NY State Assembly · District 47
Southwestern Brooklyn, including Bensonhurst, Gravesend, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights and Midwood.
General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research
- Incumbent William Colton has represented this district since first winning election in November 1996. Both the Democratic and Republican/Conservative primaries scheduled for June 23, 2026 were canceled, so Colton and John Ricottone advanced to the general election without appearing on a primary ballot. A third potential Republican/Conservative candidate, Karina Bertaeva, withdrew or was disqualified before the primary.[1]
On the ballot · 2 candidates
Issue evidence — side by side
Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.
Protect legal access to abortion
- William ColtonRecorded votes[17]
Voted no on S240 (Reproductive Health Act, 2019-01-22): Moved abortion from the penal code to the public-health law and protected access to abortion under state law.
- John Ricottone—
Stricter gun laws
- William ColtonRecorded votes[15][16]
Voted yes on S2451 (Extreme risk protection orders (red-flag law), 2019-01-29): Allows courts to temporarily bar people found to pose a danger to themselves or others from possessing firearms. Voted yes on S51001 (Concealed Carry Improvement Act, 2022-07-01): Enacted after the Bruen decision: added training and character requirements for carry permits and barred guns in designated sensitive places.
- John Ricottone—
Expand immigration enforcement and deportations
- William ColtonRecorded votes[18]
Voted yes on A2176 (Protect Our Courts Act, 2020-07-20): Bars federal civil immigration arrests of people going to, attending, or leaving New York courthouses without a judicial warrant.
- John Ricottone—
Stronger rent regulation and tenant protections
- William ColtonRecorded votes[13]
Voted yes on S6458 (Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, 2019-06-14): Made rent regulation permanent, ended vacancy decontrol and the vacancy bonus, and limited rent increases for major capital improvements.
- John Ricottone—
Raise taxes on high earners or corporations
- William ColtonRecorded votes[19]
Voted yes on S2509 (2021–22 budget revenue bill, 2021-04-07): Raised personal income tax rates on incomes above $1 million and raised the corporate franchise tax rate on large businesses, among other revenue measures.
- John Ricottone—
Expand public health coverage
- William ColtonSupports[8]
Cosponsored A1466, the New York Health Act (2025–26 session), which would create a universal single-payer health plan (New York Health) for state residents.
- John Ricottone—
Faster transition away from fossil fuels
- William ColtonRecorded votes[14]
Voted yes on S6599 (Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, 2019-06-20): Set statewide targets of 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and an 85% cut in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.
- John Ricottone—
Research notes & limits
The repo's July 2026 candidate snapshot and Ballotpedia both confirm Ricottone's ballot lines include the Stop Mamdani Party. Vote and committee data for Colton are drawn from the assembly-ny.json roll-call snapshot and nyassembly.gov; most 2026 floor votes on record were near-unanimous procedural or public-employee-benefit bills. Ricottone's biography rests on his Ballotpedia profile and Candidate Connection survey; no campaign website or news profile was found, and no earlier campaigns or offices are documented.
Sources · 21
Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.
- 1.New York State Assembly District 47 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 2.William Colton · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 3.Colton For Assembly (home page) · Friends of Bill Colton Candidate's own words
- 4.AM Colton's Parking Ticket Legislation Benefiting Motorists Passes the Assembly · New York State Assembly · 2026-05-01 Official record
- 5.Bill A01994 status · New York State Assembly Official record
- 6.Safety Improvements Are on the Lesson Plan, with Legislation Proposed by AM Colton · New York State Assembly · 2026-04-23 Official record
- 7.John Ricottone - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-08-01 Candidate's own words
- 8.A01466 (New York Health Act) - Summary · New York State Assembly · 2026-10-03 Official record
- 9.William Colton · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 10.William Colton - Biography · New York State Assembly Official record
- 11.New York State Assembly District 47 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 12.Colton For Assembly (home page) · Friends of Bill Colton Candidate's own words
- 13.Assembly floor vote: S6458 — Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 · New York State Assembly · 2019-06-14 Official record
- 14.Assembly floor vote: S6599 — Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act · New York State Assembly · 2019-06-20 Official record
- 15.Assembly floor vote: S2451 — Extreme risk protection orders (red-flag law) · New York State Assembly · 2019-01-29 Official record
- 16.Assembly floor vote: S51001 — Concealed Carry Improvement Act · New York State Assembly · 2022-07-01 Official record
- 17.Assembly floor vote: S240 — Reproductive Health Act · New York State Assembly · 2019-01-22 Official record
- 18.Assembly floor vote: A2176 — Protect Our Courts Act · New York State Assembly · 2020-07-20 Official record
- 19.Assembly floor vote: S2509 — 2021–22 budget revenue bill · New York State Assembly · 2021-04-07 Official record
- 20.John Ricottone · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 21.John Ricottone - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-08-01 Candidate's own words