Incumbent Diana Moreno (D) and Edward Lee (R) are running in the Nov. 3 general election to represent District 36 in the New York Assembly.

Moreno is one of 11 candidates running for the New York Assembly that the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) endorsed. The 2026 elections nationally have featured several noteworthy races in which DSA-backed candidates have won as challengers or in open-seat Democratic primaries. However, Moreno is an incumbent. She is one of three DSA-backed incumbent candidates for the New York Assembly in 2026. For more information about DSA endorsements, click here (national) and here (New York).

Both Moreno and Lee completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Below is a selection from their surveys. Click here (Moreno) and here (Lee) to read their full responses.

Moreno was first elected in 2025 in a special election for District 36. In her survey response, Moreno wrote, “As an organizer and now as an Assemblymember, I have focused on helping working families afford to live in New York and ensuring that every person, regardless of income, immigration status, or background, has the opportunity to thrive.”

Lee is an activist. In his survey response, Lee wrote, “Despite my nonpartisan work, DSA and other socialists like PSL have not just boycotted all of my projects, but also attempt to kneecap them so as to be the sole option. … It's ok for them to be a PART of the movement but it is not OK for them to REPLACE us. Bring back balance and VOTE REPUBLICAN.”

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection helps voters better understand how their candidates think about the world and how they intend to govern — information they need to feel confident in their choice. Click here to learn more about our survey, and here to learn more about elections happening in New York this year.