About

Lisa, Nachman, Vivi, Jeff, and Ceba (our very ferocious dog)

I grew up in India. My mother was a teacher, my father a career army officer. We didn't have a lot – buying a book was a special treat – but my father's job gave us healthcare, food and housing, and gave me a secure launchpad.

About | Lisa Kaul for NY Senate

After College, a Rhodes Scholarship gave me the opportunity to travel outside of India and earn my PhD at Oxford University – something my family could never have afforded.

I met my husband in England and in 2004 we moved to the US to be closer to his aging father. We made a new home in Poughkeepsie and raised our son here. In 2008, I had the privilege of becoming a citizen.

I met my husband in England and in 2004 we moved to the US to be closer to his aging father. We made a new home in Poughkeepsie and raised our son here. In 2008, I had the privilege of becoming a citizen.

Lisa Kaul grew up in India. She earned a PhD from Oxford University. She has a son.

Along the way, I've also had the opportunity to contribute to several area organizations including the Impact Council of the Dutchess-Orange United Way, the After-School Working Group of the Poughkeepsie Children's Cabinet, and the board of Finish Strong. My work as the Director of the Office of Community-Engaged Learning at Vassar College allowed me to create programs that connected the college to the community, build capacity for local organizations, and support first-generation students.

Lisa Kaul worked as the director of the Office of Community-Engaged Learning at Vassar College.

I was incredibly honored when the Real Skills Network in Poughkeepsie awarded me with the Rosa Parks "Community Icon" Award.

As a new American, I continue to marvel at how close the government is to people. So, in 2023, I ran for office and have since served as a Dutchess County legislator representing District 6 (Town of Poughkeepsie.) I'm passionate about empowering others to run for office, and serve on the board of Planned Parenthood Greater New York Action Fund.

Lisa has served as a Dutchess County legislator representing District 6, which includes the Town of Poughkeepsie, since 2023.

Lisa has served as a Dutchess County legislator representing District 6 since 2023.

2026 New York General Election

I appreciate the fact that the REST Act has a pool of money for small landlords, so they can continue to provide maintenance on buildings because the last thing we want is to take away a source of income from small landlords and to take away required maintenance from renters. I also think we should be putting more money towards building more housing that’s affordable. There is a Social Housing Development Act which I’m supporting. There are ways to provide for housing that will not feel like there’s overdevelopment, and I think the state could be pushing other policies on that.

Lisa Kaul looks to oust Rolinson from state Senate | City & State New York

So, addressing housing also means addressing public transit. I would really want to see us look at (State Operating Assistance) funding and change some of the parameters and bring back much more funding to the district, so we can have transportation which is reliable, accessible to people and frequent, which we don’t have.

This includes investing in worker power and the labor movement. Strong unions built the middle class, and strong unions will rebuild it. Working people deserve fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to organize and bargain collectively. I will always stand with organized labor because the fight for workers' rights is the fight for all of our rights.

Priorities | Lisa Kaul for NY Senate

Working people deserve fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to organize and bargain collectively. I will always stand with organized labor because the fight for workers' rights is the fight for all of our rights.

Supports the Social Housing Development Act and increased investment in affordable housing construction.

Supports increased investment in affordable housing construction.

Wants to revise State Operating Assistance funding to provide more reliable, accessible, and frequent district transit service.

Advocates for fair wages, safe working conditions, and workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively.

- Supports increased investment in affordable housing construction.
- Wants to revise State Operating Assistance funding to provide more reliable, accessible, and frequent district transit service.
- Advocates for fair wages, safe working conditions, and workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively.

Economy

The other big focus that I have personally has to do with thinking of ways to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, promoting the use of solar. Especially reducing the number of administrative hurdles we have currently in place for solar permitting to make it cheaper, and also for the state to provide some investment in upfront costs that are associated with solar to move to (electric vehicles) and to have HVAC systems. Right now, those are very expensive.

Plans to reduce fossil-fuel dependence by streamlining solar permitting and funding upfront costs for solar, electric vehicles, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

- Plans to reduce fossil-fuel dependence by streamlining solar permitting and funding upfront costs for solar, electric vehicles, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

Energy & the Environment

Keep New Yorkers Safe
›

I will defend New Yorkers’ reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy, work to protect our clean air and water, and address the epidemic of gun violence.

Pledges to defend reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy.

- Pledges to defend reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy.

