Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.

Steven Rhoads

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Steven Rhoads
Image of Steven Rhoads

Republican Party

New York State Senate District 5
Tenure

2023 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

2

Predecessor

Compensation

Base salary

$142,000/year

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Wantagh High School

Bachelor's

State University of New York, Albany, 1991

Law

Hofstra University, Maurice A. Deane School of Law, 1994

Personal
Birthplace
Plainview, N.Y.
Religion
Catholic
Profession
Attorney/Business Owner
Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Official Twitter

Official Instagram

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Personal LinkedIn

Steven Rhoads (Republican Party) is a member of the New York State Senate, representing District 5. He assumed office on January 1, 2023. His current term ends on January 1, 2027.

Rhoads (Republican Party, Conservative Party) ran for re-election to the New York State Senate to represent District 5. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Rhoads completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Steven Rhoads was born in Plainview, New York and lives in Bellmore, New York. He graduated from Wantagh High School. Rhoads earned a B.A. in political science/history from the State University of New York, Albany, in 1991, and a J.D. from Hofstra University in 1994. His career experience includes working as an attorney in private practice, as a deputy bureau chief in the office of the Nassau County attorney, volunteer firefighter, and youth minister. Rhoads served as the 19th District legislator for Nassau County.[1][2][3]

Rhoads has been affiliated with the following organizations:[3]

  • St. Pius X Parish, Plainview
  • Knights of Columbus
  • Kiwanis
  • Wantagh-Seaford Homeowners’ Association
  • Bellmore Lions
  • Giovanni Caboto Lodge of the Sons of Italy
  • Nassau County Police Emerald Society
  • Wantagh Volunteer Fire Department

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2024

See also: New York State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for New York State Senate District 5

Incumbent Steven Rhoads defeated Lisa Lin in the general election for New York State Senate District 5 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Steven Rhoads
Steven Rhoads (R / Conservative Party) Candidate Connection
 
61.3
 
106,250
Image of Lisa Lin
Lisa Lin (D) Candidate Connection
 
38.6
 
66,977
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
222

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 173,449
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Lisa Lin advanced from the Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 5.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Steven Rhoads advanced from the Republican primary for New York State Senate District 5.

Conservative Party primary election

The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Steven Rhoads advanced from the Conservative Party primary for New York State Senate District 5.

Campaign finance

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Rhoads in this election.

2022

See also: New York State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for New York State Senate District 5

Steven Rhoads defeated incumbent John E. Brooks in the general election for New York State Senate District 5 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Steven Rhoads
Steven Rhoads (R / Conservative Party)
 
60.8
 
80,693
Image of John E. Brooks
John E. Brooks (D / Working Families Party)
 
39.2
 
52,110
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
23

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 132,826
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent John E. Brooks advanced from the Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 5.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Steven Rhoads advanced from the Republican primary for New York State Senate District 5.

Conservative Party primary election

The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Steven Rhoads advanced from the Conservative Party primary for New York State Senate District 5.

