccinated for preventable diseases?
- Yes, but only for deadly contagious diseases
Should marital rape be classified and punished as severely as non-marital rape?
- Yes
Should health insurers be allowed to deny coverage to individuals who have a pre-existing condition?
- No
Should police officers be required to wear body cameras?
- Yes, but only for patrol officers in high crime areas
Should the federal government institute a mandatory buyback of assault weapons?
- Yes
Should a business be able to deny service to a customer if the request conflicts with the owner’s religious beliefs?
- No
Should the government regulate the prices of life-saving drugs?
- Yes
Should "gender identity" be added to anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
- No
Should health insurance providers be required to offer free birth control?
- Yes
Should adults that are illegally attempting to cross the U.S. border be separated from their children?
- No
Should the U.S. raise taxes on the rich?
- Yes
Should the government increase funding for mental health research and treatment?
- Yes
When should your state end the "Stay at Home" order and reopen its economy?
- Until a vaccine is approved by the FDA
Should the U.S. build a wall along the southern border?
- No
Should there be a temporary ban on all immigration into the United States?
- No, but we should spend more to increase our border security
Do you support increasing taxes for the rich in order to reduce interest rates for student loans?
- Yes
Should the government raise the federal minimum wage?
- Yes
Should Muslim immigrants be banned from entering the country until the government improves its ability to screen out potential terrorists?
- No, but we should ban immigrants from "high risk" countries
Should local police increase surveillance and patrol of Muslim neighborhoods?
- No, but police should increase surveillance and patrol of all high crime neighborhoods
Should the federal government pay for tuition at four-year colleges and universities?
- Yes
Should the redrawing of Congressional districts be controlled by an independent, non-partisan commission?
- Yes
Should the military allow women to serve in combat roles?
- Yes, as long as they can pass the same physical tests as men
Should businesses be required to provide paid leave for full-time employees during the birth of a child or sick family member?
- Yes
Should the U.S. go to war with Iran?
- No
Should illegal immigrants have access to government-subsidized healthcare?
- Yes
Should people on the "no-fly list" be banned from purchasing guns and ammunition?
- Yes
Should children of illegal immigrants be granted legal citizenship?
- Yes, if they were born here
Should every 18 year old citizen be required to provide at least one year of military service?
- No
Should immigrants be deported if they commit a serious crime?
- Yes
Should the U.S. remain in the United Nations?
- Yes
Are you in favor of decriminalizing drug use?
- Yes
Should foreign lobbyists be allowed to raise money for American elections?
- No, foreign interests should not be able to buy the influence of our politicians
Should the federal government increase funding of health care for low income individuals (Medicaid)?
- Yes
Do you support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)?
- Yes, I support a majority of the plan but not all aspects
Should there be term limits set for members of Congress?
- Yes
Do you support the legalization of Marijuana?
- Yes
Should the electoral college be abolished?
- Yes
Should the U.S. raise or lower the tax rate for corporations?
- Keep current rates but eliminate deductions and loop holes
Should local law enforcement be allowed to detain illegal immigrants for minor crimes and transfer them to federal immigration authorities?
- No, only if they are convicted of a violent crime
Do you support the death penalty?
- Yes, but only for horrific crimes with undeniable evidence
1. Should there be a limit to the amount of money a candidate can receive from a donor?
- Yes
Do you support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources?
- No, we should pursue more sustainable energy resources instead
Should the government attempt to influence foreign elections?
- No
Should the NSA (National Security Agency) be allowed to collect basic metadata of citizen’s phone calls such as numbers, timestamps, and call durations?
- No, only with a warrant showing probable cause of criminal activity
Do you support a single-payer healthcare system?
- Yes
Should immigrants be required to learn English?
- No
Should it be illegal to join a boycott of Israel?
- No
Should working illegal immigrants be given temporary amnesty?
- Yes, create a simple path to citizenship for immigrants with no criminal record
Should sanctuary cities receive federal funding?
- No
Should transgender athletes be allowed to compete in athletic events?
- Yes
1. Should the U.S. remain in NATO?
- Yes
Should victims of gun violence be allowed to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers?
- No, manufacturers and dealers should only be held liable for negligence
Should the government give tax credits and subsidies to the wind power industry?
- Yes, the government should support more sustainable energy technologies
Should the President be able to authorize military force against Al-Qaeda without Congressional approval?
- No
Should states be allowed to display the Confederate flag on government property?
- No
Should foreigners, currently residing in the United States, have the right to vote?
- No
Should the military be allowed to use enhanced interrogation techniques, such as waterboarding, to gain information from suspected terrorists?
- No
Do you support the killing of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani?
- No
Should illegal immigrants be offered in-state tuition rates at public colleges within their residing state?
