James G. Skoufis earned a bachelor's degree The George Washington University and a master’s degree from Columbia University.

James G. Skoufis - Ballotpedia

James has served in the New York State Senate District 42 since 2023.

2026 New York General Election

TAXES

James successfully fought to make the property tax cap permanent and lessen the burden of our state income taxes, bringing them to their lowest levels in 70 years. With many neighbors continuing to face financial distress, James refuses to stop until real reform is accomplished in Albany and reflected in the communities he represents.

Issues | Skoufis for NY Senate

James believes we must find a new and improved way to fund our schools and local governments: the property tax system is broken and needs an overhaul. Right now, the same people who fought for our freedom, built our homes, cared for our sick, and taught our children are those that are paying a disproportionate amount of their income to property taxes. There is a better and more equitable way forward, and James is committed to achieving it.

CORPORATE WELFARE

When giant corporations sought millions of dollars in tax breaks, forcing local residents to pick up the tab, James stood up and told them to “pay your damn taxes.”

At a time when many women continue to be forced out of the workplace – often permanently – due to motherhood and the pressures of the pandemic, James championed a nation-leading paid family leave law that ensures women never have to choose between taking care of a newborn and paying the bills. He also helped pass legislation that requires equal pay for equal work so women don’t earn less for doing the same job as their male counterparts.

Fought to make the property-tax cap permanent and reduce state income taxes.

Believes the property-tax system needs an overhaul to fund schools and local governments more equitably.

Said corporations seeking tax breaks should “pay your damn taxes.”

Championed a paid family-leave law intended to help parents care for newborns without losing income.

Helped pass equal-pay legislation requiring equal pay for equal work.

- Fought to make the property-tax cap permanent and reduce state income taxes.
- Believes the property-tax system needs an overhaul to fund schools and local governments more equitably.
- Said corporations seeking tax breaks should “pay your damn taxes.”
- Championed a paid family-leave law intended to help parents care for newborns without losing income.
- Helped pass equal-pay legislation requiring equal pay for equal work.

Economy

In 2021, his nation-leading clean water testing legislation was signed into law, ensuring every community in New York knows what’s in their water. In 2020, James called on the State Department of Health to implement the Water Quality Council’s recommended PFAS levels, and a week later, the DOH Commissioner accepted the recommendations. He’s a strong supporter of preserving open space in the Hudson Valley and will always fight to protect our natural resources from over-development.

James was appointed to a small legislative group that developed the Climate Leadership Community Protection Act, the most aggressive state climate change plan in the entire nation.

James authored legislation to update the state’s antiquated village incorporation laws that have allowed communities to be taken hostage by hostile developers. He also authored and passed legislation to unmask shady, anonymous real estate LLCs and successfully fought to enact a new law that requires additional oversight of all public water wells, including the Kiryas Joel-owned well in Mountainville.

Supports preserving Hudson Valley open space and protecting natural resources from overdevelopment.

Helped develop the Climate Leadership Community Protection Act as part of a small legislative group.

Advanced clean-water testing legislation enacted in 2021 to help communities learn what is in their water.

Called on the State Department of Health to implement the Water Quality Council’s recommendations for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances levels.

Authored legislation to update village-incorporation laws.

- Supports preserving Hudson Valley open space and protecting natural resources from overdevelopment.
- Helped develop the Climate Leadership Community Protection Act as part of a small legislative group.
- Advanced clean-water testing legislation enacted in 2021 to help communities learn what is in their water.
- Called on the State Department of Health to implement the Water Quality Council’s recommendations for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances levels.
- Authored legislation to update village-incorporation laws.

Energy & the Environment

James also believes medical decisions ought to be made between a woman and her doctor, which is why he helped pass legislation that codifies Roe vs. Wade into New York State law. He also successfully championed the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act that requires all insurance companies cover the cost of contraception in their health plans.

During his time in the State Legislature, James has stood up to those who have tried to cut the Enhanced STAR program and other benefits that seniors rely on. James also successfully worked to save Valley View Nursing Home when adversaries in the Orange County Legislature tried to sell the facility to the highest bidder.

When COVID-19 first hit, James immediately got to work to make sure the community was fully equipped with accurate information, secured and distributed thousands of PPE to frontline workers, donated plasma after recovering from COVID-19 himself, and to this day, continues to coordinate recovery efforts for those in need.

As Chairman of the Senate’s investigations committee, James also led over 40 hours of state oversight hearings on the state’s response to COVID-19, demanding answers on nursing home, hospital, and workplace concerns.

