Christopher S. Friend
Republican · NY · Member of the New York State Assembly, District 124
Chris Friend has represented the Southern Tier in Albany since 2011 and is a former research chemist with a doctorate from SUNY Buffalo. A former Chemung County legislator, he focuses on lower taxes, job creation, public safety, and the upstate economy.
Where Christopher S. Friend stands, based on their records
Supports
Anti-Corruption (1 record), Government Efficiency (1 record), Public Safety and Crime Control (2 records)
Opposes
Healthcare Affordability (1 record), Environment and Public Health (1 record), Gun Control (3 records),
Mixed record
Labor Rights (1 support · 1 oppose), Government Spending Reduction (1 support · 2 oppose), Civil Rights (1 support · 3 oppose)
Campaign finance information not available
Track record
Track record — Healthcare Affordability
Healthcare Affordability · 1 oppose
Voted no on the Compassionate Care Act, which legalized medical marijuana for patients certified by a doctor. The Assembly passed it 117-13.
June 20, 2014Opposes Healthcare Affordability
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 oppose
Voted no on the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York's law setting deadlines to cut greenhouse gas emissions and move to renewable power. The Assembly passed it 111-35.
June 20, 2019Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Labor Rights
Labor Rights · 1 support · 1 oppose
Voted no on the education, labor and housing part of the 2016-17 state budget. It raised New York's minimum wage toward 15 dollars an hour and created paid family leave. The Assembly passed it 104-39.
April 1, 2016Opposes Labor Rights
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Sponsored a law letting the city of Elmira borrow over time to pay the past cost of extra pension benefits for its firefighters. It became chapter 422 of 2014.
October 21, 2014Supports Labor Rights
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Anti-Corruption
Anti-Corruption · 1 support
Took part in a public forum that minority party lawmakers held on how the state handled nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. After hearing testimony he called for an independent investigation of the state's nursing home death count.
August 18, 2020Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Government Efficiency
Government Efficiency · 1 support
Sponsored a law merging the town courts of Erin and Chemung into one court serving both towns. It became chapter 270 of 2017.
August 21, 2017Supports Government Efficiency
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 support · 2 oppose
Sponsored a law letting Tioga County add a one dollar surcharge on phone sales to pay for upgrading its 911 emergency system. It became chapter 561 of 2021.
November 3, 2021Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Voted no on the education, labor and housing part of the 2016-17 state budget. It raised New York's minimum wage toward 15 dollars an hour and created paid family leave. The Assembly passed it 104-39.
April 1, 2016Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Sponsored a law letting the city of Elmira borrow over time to pay the past cost of extra pension benefits for its firefighters. It became chapter 422 of 2014.
October 21, 2014Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 2 support
Sponsored a law letting Tioga County add a one dollar surcharge on phone sales to pay for upgrading its 911 emergency system. It became chapter 561 of 2021.
November 3, 2021Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Sponsored a law letting the Tioga County jail hold people who have been arrested and are waiting to be brought before a local judge. It became chapter 487 of 2018.
December 28, 2018Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Gun Control
Gun Control · 3 oppose
Voted no on the gun licensing law passed in a special session after the Supreme Court struck down New York's concealed carry rules. It tightened license requirements and barred guns from many public places. The Assembly passed it 90-52.
July 1, 2022Opposes Gun Control
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Voted no on New York's red flag law, which lets a court order someone to give up their guns when a judge finds they are a danger. The Assembly passed it 108-30.
June 13, 2018Opposes Gun Control
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Voted no on the NY SAFE Act, the gun law passed days after the Newtown school shooting. It expanded the assault weapon ban and required background checks on private gun sales. The Assembly passed it 104-43.
January 15, 2013Opposes Gun Control
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights
Women's Reproductive Rights · 1 oppose
Voted no on the Reproductive Health Act, which wrote abortion rights into state health law and took abortion out of the criminal code. The Assembly passed it 95-49.
January 22, 2019Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 1 support · 3 oppose
Voted no on the Clean Slate Act, which automatically seals many old criminal convictions after a set waiting period. The Assembly passed it 82-65.
June 9, 2023Opposes Civil Rights
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Voted no on the Green Light Law, which let people get a standard New York driver's license without proving they are in the country legally. The Assembly passed it 87-61.
June 12, 2019Opposes Civil Rights
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Voted yes on the Child Victims Act, which gave people abused as children more time to sue and to bring criminal charges. The Assembly passed it 142-3.
January 28, 2019Supports Civil Rights
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Voted no on the Marriage Equality Act, the law that let same-sex couples marry in New York. The Assembly passed it 80-63.
June 15, 2011Opposes Civil Rights
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — General
General · 5 records
Sponsored the law that let Chemung County keep charging an extra one percent sales tax through November 2027. It became chapter 265 of 2025. He has carried this county sales tax renewal in most sessions since 2011.
August 7, 2025
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Voted no on the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which lets a terminally ill patient ask a doctor for medication to end their own life. The Assembly passed it 81-67.
April 29, 2025
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Voted no on the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act, which legalized and taxed marijuana for adults and set up a state cannabis agency. The Assembly passed it 94-56.
March 30, 2021
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Returned as ranking minority member of the Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry, and joined the chamber's new Science and Technology Committee.
January 13, 2021
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Became the ranking minority member of the Assembly Committee on Children and Families in his first year in the chamber. He also joined the energy, health, tourism and housing committees.
January 21, 2011
Source: nyassembly.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Race Christopher S. Friend is in:
- Member of the New York State Assembly, District 124 · November 3, 2026 · Assembly District 124; New York · incumbent
Profile last researched September 19, 2026.