- Yes
Should the government regulate social media sites, as a means to prevent fake news and misinformation?
- No, the government should not determine what is fake or real news
Should the U.S. increase restrictions on its current border security policy?
- No
Should a photo ID be required to vote?
- Yes, this will prevent voter fraud
Should businesses be required to have women on their board of directors?
- No, board members should be the most qualified regardless of gender
Should the government hire private companies to run prisons?
- No
Should the government prevent "mega mergers" of corporations that could potentially control a large percentage of market share within its industry?
- Yes, if the merged corporation would have more than 50% of the market share
Should internet service providers be allowed to speed up access to popular websites (that pay higher rates) at the expense of slowing down access to less popular websites (that pay lower rates)?
- No
Should disposable products (such as plastic cups, plates, and cutlery) that contain less than 50% of biodegradable material be banned?
- Yes
Should welfare recipients be tested for drugs?
- No
Should the U.S. expand offshore oil drilling?
- No, and provide more incentives for alternative energy production
Should the U.S. continue to support Israel?
- We should give equal support to Israel and Palestine.
Should immigrants be required to pass a citizenship test to demonstrate a basic understanding of our country’s language, history, and government?
- Yes, but it should only cover very basic and simple topics
Should terminally ill patients be allowed to end their lives via assisted suicide?
- Yes, but only after a psychological examination to show they fully understand this choice
Should political candidates be required to release their recent tax returns to the public?
- Yes
Should the U.S. withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement?
- No
Should the government make cuts to public spending in order to reduce the national debt?
- No
1. Should corporations, unions, and non-profit organizations be allowed to donate to political parties?
- No
Should the US increase or decrease the amount of temporary work visas given to high-skilled immigrant workers?
- Increase
Do you support the Patriot Act?
- No
Should people be required to work in order to receive Medicaid?
- No
Do you support a universal basic income program?
- No, this will encourage people not to work and harm economic growth
Should the federal government be allowed to negotiate drug prices for Medicare?
- Yes
Should universities provide "trigger warnings" and "safe spaces" for students?
- Yes
Should there be a 5-year ban on White House and Congressional officials from becoming lobbyists after they leave the government?
- Yes
Should it be illegal to burn the American flag?
- No, I don’t respect anyone who does but they should have the right to do so
Should the U.S. conduct military strikes against North Korea in order to destroy their long-range missile and nuclear weapons capabilities?
- No, we must use every diplomatic option first
Should the minimum voting age be lowered?
- No, and voters should be required to pass a basic test demonstrating their understanding of politics in order to vote
Should there be fewer or more restrictions on current welfare benefits?
- More, reform the system so that it supplements, rather than replaces, a working income
Do you believe labor unions help or hurt the economy?
- Help
Should the government pass laws which protect whistleblowers?
- Yes
Should the U.S. provide military aid to Saudi Arabia during its conflict with Yemen?
- No
Should women be allowed to wear a Niqab, or face veil, to civic ceremonies?
- Yes, but their identity must be privately verified by a female staff member
Should the government increase or decrease military spending?
- Decrease
Should the Supreme Court be reformed to include more seats and term limits on judges?
- Yes
Should prisons ban the use of solitary confinement for juveniles?
- Yes
Should the IRS create a free electronic tax filing system?
- Yes
Should the U.S. accept refugees from Syria?
- Yes, but only after extensive background checks and continuous monitoring to ensure they have no terrorist connections
Do you support affirmative action programs?
- No
Do you support Common Core national standards?
- No
Should the US assassinate suspected terrorists in foreign countries?
- Yes
Should the government support a separation of church and state by removing references to God on money, federal buildings, and national monuments?
- Yes
Should the government increase the tax rate on profits earned from the sale of stocks, bonds, and real estate?
- No
Should cities open drug "safe havens" where people who are addicted to illegal drugs can use them under the supervision of medical professionals?
- Yes
Should the government stop construction of the Dakota Access pipeline?
- Yes
Should the US increase or decrease foreign aid spending?
- Increase
Should the U.S. send ground troops into Syria to fight ISIS?
- No
Should the government require businesses to pay salaried employees, making up to $46k/year, time-and-a-half for overtime hours?
- Yes
Should the government be allowed to seize private property, with reasonable compensation, for public or civic use?
- Yes
Should foreign terrorism suspects be given constitutional rights?
- No, they are not U.S. citizens and do not have constitutional rights
Should the military fly drones over foreign countries to gain intelligence and kill suspected terrorists?
- Yes
Should the government use economic stimulus to aid the country during times of recession?
- Yes
Should there be more or less privatization of veterans’ healthcare?
- Less
Should the government raise the retirement age for Social Security?
- No
Should producers be required to label genetically engineered foods (GMOs)?
