Issues
John McGowan holds a distinguished record of leadership in our community. John has been our New York State Assemblyman since being elected in November 2022 and, before that, served as a Rockland County Legislator, elected in 2019. Additionally, John has worked as a prosecutor in the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office and volunteers for his community in several capacities, including a six-year term as the President of the Rockland County Ancient Order of the Hibernians. John is also a practicing attorney licensed in New York State, specializing in general civil litigation, union representation, and transactional matters. As a litigator—which John has been throughout his entire legal career—he is not afraid to make tough decisions and is unwavering in his commitment to Rockland residents as a member of the State Assembly in Albany.
As an Assemblyman, John is dedicated to prioritizing issues vital to the future of Rockland County and New York State:
Upholding Public Safety
John is an ardent opponent against the disastrous and so-called bail “reform” laws that put dangerous criminals back on the street and in positions to harm again, making New York less safe as a result.
JOHN—A TRAINED, PROFESSIONAL ADVOCATE AND FORMER PROSECUTOR—WILL CONTINUE FIGHTING TO ENSURE THAT NEW YORK STATE PRIORITIZES THE SAFETY OF ITS RESIDENTS BY WORKING TO REPEAL BAIL REFORM AND OVERTURN ALL LAWS THAT PUT CRIME VICTIMS’ WELL-BEING SECOND.
Opposing Taxpayer Funding for Migrant Crisis
John is proud of his Irish heritage and understands New York is a beacon of light and hope for so many around the world. However, Democrats have prioritized illegal immigrants at the expense of hardworking New Yorkers—allocating billions to support migrants while simultaneously taking away resources from our veterans, disabled, homeless, elderly, and other groups––and are pushing to make every local municipality in New York subject to the city’s immigration policies.
JOHN VOTED AGAINST THE DEMOCRATS’ $4 BILLION MIGRANT GIVE-AWAY, OPPOSED MAYOR ADAMS’ EFFORTS TO RELOCATE MIGRANTS TO ORANGETOWN AND ROCKLAND COUNTY, AND WILL CONTINUE FIGHTING TO PREVENT SANCTUARY CITY AND OPEN BORDER POLICIES FROM BECOMING STATEWIDE MANDATES.
Supporting Law Enforcement
John has a history of working with members of law enforcement—as a criminal prosecutor, private attorney, and now as an elected official—and understands the daily sacrifices they and their families make to serve our communities.
JOHN KNOWS THAT TO ENSURE A BETTER AND SAFER NEW YORK, WE NEED LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL TO HAVE THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO DO THEIR JOBS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR THE POLICE IN ALBANY.
Making New York More Affordable
Residents are fleeing New York State at record high rates because the cost of living, coupled with inflation, has made staying here unbearable and, in many cases, impossible. New York needs to reverse course and elected leadership at all levels of government must find ways to ease the tremendous cost of living in this great state.
JOHN WILL CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR LOWER TAXES, LESS WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT SPENDING, AND MORE INITIATIVES TO MAKE NEW YORK AFFORDABLE FOR ALL.
Promoting Strong Education
John knows that a strong education is key to a prosperous future. That future begins with ensuring our students receive a comprehensive, transparent, and appropriate curriculum; our school districts are well-funded; our school choice is protected; our teachers are supported; and our parents are involved and have an integral role in their child’s education.
JOHN VOTED TO INCREASE SCHOOL AID, OPPOSED FINANCIAL CUTS TO SCHOOLS, SECURED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR LIBRARIES, AND WILL FIGHT TO MAINTAIN THE NYS SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA TO PREVENT PROPOSED REVISIONS FROM PENALIZING ROCKLAND COUNTY SCHOOLS.
Keeping Congestion Pricing Terminated
John knows firsthand, as a former student commuting to NYC from Pearl River, the cost of transportation to the city. Increasing the price tag for workers and students is unfair and impacts Rocklanders who already pay among the highest taxes in the U.S. and get little in return for their tax investment from the MTA. While John is pleased Governor Hochul has announced a supposed “pause” on Congestion Pricing, we must ensure it is completely terminated.
JOHN LED THE FIGHT TO REPEAL CONGESTION PRICING FULLY AND WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR HIS LEGISLATION TO BE PASSED, WHILE ALSO OPPOSING ALL MTA CASH GRABS AND ADVOCATING FOR INCREASED STATE AID TO COMPLETE TRANSIT AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
Maintaining Local Control and Ensuring Our Voice Is Not Overtaken By the State
Local control of zoning laws, building codes, and other regulatory frameworks is a crucial part of New York’s long-standing legal principles. Local authority gives voters a true voice in the decisions made by their elected officials. However, recent actions from Albany, particularly by the Governor, threaten to undermine this local autonomy and supplant voter rights with state overreach. It is essential to resist these intrusions and guarantee that the voice of our citizens remains intact.
JOHN IS A STAUNCH DEFENDER OF LOCAL CONTROL AND WILL CONTINUE TO COMBAT STATE INFRINGEMENT IN ALL OF ITS FORMS.
Preserving and Protecting Quality of Life
As a lifelong Rockland resident, John values the tranquility of our bucolic suburban county and its vibrant, strong community. Many residents originally moved to or decided to stay in Rockland, investing in their homes and properties because they believe Rockland is the best place to live, raise a family, or develop a business. John wants to keep Rockland the great place to live that attracted so many here in the first place.
JOHN IS A CHAMPION FOR ROCKLAND COUNTY, WANTS TO MAINTAIN THIS LIFESTYLE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, AND WILL NEVER WAIVER FROM THE GOAL: PRESERVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES FROM STATE INTERFERENCE.