Helped pass legislation codifying Roe v. Wade protections in New York law.

Championed the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, requiring insurance plans to cover contraception.

Opposed cuts to the Enhanced School Tax Relief program and other benefits used by seniors.

Worked to prevent the sale of Valley View Nursing Home.

Distributed personal protective equipment to frontline workers and coordinated recovery efforts during COVID-19.

Led more than 40 hours of state oversight hearings on New York’s COVID-19 response.

- Helped pass legislation codifying Roe v. Wade protections in New York law.
- Championed the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, requiring insurance plans to cover contraception.
- Opposed cuts to the Enhanced School Tax Relief program and other benefits used by seniors.
- Worked to prevent the sale of Valley View Nursing Home.
- Distributed personal protective equipment to frontline workers and coordinated recovery efforts during COVID-19.
- Led more than 40 hours of state oversight hearings on New York’s COVID-19 response.

Healthcare

As of September 9, 2026, James G. Skoufis’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

For decades, Albany catered to special interests and refused to pass the Child Victims Act. That changed when James Skoufis arrived in the State Senate. In his very first month, James successfully fought to pass the Child Victims Act, protecting our children and ensuring offenders of these atrocious acts are brought to justice. Additionally, he has introduced legislation to make cyberflashing, the practice of sending lewd images without a recipient’s consent, a crime.

Senate Bill S6203 lists James Skoufis as sponsor. Its sponsor memo states:

PURPOSE:

To create the new crimes of reckless endangerment of a peace officer, police officer, firefighter, or emergency medical services professional in the first and second degrees.

NY State Senate Bill 2025-S6203

Introduced legislation to make cyberflashing, sending lewd images without consent, a crime.

Sponsored Senate Bill S6203 to create reckless endangerment offenses involving emergency service personnel.

- Fought to pass the Child Victims Act.
- Introduced legislation to make cyberflashing, sending lewd images without consent, a crime.
- Sponsored Senate Bill S6203 to create reckless endangerment offenses involving emergency service personnel.

Public Safety

As State Senator, he has worked every day to ensure that Hudson Valley schools get their fair share of funding, stood strong against the misuse of standardized testing, and fought to improve the Governor’s Excelsior Scholarship that only benefits 4% of SUNY and CUNY undergraduates. He also voted to successfully end a draconian teacher evaluation system that would lead to more teaching to the test.

EDUCATION

James is the product of an excellent public education and knows every child deserves the same. He led the successful fight to deliver universal full-day kindergarten in New York State, including securing the funding necessary for both the North Rockland and Washingtonville School Districts to fully transition to full-day programs. And in 2021, he championed universal pre-k in the Hudson Valley, securing 1,000 first-ever UPK seats in his district.

James served as Chairman of the Task Force on People with Disabilities and authored a constitutional amendment to include disability rights under the equal protection requirement. James additionally introduced and enacted a law that ensures students with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in high school graduation ceremonies.

Advocates for Hudson Valley schools to receive their fair share of state funding.

Advocates for Hudson Valley schools to receive their "fair share" of state funding.

Led efforts to provide universal full-day kindergarten in New York, including funding for North Rockland and Washingtonville schools.

Championed universal prekindergarten in the Hudson Valley, securing 1,000 seats in his district.

Voted to end a teacher-evaluation system that he said would lead to more teaching to the test.

Introduced a law allowing students with disabilities to participate in high-school graduation ceremonies that was enacted.

- Advocates for Hudson Valley schools to receive their "fair share" of state funding.
- Led efforts to provide universal full-day kindergarten in New York, including funding for North Rockland and Washingtonville schools.
- Championed universal prekindergarten in the Hudson Valley, securing 1,000 seats in his district.
- Opposes misuse of standardized testing.
- Voted to end a teacher-evaluation system that he said would lead to more teaching to the test.
- Introduced a law allowing students with disabilities to participate in high-school graduation ceremonies that was enacted.

Education

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James G. Skoufis

- Helped develop the Climate Leadership Community Protection Act as part of a small legislative group.
- Advanced clean-water testing legislation enacted in 2021 to help communities learn what is in their water.
- Called on the State Department of Health to implement the Water Quality Council’s recommendations for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances levels.
- Authored legislation to update village-incorporation laws.