- Yes
Should the federal government fund Universal preschool?
- Yes
Should convicted criminals have the right to vote?
- Yes, but only after completing their sentences and parole/probation
Should the United States pull all military troops out of Afghanistan?
- Yes
Should immigrants to the United States be allowed to hold dual citizenship status?
- Yes
Should a politician, who has been formerly convicted of a crime, be allowed to run for office?
- Yes
Do you support mandatory minimum prison sentences for people charged with drug possession?
- No
Should the U.S. continue to participate in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
- Yes
Should the current estate tax rate be decreased?
- No
Do you support the use of nuclear energy?
- Yes, temporarily while we increase investment into cleaner renewable alternatives
Should drug traffickers receive the death penalty?
- No
Should the government fund space travel?
- Yes
Should the U.S. formally declare war on ISIS?
- No, we should not legitimize ISIS as a sovereign entity
Do you support President Obama’s move to lift the trade and travel embargo on Cuba?
- Yes
Should the government add or increase tariffs on products imported into the country?
- No
Should the U.S. increase tariffs on imported products from China?
- No
Should the U.S. provide military assistance to defend Ukraine from Russia?
- No, we should pursue diplomatic options instead
Should the President offer tax breaks to individual companies to keep jobs in the U.S.?
- No
Should the government break up Amazon, Facebook and Google?
- No
1. Should the U.S. defend other NATO countries that maintain low military defense budgets relative to their GDP?
- Yes
Should the Federal Reserve Bank be audited by Congress?
- Yes, we deserve to know who the bank gives money to
Should the government subsidize farmers?
- Yes, but only small local farms instead of large corporations
Would you favor an increased sales tax in order to reduce property taxes?
- No
Should the U.S. continue NSA surveillance of its allies?
- No
Should pension plans for federal, state, and local government workers be transitioned into privately managed accounts?
- No
Should U.S. citizens be allowed to save or invest their money in offshore bank accounts?
- No
Should the U.S. government grant immunity to Edward Snowden?
- Yes, he should be protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act
Do you support charter schools?
- Yes, but not at the expense of funding public schools
Should the U.S. prevent Russia from conducting airstrikes in Syria?
- Yes
Should non-violent prisoners be released from jail in order to reduce overcrowding?
- Yes, but they must perform community service on a daily basis
Do you support the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)?
- Yes
Should the U.S. sell military weapons to India in order to counter Chinese and Russian influence?
- No, and we should increase diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts peacefully
Should pension payments be increased for retired government workers?
- Yes
Should the government increase spending on public transportation?
- Yes
Should Jerusalem be recognized as the capital of Israel?
- No
Should an in-state sales tax apply to online purchases of in-state buyers from out-of-state sellers?
- Yes
Should the government decriminalize school truancy?
- Yes
Should the Chinese government be able to extradite fugitives from Hong Kong?
- No
Should cities be allowed to offer private companies economic incentives to relocate?
- Yes, if the company promises to create new jobs by hiring local residents
Should the government cancel production of the F-35 fighter?
- No
Should the government classify Bitcoin as a legal currency?
- No
Should the government acquire equity stakes in companies it bails out during a recession?
- No
Should the United States acquire Greenland?
- No
Should the military upgrade Air Force One?
- No
Should sports betting be legal?
- Yes, but let each state decide
1. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer
2. Abortions should always be legal.
- X
3. Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer
4. Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
- No Answer
5. Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
- No Answer
6. Abortions should be subject to a mandatory waiting period.
- No Answer
7. Require clinics to give parental notification before performing abortions on minors.
- No Answer
8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Education (Higher)
- Maintain Status
2. Education (K-12)
- Maintain Status
3. Emergency preparedness
- Maintain Status
4. Environment
- Maintain Status
5. Health care
- Maintain Status
6. Law enforcement
- Maintain Status
7. Transportation and Highway infrastructure
- Maintain Status
8. Welfare
- Maintain Status
9. Other or expanded categories
- Ideally I would strongly favor increased funding for several of these categories. However given the current state of our economy it may not be realistic to do so.
1. Alcohol taxes
- Maintain Status
2. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status
3. Corporate taxes
- Slightly Increase
4. Gasoline taxes
- Slightly Decrease
5. Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
- Slightly Decrease
6. Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
- Maintain Status
7. Sales taxes
- Slightly Decrease
8. Vehicle taxes
- Slightly Decrease
9. Other or expanded categories
- Greatly Increase
10. Should there be a cap on school district property taxes?
- No
11. Should state sales taxes be extended to Internet sales?
- Yes
12. Should accounts such as a "rainy day" fund be used to balance the state budget?
- Undecided
13. Should fee increases be used to balance the state budget?
- No
14. Do you support raising the income tax for those making $1,000,000 or more?
- Yes
15. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Do you support limiting the number of terms for New York governors?
