Aravella Simotas
From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 17 min
Aravella Simotas (Democratic Party) was a member of the New York State Assembly, representing District 36. She assumed office in 2011. She left office on January 1, 2021.
Simotas (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the New York State Assembly to represent District 36. She lost in the Democratic primary on June 23, 2020.
She served as a district representative to New York City Council officials.
Biography[edit]
She earned her B.A. in economics and philosophy from Fordham University and her J.D. from Fordham Law School. Her professional experience includes working as a federal law clerk before joining the practice of Bickle & Brewer, where she specialized in corporate governance litigation. Upon being elected to the New York State Assembly, she became the first Greek-American woman elected to office in New York and the first woman elected to represent her district.
Committee assignments[edit]
2019-2020
Simotas was assigned to the following committees:
2017 legislative session[edit]
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Banks |
| • Corporations, Authorities and Commissions |
| • Energy |
| • Ethics and Guidance |
| • Insurance |
| • Judiciary |
2015 legislative session[edit]
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Simotas served on the following committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Banks |
| • Consumer Affairs and Protection |
| • Energy |
| • Judiciary |
2013-2014[edit]
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Simotas served on the following committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Banks |
| • Consumer Affairs and Protection |
| • Energy |
| • Judiciary |
| • Small Business |
2011-2012[edit]
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Simotas served on the following committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Banks |
| • Consumer Affairs and Protection |
| • Energy |
| • Judiciary |
| • Small Business |
Sponsored legislation[edit]
The following table lists bills sponsored by this legislator. Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills sponsored by this person, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections[edit]
2020[edit]
See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2020
General election for New York State Assembly District 36
Zohran Kwame Mamdani won election in the general election for New York State Assembly District 36 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Zohran Kwame Mamdani (D) 
|
98.5
|
38,221 |
| Other/Write-in votes |
1.5
|
596 | ||
|
Total votes: 38,817 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
||||
Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 36
Zohran Kwame Mamdani defeated incumbent Aravella Simotas in the Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 36 on June 23, 2020.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Zohran Kwame Mamdani
|
51.2
|
8,410 |
|
|
Aravella Simotas |
48.6
|
7,987 | |
| Other/Write-in votes |
0.2
|
30 | ||
|
Total votes: 16,427 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
||||
2018[edit]
- See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2018
Simotas also ran in the 2018 election as a Working Families Party candidate.
General election for New York State Assembly District 36
Incumbent Aravella Simotas won election in the general election for New York State Assembly District 36 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Aravella Simotas (D) |
99.4
|
29,944 |
| Other/Write-in votes |
0.6
|
194 | ||
|
Total votes: 30,138 (100.00% precincts reporting) |
|||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
||||
Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 36
Incumbent Aravella Simotas advanced from the Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 36 on September 13, 2018.
Candidate |
||
| ✔ |
|
Aravella Simotas |
|
||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
||||
2016[edit]
- See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2016
Elections for the New York State Assembly took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The filing deadline for major party candidates was July 14, 2016. The filing deadline for independent candidates was August 23, 2016.
Incumbent Aravella Simotas ran unopposed in the New York State Assembly District 36 general election.[1][2]
| New York State Assembly, District 36 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic |  Aravella Simotas Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: New York Board of Elections | ||
Incumbent Aravella Simotas ran unopposed in the New York State Assembly District 36 Democratic primary.[3][4]
| New York State Assembly, District 36 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Aravella Simotas Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Simotas also ran on the Working Families Party ticket.
2014[edit]
- See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2014
Elections for the New York State Assembly took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was July 10, 2014. Incumbent Aravella Simotas was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Simotas also ran on the Working Families Party ticket. Simotas was unchallenged in the general election.[5][6][7]
2012[edit]
- See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2012
Simotas ran in the 2012 election for New York State Assembly District 36. She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on September 13, 2012. She also ran on the Working Families Party ticket. She defeated Julia Haich in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[8][9][10]
| New York State Assembly, District 36, General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Aravella Simotas Incumbent |
84.1% | 26,331 | |
| Republican | Julia Haich | 15.9% | 4,993 | |
| Total Votes | 31,324 | |||
2010[edit]
- See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2010
Simotas was elected to the New York State Assembly, facing no competition in the November 2 general election.[11][12] She also was uncontested in the September 14 Democratic primary.
| New York State Assembly, District 36 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Aravella Simotas (D)
|
12,933 | |||
Campaign themes[edit]
2020[edit]
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Aravella Simotas did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign donors[edit]
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
| Aravella Simotas campaign contribution history | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Office | Result | Contributions |
| 2016 | New York State Assembly, District 36 | ✔ | $20,700 |
| 2014 | New York State Assembly, District 36 | ✔ | $60,853 |
| 2012 | New York State Assembly, District 36 | ✔ | $88,407 |
| 2010 | New York State Assembly, District 36 | ✔ | $208,175 |
| Grand total raised | $378,135 | ||
|
Source: Follow the Money |
|||
2016[edit]
Simotas won re-election to the New York State Assembly in 2016. During that election cycle, Simotas raised a total of $20,700.
