New York state Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes will not run for reelection this year, she announced Wednesday, which will put an end to the powerful Buffalo lawmaker’s time in the state’s lower chamber.
The second-highest ranking Democrat in that chamber, Peoples-Stokes said “sometimes we plan and God plans.”
“Sometimes you just have to slow down, settle down and let new opportunities happen. And that’s the message I’ve been giving,” she said. “So next week this time, I will still be recuperating from a procedure that I’m going to go through at the ECMC Hospital. Very well prepared doctors and clinicians, I have no concern about that at all. However, in about two or three weeks after that, I’ll be back in Albany to finish up my last term because I will not run for reelection.”
Peoples-Stokes was appointed as Assembly majority leader after the 2018 elections by Speaker Carl Heastie, the first woman and first African American to hold that title. The position is responsible for “the day-to-day operational duties of the Assembly chamber, including overseeing the floor during debates.”
Peoples-Stokes a rare member of Democratic leadership from a district not in the New York City or Long Island area.
Prior to leadership, she was chair of the Assembly’s Committee on Governmental Operations.
She has been in the Assembly since 2003 and currently represents the 141st Assembly District, emcompassing the city of Buffalo. Prior to that, she served in the Erie County Legislature.
One of her goals she said she had when becoming majority leader was to legalize marijuana, which the Legislature ultimately did in 2021.
Peoples-Stokes’ move is the latest among several members of leadership in the state Legislature who have announced they’re not running for reelection in 2026, the others being Republican Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay and state Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris.
“It’s been a great ride. I’ve enjoyed the entire time. I went there with a focus,” Peoples-Stokes said.