- Undecided
2. Do you support limiting the number of terms for New York state senators and assemblymembers?
- No
1. Individual
- Yes
2. PAC
- Yes
3. Corporate
- Yes
4. Political Parties
- Yes
5. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes
6. Do you support imposing spending limits on state-level political campaigns?
- Yes
7. Should New York participate in the federal REAL ID program?
- No
8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and hiring of additional prison staff.
- No Answer
2. Establish the death penalty in New York.
- No Answer
3. Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
- X
4. Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- X
5. Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
- No Answer
6. Support state and local law enforcement officials enforcing federal immigration laws.
- No Answer
7. Support hate crime legislation.
- X
8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Support state funding of universal pre-K programs.
- X
2. Support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind).
- No Answer
3. Support state education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students.
- No Answer
4. Support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams.
- No Answer
5. Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any public school.
- No Answer
6. Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
- No Answer
7. Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
- X
8. Support using a merit pay system for teachers.
- No Answer
9. Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
- X
10. Support allowing illegal immigrant high school graduates of New York to pay in-state tuition at public universities.
- X
11. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers and teach skills needed in today's job market.
- X
2. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector.
- No Answer
3. Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
- X
4. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for children in low-income working families.
- X
5. Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
- X
6. Include gender identity in New York's anti-discrimination laws.
- X
7. Increase the state minimum wage.
- X
8. Support laws that prevent employers from dismissing employees at will.
- X
9. Support financial punishments for those who knowingly employ illegal immigrants.
- No Answer
10. Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients.
- No Answer
11. Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
- X
12. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
- X
2. Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil, etc).
- No Answer
3. Support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops.
- No Answer
4. Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned.
- X
5. Support funding for improvements to New York's power generating and transmission facilities.
- X
6. Support funding for open space preservation.
- X
7. Limit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases linked to global warming.
- X
8. Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.
- X
9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes
2. Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
- No
3. Should a license be required for gun possession?
- Yes
4. Do you support current levels of enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
- Yes
5. Do you support current state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
- Yes
6. Other or expanded principles
- I support current NYS laws but believe additional restrictions and enforcements are necessary to keep illegal guns off our streets.
1. Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
- X
2. Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- No Answer
3. Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- No Answer
4. Allow patients to sue their HMOs.
- X
5. Require hospitals and labs to release reports on infections that are a risk to public health, while not compromising patient confidentiality.
- No Answer
6. Legalize physician assisted suicide in New York.
- No Answer
7. Support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
- X
8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Should New York recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
- Yes
2. Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry?
- Yes
3. Should New York provide state-level spousal rights to same-sex couples?
- Yes
4. Do you support a moment of silence in public schools?
- Undecided
5. Do you support voluntary prayer in public schools?
- Undecided
6. Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods?
- Yes
7. Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs?
- Undecided
8. Should the state government consider race and gender in state government contracting and hiring decisions?
- Yes
9. Do you support affirmative action in public college admissions?
- Yes
10. Should New York continue affirmative action programs?
- Yes
11. Do you support state funding of stem cell research?
- Yes
12. Do you support state funding of embryonic stem cell research?
- Yes
13. Do you support allowing pharmacists who conscientiously object to emergency contraception to refuse to dispense it?
- No
14. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- 1) Rockefeller Drug Law Reform - There are currently 15,500 people serving harsh mandatory sentences for low level drug offenses. We need to provide alternatives to incarceration and treatment programs which would be funded through savings from a reduce prison population2) Progressive Taxation - We need to redistribute - requiring those who can afford to pay more to do so. The fairest and most productive for society when invested in infrastructure and goods and services to benefit people and business.
On May 8, 2018, Schneiderman resigned following allegations from four women that he had struck or choked them without their consent. In his initial response to the allegations, Schneiderman said, "In the privacy of intimate relationships, I have engaged in role-playing and other consensual sexual activity. I have not assaulted anyone. I have never engaged in nonconsensual sex, which is a line I would not cross.” While announcing his resignation, he said, "It’s been my great honor and privilege to serve as attorney general for the people of the State of New York. In the last several hours, serious allegations, which I strongly contest, have been made against me. While these allegations are unrelated to my professional conduct or the operations of the office, they will effectively prevent me from leading the office’s work at this critical time. I therefore resign my office, effective at the close of business on May 8, 2018.” Both Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and New York National Organization for Women President Sonia Ossorio called for Schneiderman to resign as a result of the allegations. Governor Cuomo said, “My personal opinion is that, given the damning pattern of facts and corroboration laid out in the article, I do not believe it is possible for Eric Schneiderman to continue to serve as attorney general.”