Working Families Party primary election

The Working Families Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent John E. Brooks advanced from the Working Families Party primary for New York State Senate District 5.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Steven Rhoads completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rhoads' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Steven Rhoads is the current State Senator representing NYS 5th Senatorial District. Prior to his time as State Senator, Rhoads served as the 19th District legislator for Nassau County. His career experience also includes working as an attorney in private practice and as a deputy bureau chief in the office of the Nassau County attorney. He also served as a volunteer firefighter. Rhoads earned a B.A. in political science/history from the State University of New York, Albany, in 1991, and a J.D. from Hofstra University in 1994. He lives in Bellmore, New York.
  • Public safety is the government's first priority and with an increase in violent crime brought about by lax bail laws and heightened gang activity from an influx of migrants into New York City and surrounding communities, we must restore judicial discretion; end sanctuary status and give law enforcement the tools and support it needs to keep us safe.
  • Second, New York leads the nation in outward migration. Inflation, housing costs and explosive government spending have contributed to both residents and businesses choosing to find opportunities in other states. Affordability, economic development and our overwhelming tax burden must be addressed for New York to compete and survive.
  • Lastly, quality of life. Long Island faces numerous challenges like the Grumman Plume; protection of our sole source aquifer; storm resiliency; traffic congestion; protections against overdevelopment; maintenance of local control of zoning and other areas that have a substantial impact on day-to-day life require coordinated attention.
I am personally passionate about supporting first responders, as they are the backbone of our society. I am also passionate about the protecting our quality of life. Having had the privilege of growing up in the district I now have the honor of serving, ensuring that future generations have the same opportunities to live, work and raise families of their own here on Long Island in an environment of security and economic opportunity while protecting our vital natural resources is my personal goal.
I'd have to say my father, John. Dad was inspiring in the way he lived his life. Serious and stern when necessary but someone with a great sense of humor who was able to put anyone at ease even in the most difficult situations. He and my mother provided everything my sister and I needed....not everything we wanted. There's an important difference. Most of all, they provided a stable and loving home which is the most important ingredient for success. He had a true passion for helping people which he displayed as a school teacher in the Island Trees Junior High School for over 30 years. Most inspiring, however, is that he did it all while battling Multiple Sclerosis with which he was diagnosed in his early 30's. As the disease robbed him of more and more of his independence, eventually forcing him into retirement and leaving him with only partial use of one limb, he never lost his positive outlook; quick wit and his ability to provide sound advice on the most difficult questions. When he passed at the young age of 70, the outpouring of love and support from former students and colleagues our family had never met was amazing. Story after story of things he quietly did to help people in their time of need made a tough time for our family more bearable knowing that he made an impact on so many lives - a fact he probably never knew himself. I believe our goal in life is to use the gifts and talents that we've been given to try to make a positive difference in our little corner of the world. I like to think that I've incorporated a piece of his example into what I attempt to do in my public service as a firefighter, youth minister and elected official.
I view my role as an advocate for the interests of the roughly 340,000 constituents I’m privileged to represent and to be their voice in the New York State Senate, a responsibility I take very seriously. That means fighting for safe streets, good jobs, quality education, protecting our quality of life and expanding opportunities for the middle class and our kids and grandkids to achieve the American Dream here in New York. In addition to bringing that message to Albany, I also have a responsibility to effectively communicate what is happening in State government to my constituents - for good and for bad - and get their feedback, making me a more effective and responsive legislator. Finally, my most important role is constituent liaison, trying to make State government work to meet the needs of my constituents on a case-by-case basis. Whether it’s dealing with a streetlight, or a clogged storm drain or assisting a constituent getting a passport or appropriate services for their child with special needs, my staff and I have the collective goal of getting them an answer, resolving their issue or getting them to someone who can help if it's something outside of our area of influence. If there was one word of advice I could give to someone looking to serve in this type of office, it is to be passionate in your beliefs; keep your ego in check and never forget that you are here to serve the people you represent, not the other way around.
Newsday "Paper Boy" delivering the weekday and Sunday editions house to house for three years.
New York ranks first in the Nation in taxes. We have the fourth highest cost of living. New York has the second worst business climate in America according to Forbes magazine and we are number one in outward migration, having lost 1.5 million residents in just the last 10 years - not because people want to leave, but because they can't afford to stay. One-party rule has made this state less safe and less affordable, misaligning our priorities and making consistently poor policy choices that continue to exacerbate an increasingly desperate situation. Restoring common sense and fiscal discipline to State government and refocusing our priorities on lowering our tax and regulatory burdens on homeowners and businesses in order to create opportunities, lower our cost of living and expand our economy will be our biggest challenges.
Thus far, I have received the following endorsements for the 2024 election: Suffolk County Correction Officers Association; New York State Public Employees Federation; New York State United Teachers; New York State CSEA; Fire Marshal Benevolent Association of Nassau County; Nassau County Sheriff’s Correction Officers Benevolent Association; Port Authority Sergeants Benevolent Association; New York State AFL-CIO; Long Island Federation of Labor; North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters; Transport Workers Union of America – Railroad Division; Laborers’ International Union of North America, Nassau County PBA; Nassau County Superior Officers' Association; Nassau County Detectives' Association, Inc., NYPD PBA and more

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2022

Steven Rhoads did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

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.

Steven Rhoads campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* New York State Senate District 5Won general$584,475 $0
2022New York State Senate District 5Won general$272,168 $0
Grand total$856,643 $0
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in New York

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.


2024


2023


2022









See also

2024 Elections

Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
What's on the ballot?
U.S. President
U.S. Congress
U.S. Congress special elections
State executives
State legislatures
State courts
Ballot measures
Municipal government
School boards
Election analysis hub

Government

Seal of New York.png
Who represents me?
U.S. Congress
State executives
State legislators
State courts
Ballot measures
Municipal government
School boards

Newsletters

Ballotpedia RSS.jpg
The Daily Brew
The Weekly Brew
The Ballot Bulletin
Checks and Balances
Economy and Society
Hall Pass
Number of the Day
Robe & Gavel


External links

Candidate

New York State Senate District 5
  • Twitter
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
    		•

    Officeholder

    New York State Senate District 5
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
    		•

    Personal

  • LinkedIn
    		•

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ LinkedIn, "Steve Rhoads," accessed March 19, 2023
    2. ↑ New York State Senate, "About Steven D. Rhoads," accessed March 19, 2023
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 8, 2024

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    James Gaughran (D)     		New York State Senate District 5
    2023-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -


    Current members of the New York State Senate
    Leadership
    Majority Leader:Andrea Stewart-Cousins
    Minority Leader:Robert Ortt
    Senators
    District 1
    District 2
    District 3
    District 4
    District 5
    District 6
    District 7
    District 8
    District 9
    District 10
    District 11
    District 12
    District 13
    District 14
    District 15
    District 16
    John Liu (D)
    District 17
    District 18
    District 19
    District 20
    District 21
    District 22
    District 23
    District 24
    District 25
    District 26
    District 27
    District 28
    District 29
    District 30
    District 31
    District 32
    District 33
    J. Rivera (D)
    District 34
    District 35
    District 36
    District 37
    District 38
    District 39
    District 40
    District 41
    District 42
    District 43
    District 44
    District 45
    District 46
    District 47
    District 48
    District 49
    District 50
    District 51
    District 52
    Lea Webb (D)
    District 53
    District 54
    District 55
    District 56
    District 57
    District 58
    District 59
    District 60
    District 61
    Sean Ryan (D)
    District 62
    District 63
    Democratic Party (41)
    Republican Party (22)


    Flag of New York
    v • e
    State of New York
    Albany (capital)
    Elections

    What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures

    Government

    Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy


    Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Steven_Rhoads&oldid=10020996"