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Experience and Qualifications
I am a lifelong Queens resident with deep roots in our community. In 2001, I proudly became the first Latino elected to public office in Queens, serving as NYC Council Member for the 21st District. I later served as NYS Senator for District 13 from 2009 to 2010. I currently serve as the Democratic District Leader for the 35th Assembly District. My background includes service in the United States Marine Corps Reserves, where I earned the National Defense Ribbon and Good Conduct Medal, followed by 12 years as a New York City Police Department officer in Queens. I earned an Associate degree from Queensborough Community College and a Bachelor’s degree with honors in Political Science from Queens College. I have also been awarded two Honorary Doctorates. Throughout my career in public service, I have been a strong advocate for public safety, education, affordable housing, healthcare, veterans’ resources, and improving the quality of life for working families.
Community Involvement
I have worked side by side with residents to improve public safety, expand educational opportunities, secure funding for veterans’ resources, libraries, parks, and healthcare, and fight for safer streets and more affordable housing. As the current Democratic District Leader for the 35th Assembly District, I continue to engage daily with families, small businesses, and community leaders to address quality-of-life issues and deliver real results for the people I serve.
Education
I am committed to turning around our district’s failing schools by demanding accountability, increasing funding, and raising standards so every student gets quality education, including expanding G&T and SHSAT.
Campaign Phone
718-488-1000
Campaign Instagram
www.instagram.com/hiram.monserrate/
My top three priorities are straightforward and focused on what Queens families tell me every day:
1. Public safety & safer streets — We must restore accountability and presence in our neighborhoods. From the challenges along Roosevelt Avenue to quality-of-life crimes, I will fight for the resources and policies that keep our communities safe and vibrant without excuses. Safe streets are not optional.
2. Affordability & keeping working families in Queens — Sky-high housing costs, taxes, and the cost of living are pushing out the very families who built our communities. I will prioritize real relief through more affordable housing, support for renters and landlords, and measures to make everyday life sustainable again.
3. Education & healthcare access — Our children deserve high standards and real opportunity in failing schools, and Queens families should not have to leave the borough for quality healthcare. I will work to fix underperforming schools and expand local hospital capacity.
New York must lead on clean energy while making sure working families aren’t left with higher bills or lost jobs. The most beneficial policies are those that deliver real results for our neighborhoods: investing in renewable energy and green infrastructure to lower long-term energy costs, modernizing the MTA and expanding public transit to cut emissions, and building climate-resilient communities that can withstand flooding and extreme weather, especially in urban areas like Queens that have already felt the impact. I also support creating green jobs right here in New York that provide good wages for local workers, protecting our air and water quality, and ensuring environmental justice so no community is treated as a sacrifice zone. We can meet our climate goals without sacrificing affordability or reliability for the people who live and work here every day.
Social and racial justice starts with equal opportunity and fairness for every New Yorker. I will pursue policies that deliver real equity: fully funding education in underserved communities so every child has a shot at success; expanding affordable housing and equitable shelter options; protecting immigrant rights and fighting discrimination in housing, employment, and public services; and supporting comprehensive criminal justice reform that includes drug reform and mental health services while never compromising on public safety. Voting rights and anti-discrimination protections are core to who I am as the first Latino elected to public office in Queens. I will always stand up for communities of color, seniors, veterans, and working families so that opportunity is truly available to all, regardless of background.
The Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais underscores the importance of drawing fair district maps that respect the Constitution and do not rely on unconstitutional racial gerrymandering. While I support the Voting Rights Act and believe every community deserves a voice, New York must respond by strengthening our independent redistricting process. I will push for greater transparency, robust community input (including from racial, ethnic, and language-minority groups), and clear protections against vote dilution or gerrymandering of any kind. New York should also expand access-to-the-ballot measures, safeguard voting rights for all citizens, and ensure that “communities of interest” are properly considered in future maps without violating Equal Protection principles. Our state can and must lead by example with fair, representative districts that truly reflect our diverse population.
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