Kristen was raised in a one-bedroom apartment in Elmhurst, Queens by a single mom from Puerto Rico. After her father from Colombia passed away, Kristen watched her mother struggle to give her a shot at a better life.

About | Gonzalez for New York

That’s why from a young age, she started fighting for a New York that works for all of us. Kristen organized at her high school, at Columbia as a first-generation, low-income student, and on the Young Women’s Advisory Council for New York City Council writing policy recommendations.

The experience of working in DC taught Kristen that the system is rigged — that our politicians are bought out by special interests, and that they don’t represent us. To win a better New York, we need an organized movement of people and leaders with real, on-the-ground organizing experience fighting for us. After returning from D.C., Kristen finished her degree, started working in tech as a product manager, and started organizing in the communities that she grew up in.

Kristen Gonzalez was raised in Elmhurst, Queens. She was a first-generation, low-income student at Columbia and later completed her degree.

That’s why from a young age, she started fighting for a New York that works for all of us. Kristen organized at her high school, at Columbia as a first-generation, low-income student, and on the Young Women’s Advisory Council for New York City Council writing policy recommendations. When she got the opportunity to work at the Obama White House and in Senator Schumer’s office in D.C., she dropped out of college and moved for the opportunity to represent her community.

Kristen worked at the Obama White House and in Senator Schumer’s office in Washington, D.C. After returning from Washington, D.C., she worked in the technology sector as a product manager.

Senator Kristen Gonzalez is a member of the New York State Senate, representing the 59th District. She was elected to the Senate in 2022 and is a member of the Democratic Party.

Senator Kristen Gonzalez | New York State Senate

#### General election

##### General election for New York State Senate District 59

Incumbent Kristen Gonzalez won election in the general election for New York State Senate District 59 on November 5, 2024.

Kristen Gonzalez - Ballotpedia

Kristen currently serves in the New York State Senate, representing District 59. She was first elected in 2022 and won reelection in 2024.

New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez

2026 New York General Election

As Chair of the Internet and Technology Committee, led the way on passing bills to keep deepfakes out of our elections, keep workers from losing their jobs to AI, and protect kids from addictive social media algorithms.

Issues | Gonzalez for New York

Stood up against corporate landlords to champion affordable and abundant housing, pushed to fully fund NYCHA, and won stronger tenant protections.

Pushed for expanded express bus service and G train service, including more trains and more cars on trains already running

As Internet and Technology Committee chair, led passage of bills intended to protect workers from job loss due to artificial intelligence.

Advocates for affordable and abundant housing and full funding for the New York City Housing Authority.

Advocates for stronger tenant protections.

- As Internet and Technology Committee chair, led passage of bills intended to protect workers from job loss due to artificial intelligence.
- Advocates for affordable and abundant housing and full funding for the New York City Housing Authority.
- Advocates for stronger tenant protections.
- Advocates for affordable and abundant housing and full funding for the New York City Housing Authority.

Economy

Leading the effort for Renewable Ravenswood and making sure our waterfronts can withstand increased flooding.

Working with partners at all levels of government to come up with environmentally just solutions to the major local issues our community faces: the BQE, Newtown Creek and more.

Passed legislation through the Senate to tax non-essential helicopter and seaplane flights in Manhattan.

Leads the Renewable Ravenswood effort and seeks to strengthen waterfront resilience to increased flooding.

Works with government partners on environmentally just solutions for local issues including the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and Newtown Creek.

Passed legislation in the Senate to tax nonessential helicopter and seaplane flights in Manhattan.

- Leads the Renewable Ravenswood effort and seeks to strengthen waterfront resilience to increased flooding.
- Works with government partners on environmentally just solutions for local issues including the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and Newtown Creek.
- Passed legislation in the Senate to tax nonessential helicopter and seaplane flights in Manhattan.

Energy & the Environment

In order to fully acheive queer liberation, we must directly address the attacks on queer and trans rights, along with ensuring our housing, healthcare, and education system are intersectional and provide dignity for all.

Passed measures to safeguard our private health data from out-of-state law enforcement, to ensure no one is penalized for seeking an abortion in New York State.

Calls for an intersectional healthcare system that provides dignity for queer and transgender people.

Supports protecting health data from out-of-state law enforcement to prevent penalties for seeking abortion care in New York.

- Calls for an intersectional healthcare system that provides dignity for queer and transgender people.
- Supports protecting health data from out-of-state law enforcement to prevent penalties for seeking abortion care in New York.

Healthcare

As Internet and Technology Committee chair, led passage of bills intended to keep deepfakes out of elections.

- As Internet and Technology Committee chair, led passage of bills intended to keep deepfakes out of elections.

Voting & Elections

My vision for building safe communities will rely on funding evidence-based violence prevention programs, and investing in historically disenfranchised communities, to root out the drivers of violence and plant the seeds of safety.

No Votes:

Bill language may be overly broad, inviting unintended consequences and impacts.

BIlls may take an approach that goes against my values, for example carceral bills that will have a disproportionate impact on Black and brown or other marginalized communities will rarely (if ever) have my support.

Bills that do not align with my values, particularly those which conflict with my value of ensuring all people are able to lead a life of dignity.

My Voting Philosophy | Gonzalez for New York

Supporting the SAFE Streets Act to lower speed limits, create a victim’s bill of rights, require three feet of space for cyclists, and other vital street safety measures.

Unveiled the Western Queens Street Safety Plan to help end traffic violence and death in Queens.

Prioritizes funding evidence-based violence-prevention programs and investing in historically disenfranchised communities to address drivers of violence.

Said carceral bills with disproportionate impacts on Black, brown, or other marginalized communities will rarely receive her support.

Supports the SAFE Streets Act, which lowers speed limits, establishes a victims’ bill of rights, and requires three feet of space for cyclists.

Unveiled the Western Queens Street Safety Plan to reduce traffic violence and deaths in Queens.

- Prioritizes funding evidence-based violence-prevention programs and investing in historically disenfranchised communities to address drivers of violence.
- Said carceral bills with disproportionate impacts on Black, brown, or other marginalized communities will rarely receive her support.
- Supports the SAFE Streets Act, which lowers speed limits, establishes a victims’ bill of rights, and requires three feet of space for cyclists.
- Unveiled the Western Queens Street Safety Plan to reduce traffic violence and deaths in Queens.

Public Safety

As Internet and Technology Committee chair, led passage of bills intended to protect children from addictive social-media algorithms.

- As Internet and Technology Committee chair, led passage of bills intended to protect children from addictive social-media algorithms.

Education

Instagram

Facebook

Kristen Gonzalez

- Passed legislation in the Senate to tax nonessential helicopter and seaplane flights in Manhattan.

- Supports protecting health data from out-of-state law enforcement to prevent penalties for seeking abortion care in New York.

- Supports the SAFE Streets Act, which lowers speed limits, establishes a victims’ bill of rights, and requires three feet of space for cyclists.
- Unveiled the Western Queens Street Safety Plan to reduce traffic violence and deaths in Queens.

Twitter

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

- Your state senator is involved in the legislative process at the state level as part of the New York State Senate, which consists of 63 members and serves as the upper house of the New York State Legislature, the state's lawmaking body. 
- State senators are responsible for representing your interests and assisting you with navigating state services while bringing resources back to your district.  
- State senators draft laws, approve budgets, oversee the state executive branch, and engage in debates and votes on proposed legislation.  
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your state senator can serve on committees, where many bills may be delayed before reaching a vote.  
- State senators are elected for a two-year term with no term limits.  
- Their annual salary is $142,000.  

Your representative and state lawmaker in the New York Senate.