These days, Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha must keep her focus on three fronts: her district, which comprises most of The Overlook Region (TOR), the State Capitol in Albany, and Washington.

Shrestha, who represents New York’s 103rd Assembly District, talks and thinks like a progressive Democrat, but she says she also appeals to some Trump voters. “In my district, I have quite a number of people who supported Donald Trump but also voted for me because of my economic fairness message,” she tells me.

First elected in 2022 after defeating longtime incumbent Democrat Kevin Cahill, Shrestha is now in her second term and has generated a 100% voting record from the environmental group Environmental Advocates Action, a 92% mark from the League of Conservation Voters, and a 43% rating from the National Federation of Independent Business.

She expressed concerns about how the Democratic Party “missed one opportunity after another to really understand where the public is at.” For the past 15 years, she contends, Democrats have been losing touch with voters. She pointed to a net loss of nearly one million votes for the Democratic presidential nominee in New York in 2024—Trump picked up 300,000 more votes than in 2020, while Vice President Harris received 600,000 fewer votes than Joe Biden did four years earlier.

“We need to be self-reflective and self-critical. It’s been a huge missed opportunity. We need a path forward, and the path forward is not the status quo. Citizens are disillusioned, and this is troubling, but it’s also an opportunity.”

The Esopus Democrat claims, “What we are witnessing today in Washington is absolute chaos. And I don’t think Trump’s voters expected this.”

According to Shrestha, her colleagues in Albany and Washington need to respond. “We need to work on economic justice. Everything is being price-gouged today, even eggs.”

“We need to recognize public sentiment and act accordingly. There’s no guarantee what we are seeing play out is a blip. The time is now for Democrats to break up with billionaires and corporations and quit taking loyal Democrats for granted. And at the same time, we have to protect the vulnerable—trans people, women, and immigrants,” Shrestha warned.

Shrestha commended Gov. Kathy Hochul for her efforts in standing up to President Trump, calling it “refreshing,” and said now is the time for New York to show what’s possible when a state leads the way on multiple fronts, including economic policy, infrastructure, and public services.

With the legislative season in full swing in Albany, Shrestha is focused on tax policy, solar energy, and tenant and consumer rights.

Now that Hochul has submitted her executive budget to the Legislature, members of the state Senate and Assembly are evaluating what stays, what gets cut, and what might be added. The goal is to have a finalized budget by March 31, in time for the new fiscal year starting April 1. Some years that deadline is met; in others, the process drags on.

Ultimately, what emerges is an omnibus budget bill, which in Albany has come to be known as “The Big Ugly”—a package of policy and fiscal measures passed with little notice.

According to Shrestha, this is the point in the legislative process where the 150-member Assembly and 63-member Senate push their priorities, negotiating and trading to build consensus.

One of her top priorities is changing how corporate profits are taxed—an issue debated under both Hochul and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo but never enacted.

“My message to Governor Hochul: this is the year to do it,” Shrestha said.

Other 2025 legislative priorities for Shrestha include:

• Passing the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), which she co-sponsors. The bill would require landlords to notify tenants before selling a building, giving tenants the chance to get an appraisal and submit an offer. Shrestha says the act would help curb gentrification, slow rent increases, and prevent property flipping.
  
• Passing the Rent Emergency Stabilization for Tenants (REST) Act, which would grant smaller towns and cities greater authority to regulate housing units.
  
• Enacting the Solar for Schools program, which would provide grants for energy and infrastructure upgrades in New York schools. The Inflation Reduction Act would cover 40 to 60 percent of costs, with schools contributing 20 percent and the state funding the remainder. Shrestha has been actively promoting this program to schools in TOR and has garnered support from the New York State United Teachers union.
  
• Passing the Hudson Valley Public Power Act (HVPA), which she sponsors in the Assembly alongside state Sen. Michelle Hinchey. The act would allow for a public takeover of Central Hudson Gas & Electric, which Shrestha argues would lower consumer rates and create a community-focused utility. “My constituents are very excited about the potential of making Central Hudson a public entity,” she said. She also praised the Kingston Common Council for its unanimous early February vote in favor of the takeover.
  

In the coming weeks, The Overlook will profile additional state and federal representatives, providing readers with insights into their priorities and perspectives.

Scott Widmeyer is co-founder of The Overlook. Send correspondence to scott@theoverlooknews.com.