Joey Cohen Saban Announces Campaign for NYS Assembly
Eddie Esses
Community leader Joey Cohen Saban has officially announced his candidacy for the New York State Assembly’s 45th District, launching a highly anticipated rematch against the same incumbent opponent he nearly defeated in 2024 in one of the closest races in recent New York history.
What was expected to be a routine election instead became one of the most shocking races in recent New York political history. Joey, a first-time candidate fueled by grassroots energy and community support, came within inches of victory and sparked a movement that continues to grow.
Saban’s 2024 campaign energized the Sephardic community in unprecedented ways. Voter registration surged. Turnout reached historic levels. A new generation stepped into civic life. That momentum did not fade after Election Day. Instead, it expanded.
Just months later, the same grassroots infrastructure helped power the successful election of State Senator Sam Sutton. As Sutton’s campaign manager, Saban built and executed the operation behind the win, organizing volunteers, coordinating outreach, and mobilizing voters across the district. The victory demonstrated what unified leadership and disciplined strategy could accomplish.
Since then, Saban has served as Chief of Staff to Senator Sutton, playing a key role in shaping policy and delivering results in Albany. In the 2025 legislative session alone, he helped advance multiple bills into law and worked alongside Senator Sutton to secure $20 million in funding for religious institutions, along with millions more in capital grants for community organizations. He also helped craft legislation to prohibit protests outside houses of worship and has been leading efforts to codify the IHRA definition of antisemitism into New York State law.
Beyond legislation, Saban helped spearhead one of the largest voter registration drives in the community’s history, adding approximately 15,000 new registered voters. The message was clear: this is a community ready to participate, organize, and lead.
Now, with proven legislative experience, strong relationships in Albany, and a tested political operation, Saban says he is ready to finish what he started. His campaign centers on delivering funding for community institutions, fighting antisemitism at every level of government, strengthening public safety, securing security grants for synagogues and yeshivot, and ensuring the district has an influential voice in the state majority.
Make sure to follow Joey throughout the campaign (@joeysaban on Instagram) and be sure to vote for Joey Cohen Saban for Assembly. He’s one of us, among us, and he will make sure our voice is heard in Albany.
The movement that shocked New York once is returning. But this time it is stronger, larger, and more determined than ever. And it’s ready to win.