| New York State Assembly 2016 election - campaign contributions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top contributors to Aravella Simotas's campaign in 2016 | ||||
| New York State Trial Lawyers Association | $2,000 | |||
| New York State Association Of Realtors | $1,350 | |||
| Hartford Financial Services | $1,000 | |||
| Life Insurance Council Of New York | $1,000 | |||
| Newman, Jay H | $1,000 | |||
| Total raised in 2016 | $20,700 | |||
| Source: Follow the Money | ||||
2014[edit]
Simotas won re-election to the New York State Assembly in 2014. During that election cycle, Simotas raised a total of $60,853.
| New York State Assembly 2014 election - Campaign Contributions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top contributors to Aravella Simotas's campaign in 2014 | ||||
| Rontso Levkos, LLC | $5,000 | |||
| Mouyiaris, Nikos | $4,100 | |||
| Life Insurance Council of New York | $2,653 | |||
| New York State Troopers | $2,500 | |||
| Levron Inc. | $2,500 | |||
| Total Raised in 2014 | $60,853 | |||
| Source: Follow the Money | ||||
2012[edit]
Simotas won re-election to the New York State Assembly in 2012. During that election cycle, Simotas raised a total of $88,407.
| New York State Assembly 2012 election - campaign contributions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top contributors to Aravella Simotas's campaign in 2012 | ||||
| Levron Inc | $4,100 | |||
| Newman, Jay H | $4,000 | |||
| New York State Troopers | $3,000 | |||
| Rontso Levkos Llc | $2,500 | |||
| Morning Glory Taxi | $2,500 | |||
| Total raised in 2012 | $88,407 | |||
| Source: Follow the Money | ||||
2010[edit]
In 2010, Simotas raised a total of $208,175 in campaign contributions.[13]
Her four largest campaign contributors in 2010 were:
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Simotas, Aravella | $12,000 |
| Brewer III, William A | $7,600 |
| Simotas, Eleni | $4,800 |
| Simotas, Aristidis | $4,000 |
Scorecards[edit]
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of New York scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2020
In 2020, the New York State Legislature was in session from January 8 to December 31.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the New York State Legislature was in session from January 9 through January 8, 2020.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2018, the 202nd New York State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 3 through June 20.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the 202nd New York State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 4 through December 31. A recess began June 21, and there was a special session June 28-29.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the 201st New York State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 6 through June 18.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the 201st New York State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 7 through June 25.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the 200th New York State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 8 to June 19, 2014.
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the 200th New York State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 9 to December 31.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the 199th New York State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 4 to June 22, 2012.
|
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2011, the 199th New York State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 5 to June 20, 2011.
|
Endorsements[edit]
2012[edit]
In 2012, Simotas’ endorsements included the following:[14]
- 32BJ/SEIU
Personal[edit]
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Simotas has a husband, John.
See also[edit]
2020 Elections
External links[edit]
- Search Google News for this topic
- Profile from Open States
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative Profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions via Follow the Money
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "2016 General Election Candidate List," accessed October 11, 2016
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Election results, 2016," accessed December 23, 2016
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Filings received for the 2016 State/Local Primary," accessed August 29, 2016
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Election returns September 13, 2016," accessed November 6, 2016
- ↑ New York Board of Elections, "Certification for the September 9, 2014, State Primary Election," accessed December 17, 2014
- ↑ New York Board of Elections, "Primary results for September 9, 2014," accessed October 1, 2014
- ↑ New York Board of Elections, "NYS Board of Elections Assembly Election Returns November 4, 2014," accessed December 17, 2014
- ↑ State of New York, State Board of Elections, "Candidate List for the September 13, 2012, State Primary Election," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ State of New York, State Board of Elections, "Official September 13, 2012, Primary Results," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ State of New York, State Board of Elections, "Official Assembly Election Returns Nov. 6, 2012," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ New York Times, "NY state legislative election results," accessed February 11, 2014
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Official Primary results from September 14, 2010," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2010 campaign contributions," accessed August 1, 2014
- ↑ New York Daily News, "32BJ/SEIU Endorses For State Senate, Assembly," August 1, 2012
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Michael Gianaris (D) |
New York Assembly District 36 2011-2021 |
Succeeded by Zohran Kwame Mamdani (D) |
EncycloReader
is supported by the 
KSF