Healthcare

New York must remain a bulwark for American democracy. I will stand against ICE. I will fight to protect the voting rights and freedoms of every New Yorker, and hold those who seek to violate them accountable.

Protect Our Democracy
›

New York must remain a bulwark for American democracy. I will stand against ICE. I will fight to protect the voting rights and freedoms of every New Yorker, and hold those who seek to violate them accountable.

Pledges to protect voting rights and hold people who violate them accountable.

Opposes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

- Pledges to protect voting rights and hold people who violate them accountable.
- Opposes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Voting & Elections

As of September 9, 2026, Lisa Kaul’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Education

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Lisa Kaul

Proposes replacing Central Hudson with the nonprofit Hudson Valley Power Authority.

Supports the Rent Emergency Stabilization for Tenants Act and municipal authority to determine when a housing emergency exists.

Supports passing the New York Health Act after addressing concerns raised by unions and other groups.

- Advocates for fair wages, safe working conditions, and workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively.

Barriers like inadequate childcare and eldercare, transportation gaps, immigration status, disability barriers and an unfair justice system keep working people from flourishing. I will fight for a New York where everyone has the chance to thrive. This includes investing in worker power and the labor movement. Strong unions built the middle class, and strong unions will rebuild it. Working people deserve fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to organize and bargain collectively. I will always stand with organized labor because the fight for workers' rights is the fight for all of our rights.

Priorities | Lisa Kaul for NY Senate District 39

Proposes changing the parameters for State Operating Assistance funding to improve the district's public-transit reliability, accessibility, and frequency.

Supports the Rent Emergency Stabilization for Tenants Act and allowing municipalities to determine when a housing emergency exists.

Supports the Social Housing Development Act and increased state investment in affordable housing.

Advocates for worker power, fair wages, safe working conditions, and collective bargaining rights.

- Advocates for worker power, fair wages, safe working conditions, and collective bargaining rights.

In the Dutchess County Legislature, Lisa wrote and won unanimous, bipartisan support for “Skip the Stuff” legislation that reduces plastic waste by requiring restaurants to include plastic cutlery, condiments and napkins only upon request.

Lisa Kaul for NY Senate District 39

Proposes streamlining solar permitting and investing state funds in upfront costs for solar, electric vehicles, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

As a Dutchess County legislator, wrote “Skip the Stuff” legislation requiring restaurants to provide plastic cutlery, condiments, and napkins only upon request.

- As a Dutchess County legislator, wrote “Skip the Stuff” legislation requiring restaurants to provide plastic cutlery, condiments, and napkins only upon request.

I will defend New Yorkers’ reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy, work to protect our clean air and water, and address the epidemic of gun violence.

Supports passing the New York Health Act after addressing concerns from unions and other groups.

Pledges to protect every New Yorker's voting rights and freedoms and hold violators accountable.

- Pledges to protect every New Yorker's voting rights and freedoms and hold violators accountable.

In the Dutchess County Legislature, Lisa co-sponsored successful resolutions to allocate funds for youth, senior, and veteran programs, ensure continued community college funding, and expand mental health resources, including funding for Oxford Homes.

Co-sponsored resolutions supporting continued community college funding.

- Co-sponsored resolutions supporting continued community college funding.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

In terms of utilities, we have a corporate monopoly, Central Hudson, who has been fleecing us. I’m proposing that we replace it with a nonprofit utility, the Hudson Valley Power Authority. … Nonprofit power authorities do pay less than others, and their rate increases actually are lower than the cost of inflation because they’re able to borrow municipal bonds, which are significantly cheaper, and they’re not guaranteed the rate of return that Central Hudson currently is guaranteed. It’s absolutely unsustainable.

The second thing has to do with housing, thinking about what policies we can put in place to make sure that renters are protected. I am supporting the (Rent Emergency Stabilization for Tenants) Act. I do think municipalities should have the ability to decide when they’re in a housing emergency. I appreciate the fact that the REST Act has a pool of money for small landlords, so they can continue to provide maintenance on buildings because the last thing we want is to take away a source of income from small landlords and to take away required maintenance from renters.

And the third big piece is healthcare costs. I hear far too many people struggling. We’ve seen these huge cuts coming from the federal government. We have insurance companies who hold people ransom. I am a supporter of the New York Health Act. I think this is the year for us to seriously address all the concerns unions and other groups have about it, and to pass it. We cannot afford to tarry on this.

Robert Rolison

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