It’s Official: I’m running for New York State Assembly
February 20th 2026
I am running because Syracuse deserves stronger results from Albany.
For more than two decades, our district has had the same representation. I do not question whether the incumbent has tried. Effort matters, but outcomes matter more. And when we look honestly at where we are today, too many families are still struggling.
Our bus service remains unreliable, even though our district’s representative chairs the Assembly Transportation Committee. If we cannot deliver dependable public transit with that level of influence, something is not working. Or as the young people would say, “The math is not mathing”
Housing costs continue to rise. Families are paying more and getting less. Renters are squeezed. First time homebuyers are locked out. Working people are doing everything right and still falling behind. Public safety conversations continue to focus on reacting to harm instead of preventing it. We cannot arrest our way to stronger communities. We have to invest in prevention, opportunity, and stability.
We deserve outcomes, not just effort.
Making Life Affordable in Real, Practical Ways
This campaign is about affordability in the most practical sense.
It means fighting for housing that is truly affordable, not just technically designated as affordable on paper. It means strengthening tenant protections and increasing the supply of homes that working families can actually afford. It means lowering utility costs and holding corporations accountable when they pass rising costs onto working families. When multinational corporations raise rates while posting record profits, we need our state reps to step in. They need to stand up and say enough. It means ensuring wages keep pace with the cost of living so that full time work guarantees stability and dignity.
Having the Courage to Tax the Wealthy
Affordability does not happen by accident. It requires political courage. The wealthiest corporations and the top earners in our state are not paying their fair share. Meanwhile, working families are carrying more and more of the burden. If we want universal childcare. If we want to pass the New York Health Act. If we want to fully fund our schools, fix our infrastructure, and invest in the services families rely on. Then we have to raise the revenue to pay for it.
That means requiring large corporations and the wealthiest New Yorkers to contribute more so that working families can finally catch a break. We cannot keep shifting money around and forcing struggling communities to compete for scraps. We need a fair tax structure that reflects our values.
Bringing the Fight to Albany
In county government, I have fought for real solutions. I have taken on tough issues, pushed for transparency, and stood up when it would have been easier to stay quiet. Now we need that same fight in Albany. This will not be easy. Challenging the status quo never is. But meaningful change rarely comes from waiting your turn. It comes from organizing, building power, and demanding better.
If you believe our community deserves stronger results, I am asking you to join this campaign.
It Cannot Be Done Alone
There are some concrete ways you can help. The number one thing you can do to help this campaign is Volunteer! At the top of this page, there’s a link to Get Involved! Sign up to help us get on the ballot. In order to appear on the ballot, we need to collect petition signatures from both Democrats and WFP registrants. It’s crucial to the race. If you know me, I’m on record as having said that primary campaigns are won during petitioning. They can be lost during GOTV, but this is the base for your race. I’m looking forward to building it.
There are other ways you can help. The second most important thing you can do is donate. I view political donations as investments. You’re investing in Childcare, you’re investing in a Bus System that can potentially service the entire community. As reported by Syracuse.com the incumbent has over 250k in hand, and he hasn’t begun raising money. I’ve spoken to how I feel about him spending 200k for two more years in office; however, if we know the rules before getting in, we can’t complain and we have to adapt to them. We don’t need to spend 200k to win this race, but we do need enough to keep pace. We have already qualified for public matching, so qualifying donations will be matched. If you’re in a position to invest, that investment will make our voice that much louder in the community, and our campaign will be that much stronger.
The last thing you can do is spread the word. We’re expecting up to 7,000 people to vote in this election. You’re gonna see a bunch of campaign outreach over between now and June 23rd. It costs you absolutely nothing to leave a comment, it costs the same to share the message. We are confident that once folks learn about both candidates in the race, they will see that our campaign is the best to represent central New York at the state level. Follow the campaign on Instagram, Tiktok, Bluesky and Facebook.
If you’re reading this, and you made it this far, thank you. In 2026, there’s a lot of reasons to be discouraged and I’m not immune to them. However, this community gives me hope. Just last night I went to two different Town Halls and both were packed with people on all sides of the political spectrum who were engaged enough to show up to a town hall. This community gives me hope. Despite all the negatives, and all the reasons to not hope, we still fight. I’m glad to be in this fight with you all.
Let’s get to work..
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why is Maurice Brown running for State Assembly?
Syracuse and Central New York deserve real results from Albany. Housing costs are rising, utility bills are unpredictable, and wages are not keeping pace. Maurice is running to make life more affordable and hold corporate interests accountable.
Does Maurice Brown support taxing the wealthy?
Yes. Maurice believes the ultra wealthy and large corporations must pay their fair share so working families are not forced to carry the burden alone. New York can fund housing, childcare, and healthcare without cutting essential services.
What is Maurice Brown’s position on housing?
Maurice believes housing is a human right. He supports expanding truly affordable housing, strengthening tenant protections, and passing statewide Good Cause eviction protections.
How is Maurice Brown different from the incumbent?
After nearly three decades of the same representation, Maurice believes the district needs urgency and accountability. He offers a clear affordability first agenda and a willingness to challenge corporate interests.