Kurt VanWuyckhuyse

Kurt VanWuyckhuyse's career experience includes working as a manager.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m not a career politician. As the General Manager of Chip's Auto, our family-owned small business, I’ve learned real leadership means listening, solving problems, and managing a budget. I’m bringing this practical, working-class perspective to Albany.

I grew up in Hamlin and attended Hilton schools. As a renter in Greece since 2007, the anxiety of rising costs isn't a talking point - it's a daily reality. My commitment is rooted in real life. I grew up learning how to survive, navigating family trauma, my brother’s cancer diagnosis, and a sister’s battle with addiction. I know what it feels like when the system fails. I'm running to ensure that when families face their darkest moments, their government has their back.

Music is a huge part of my life, I especially enjoy attending live emo, pop-punk, and metalcore shows. I’ve been a fixture in the Kickball League of Rochester since 2009. I’m also a proud nerd who collects Pokémon cards, and plays video games - using that passion to stream video games for the Extra Life fundraiser for Golisano Children's Hospital annually.

Coming from a big, close-knit family, I take my title as "Uncle Kurt" to my three nieces and three nephews very seriously. While I don't have pets right now, I have a strict policy of befriending every animal I meet.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Passing the NY Health Act:

Healthcare should be guaranteed for everyone, not a privilege tied to your job or income. I am running to pass the New York Health Act to establish comprehensive, single-payer healthcare for every New Yorker. Having navigated my brother’s cancer diagnosis and my sister’s battle with addiction, I know the trauma of fighting insurance companies when you should be focusing on survival. The NY Health Act will eliminate premiums, deductibles, and co-pays so that we are guaranteed care, not a financial death sentence.Housing Justice for Renters and Homeowners:

I will fight for comprehensive housing justice that protects both renters and homeowners across District 134. I support expanding Good Cause Eviction to shield tenants from predatory rent hikes.

We also need to make homeownership accessible by aggressively funding first-time homebuyer and down-payment assistance programs. For current homeowners, I'm committed to lowering property taxes by expanding the STAR program and fighting for state-level tax rebates so families aren't taxed out of the homes they’ve worked so hard to build.Climate Action and Utility Accountability:

Families shouldn't have to choose between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table while utility companies post record profits. I will fight to pass the NY HEAT Act to cap utility costs for low-income families and stop subsidizing fossil fuel expansion, ensuring a just transition that protects our environment, while creating strong, good-paying union jobs in our region by leveraging the Build Public Renewables Act.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My passion for the NY Health Act is personal. Navigating my brother’s cancer battle and my sister’s struggle with addiction showed me that our healthcare system prioritizes profit over survival. I will fight to pass the NY Health Act and drastically expand mental health and addiction recovery services. We won't fund this by taxing working families; it is time for corporations and the ultra-wealthy to finally pay their fair share. To ensure I am accountable only to my neighbors, I refuse to take a single cent of corporate PAC money. I am running to bring a working-class voice to Albany that isn't for sale and to build a system where care is guaranteed for every New Yorker, regardless of their bank account.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

For decades, Bernie Sanders has been unapologetically consistent in his fight for the working class, proving you don't need to sell out to corporate interests to make an impact. His unwavering commitment to making healthcare a human right perfectly mirrors my fight to pass the NY Health Act in New York.

I admire that he doesn't use political spin, and tells it exactly like it is and stands by his convictions, even when it means taking on the political establishment. By refusing corporate PAC money and relying on grassroots support, he has shown that a government driven by the people is still possible. I want to follow his example by being a representative who remains entirely accountable to my neighbors, fighting relentlessly to ensure the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share so working families can finally get ahead.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An official must be a direct reflection of their community, not their donors. This is why I refuse to take a single cent of corporate PAC money. It ensures that my only "bosses" are the people of Greece, Hilton, Ogden, Parma, and Spencerport.

Empathy is also vital. you can't effectively address housing insecurity or the addiction crisis unless you have felt the weight of those challenges yourself.

Finally, I believe in a "what you see is what you get" approach. Voters deserve a representative who speaks plainly, stands by their convictions, and remains grounded in the same daily realities as the people they serve.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibility of a State Assembly member is to serve as a shield for their constituents against a system that prioritizes corporate profit over people. This means being there to help neighbors navigate state bureaucracy and championing legislation that protects their well-being. It also involves responsible stewardship of our resources - ensuring the ultra-wealthy finally pay their fair share so we can fund the NY Health Act, lower property taxes for families, and invest in our community’s future. It's about making sure when a family within the district faces a crisis, the government is a source of support rather than another obstacle.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to leave behind a New York where the next generation, including my three nieces and three nephews, never has to experience the "silent battles" my family faced. My goal is for my legacy to be defined by the passage of the NY Health Act, the establishment of housing as a guaranteed right, and a political culture where regular, working-class people feel they truly have a seat at the table. I want to be remembered as the representative who stayed true to his community, refused corporate influence, and proved that a government "of the people" can actually work for everyone, regardless of their bank account.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Over the next decade, New York’s greatest challenge will be standing as a steadfast bastion of protection for working-class families and the underserved against a deeply hostile federal political climate. With the federal government actively attempting to gut healthcare funding, dismantle safety nets, and roll back protections for marginalized communities, the burden falls entirely on our state to protect our own.

Our state government must actively resist this. While Washington slashes funding and imposes draconian barriers to care, New York must respond by passing the New York Health Act to guarantee single-payer healthcare for every resident, ensuring that survival is never dependent on federal whims or corporate greed.

Furthermore, as federal housing support dwindles, we need to aggressively expand tenant protections like Good Cause Eviction and fund permanently affordable housing to prevent a devastating rise in homelessness.

To meet these immense challenges and protect our most vulnerable, we can't pass the cost onto the working class. New York has the wealth to be a true sanctuary for working families, but only if we force massive corporations and the ultra-wealthy to finally pay their fair share. Our greatest challenge is having the political courage to reject corporate influence, end austerity politics, and build a state that fiercely protects every New Yorker, no matter what happens in Washington.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

New York Progressive Action Network, Run For Something, The Outrun Coalition, Working Families New York