Result

State Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos (D-NY) won reelection to New York State Assembly District 72 in the Nov. 3 general election, running without a named opponent. De Los Santos has represented the district since February 2022, and his victory maintains Democratic control of the northern Manhattan seat. ​

De Los Santos faced a contested Democratic primary on June 23, defeating Francesca Castellanos with 9,176 votes, or 75.6%, to her 2,882 votes, or 23.7%. Another 83 votes, or 0.7%, were recorded as write-ins.

Candidates and platforms

In a candidate questionnaire published by the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, De Los Santos advocated investments in housing, health care, education, transportation, and public services. He also argued that the wealthiest individuals and corporations should pay their fair share of taxes.

The New York State Assembly's member page reports that De Los Santos joined fellow lawmakers and advocates in calling for universal child care in New York. Castellanos, who challenged De Los Santos in the Democratic primary, described her campaign's goal as building "stronger, healthier public systems rooted in transparent, everyday neighborhood representation," according to her campaign website.

The candidates' stated priorities overlapped in their emphasis on public services, although De Los Santos identified specific policy areas and tax priorities while Castellanos emphasized transparency and neighborhood representation. The Democratic primary decided the contest, leaving De Los Santos without a named general election opponent.

District and chamber

New York Assembly District 72 includes Washington Heights, Inwood, Hudson Heights, Fort George and Marble Hill in northern Manhattan. De Los Santos first won the seat in a February 2022 special election following the departure of former Assemblymember Carmen De La Rosa (D-NY), who was elected to the New York City Council.

De Los Santos previously worked as a social worker and community school director in New York City public schools. His legislative priorities include public education funding, affordable housing, public safety and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Money, polling and endorsements

De Los Santos received endorsements from the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City and the New York Working Families Party. Stonewall's published endorsement list includes De Los Santos for Assembly District 72, while the Working Families Party also provided him with a general election ballot line.

Additional endorsements listed by Blue Voter Guide include 1199 SEIU, the New York State AFL-CIO, New York State United Teachers, the New York State Nurses Association, Planned Parenthood Empire State Votes and the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter. These endorsements have not all been independently verified against the endorsing organizations' announcements.

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