The Ballot Brief
Kings County, New York

New York Senate District 23

2 candidates are tracked for New York Senate District 23 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and Ruslan Shamal. Candidate information follows official Kings County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (Democratic; also on the Affordable & Safe line), Ruslan Shamal (Republican; also on the Conservative line) are on the November 3 ballot for New York Senate District 23; Jessica Scarcella-Spanton is the sitting member, per the State Senate's member directory. Party nominees were chosen at the June 23 primary or by party designation; independent bodies qualified by petition. The field is the State Board of Elections' amended certification for the general election (September 4, 2026); under fusion voting one person may appear on several ballot lines. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, is on the ballot.

New York › Kings County › New York Senate District 23

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

Democratic Incumbent

Top priorities
  • Veterans and military affairs
  • Women's health issues, including stillbirth support legislation
  • Civil service, labor and pensions

Per the official Senate page.

Biography

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton is the Democratic candidate for New York Senate District 23 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified general-election ballot. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton is a sitting member for the district, per the State Senate's member directory. Scarcella-Spanton, raised on Staten Island as the daughter of two school teachers, began in government as a New York State Assembly intern in 2009, per her official Senate page. She later served as director of operations for then-Senator Diane Savino and as assistant director of government and community relations at the MTA, and now chairs the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the State Board of Elections' certification is the only verifiable source for Jessica Scarcella-Spanton.

Ruslan Shamal

Ruslan Shamal

Republican

Top priorities
  • Property taxes and utility costs
  • Public safety and accountability for repeat offenders
  • Parental involvement and school choice in education

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Ruslan Shamal is the Republican candidate for New York Senate District 23 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified general-election ballot. Shamal immigrated to the United States from Belarus, worked blue-collar jobs before starting a small business, and later worked as a radio host, per his campaign site. He was previously the Republican candidate for New York City Council District 49 in 2023, an election he did not win, per NYC Votes.

Next on your ballotNew York Senate District 25

See your full ballot

Your address is only used to match your districts.

Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for New York Senate District 23 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for New York Senate District 23 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and Ruslan Shamal. Candidate information follows official Kings County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the New York Senate District 23 election in New York?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for New York are on the New York election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Kings County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Kings County and state election office filings, last verified October 1, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official New York election office, or see the full Kings County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Kings County ballot

42 tracked races in Kings County, New York. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
New York Senate District 26New York Senate District 59New York Assembly District 41See all 42 Kings County races
Candidate profiles
Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, full profileRuslan Shamal, full profileOfficial New York election office