Republican challenger blames Democrat chair for gender-neutral parenting bill

In a campaign interview, Republican challenger Connor Dunleavy blamed Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Lavine for advancing a gender-neutral parenting bill in New York. Dunleavy said Lavine took the proposal from his committee and placed it before the Assembly, where the Democratic supermajority passed it. The bill, identified as S9316/A8382A, would substitute “mother” with “gestating parent,” “father” with “non-gestating parent,” and replace “paternity” with “parentage” throughout family-law statutes.

After passing the Assembly in March and the Senate in June, the measure now waits for Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision. Dunleavy also criticized Lavine for supporting other initiatives, including ending cash bail, raising the age at which juveniles can be tried as adults, and restricting parental objections to library content. He framed the race as a shift toward the right in a district that has become more Republican, noting that fellow Republican Bruce Blakeman is also campaigning against what he calls a Democratic “war on families.” The 13th Assembly District lies within New York’s 3rd Congressional District, where Republican Mike LiPetri is contesting Rep. Tom Suozzi.