- Led efforts to provide universal full-day kindergarten in New York, including funding for North Rockland and Washingtonville schools.
- Championed universal prekindergarten in the Hudson Valley, securing 1,000 seats in his district.
- Opposes misuse of standardized testing.
- Voted to end a teacher-evaluation system that he said would lead to more teaching to the test.
- Introduced a law allowing students with disabilities to participate in high-school graduation ceremonies that was enacted.

James is pushing to make sure Wall Street and billionaires pay their fair share so our Hudson Valley families can catch a break. During his time in the State Legislature, he broke with his party 251 separate times to vote against middle-class tax hikes.

In Albany, James introduced a package of bills to better protect taxpayers when corporations seek taxpayer-funded incentives including: banning subsidies when the project occupant is kept secret, prohibiting elected officials from serving on boards that hand out incentives, banning tax breaks to projects that are already under development, and closing a loophole that allows tax breaks to be used to lure companies from one part of the state to another.

Fought to make New York's property-tax cap permanent and reduce state income taxes.

Advocates for higher tax contributions from Wall Street and billionaires.

Believes New York's property-tax system needs an overhaul to fund schools and local governments more equitably.

Introduced bills to restrict taxpayer-funded corporate incentives, including undisclosed-project subsidies and incentives for projects already under development.

Championed New York's paid family leave law.

- Fought to make New York's property-tax cap permanent and reduce state income taxes.
- Advocates for higher tax contributions from Wall Street and billionaires.
- Believes New York's property-tax system needs an overhaul to fund schools and local governments more equitably.
- Introduced bills to restrict taxpayer-funded corporate incentives, including undisclosed-project subsidies and incentives for projects already under development.
- Championed New York's paid family leave law.

In 2021, his nation-leading clean water testing legislation was signed into law, ensuring every community in New York knows what’s in their water. In 2020, James called on the State Department of Health to implement the Water Quality Council’s recommended PFAS levels, and a week later, the DOH Commissioner accepted the recommendations.

Championed clean-water testing legislation enacted in 2021 to ensure New York communities know what is in their water.

Called on the State Department of Health to implement the Water Quality Council's recommended levels for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

- Championed clean-water testing legislation enacted in 2021 to ensure New York communities know what is in their water.
- Called on the State Department of Health to implement the Water Quality Council's recommended levels for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
- Supports preserving Hudson Valley open space and protecting natural resources from overdevelopment.

Supports abortion access and helped pass legislation codifying Roe v. Wade protections in New York law.

Championed the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, requiring insurance plans to cover contraception costs.

As chair of the investigations committee, led more than 40 hours of oversight hearings on New York's COVID-19 response.

- Supports abortion access and helped pass legislation codifying Roe v. Wade protections in New York law.
- Championed the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, requiring insurance plans to cover contraception costs.
- As chair of the investigations committee, led more than 40 hours of oversight hearings on New York's COVID-19 response.

The Supreme Court's decision to gut Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and strip away the preclearance protections that used to cover parts of our state makes it more important than ever to have strong protections of our own.

In addition to myriad measures I’ve championed to strengthen the franchise, including our state’s recent move to even-year elections, I’m introducing legislation to ensure absentee and mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day are accepted up to seven days thereafter and support strengthening the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to cover congressional districts and protect New Yorkers against racially discriminatory maps.

VOTE411 Voter Guide: New York Senate District 42 (Candidate detail for James Skoufis)

Introduced legislation to accept absentee and mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day for up to seven additional days.

Supports strengthening the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to cover congressional districts and protect against racially discriminatory maps.

- Introduced legislation to accept absentee and mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day for up to seven additional days.
- Supports strengthening the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to cover congressional districts and protect against racially discriminatory maps.

Fought to pass the Child Victims Act, which expanded survivors' ability to seek justice for child sexual abuse.

Introduced legislation to make cyberflashing, the nonconsensual sending of lewd images, a crime.

- Introduced legislation to make cyberflashing, the nonconsensual sending of lewd images, a crime.

Led efforts to establish universal full-day kindergarten in New York, including funding for the North Rockland and Washingtonville school districts.

Championed universal prekindergarten in the Hudson Valley and secured 1,000 new seats in his district.

Voted to end New York's teacher-evaluation system, which he said would lead to more teaching to the test.

- Led efforts to establish universal full-day kindergarten in New York, including funding for the North Rockland and Washingtonville school districts.
- Championed universal prekindergarten in the Hudson Valley and secured 1,000 new seats in his district.
- Voted to end New York's teacher-evaluation system, which he said would lead to more teaching to the test.

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