NEW YORK, NY — Alina Bonsell, candidate for New York State Senate District 28, announced today that she will be running on an additional, independent ballot line named “Jewish Safety” alongside her Republican candidacy in the November 3, 2026, general election.
The announcement comes as independent petitioning will start April 14 through May 23, 2026, during which Bonsell’s campaign must collect 5,000 total signatures to ensure at least 3,000 qualified signatures from registered voters across the district.
New York State Senate District 28 spans Manhattan’s East Side, including East 14th Street through East 96th Street, Central Park South, and Roosevelt Island.
“The Jewish Safety line is about bringing people together across party lines around something fundamental: safety, identity, and shared values,” said Bonsell. “This is about building a coalition that reflects the reality of our community, not forcing people into political boxes.”
Bonsell previously ran for New York City Council in 2025, where she built a broad base of support across the district and demonstrated strong crossover appeal among Republicans, Independents, and Democrats alike.
The creation of the “Jewish Safety” line reflects that same coalition-building strategy, aimed at engaging voters who may not align with a single party but want leadership that prioritizes safety, stability, and common-sense solutions.
For Bonsell, the issue is deeply personal. “My family came to this country from the former Soviet Union because of antisemitism,” she said. “Jewish safety is not abstract to me, instead it’s part of my family’s history and part of why I’m running. No one in this city should feel unsafe because of who they are.”
“To move New York forward, we need leadership that is practical, not ideological,” Bonsell said. “People want safer streets, lower costs, and a government that actually works. That’s what I’m running to deliver for my neighbors.”
With a compressed petitioning timeline, the campaign is mobilizing aggressively to meet ballot requirements and is seeking to raise $20,000 to fund staffing and operations necessary to collect signatures across the district.
“This is a grassroots effort with a clear goal,” Bonsell added. “If we want real representation, it takes real participation. I’m asking people across our community to step in, sign, volunteer, and help us get this done.”
Visit Bonsell’s website at www.alinabonsell.com and follow her on Instagram @alinab.nyc to learn more.
###
Contact:
Therese Joffre
Alina for New York
(989) 948-2137
WE WIN TOGETHER
Alina is running on the Republican line this election, but her prospects for victory increases if voters can choose her on an Independent, “Jewish Safety” line, with all votes on both lines counting toward her total. This is about protecting the safety of all Jews in New York City and creating legislation that punishes those who commit religious crimes.
To make that possible, we need to hire staff and collect 5,000 registered voter signatures, so that at least 3,000 will be valid. These signatures need to be from any D28 registered voters who have not already signed any other petition.
Your support will directly fund trained petition staff and help ensure we qualify for the “Jewish Safety” Independent line on this November’s ballot.
We need to raise funds to get this done between April 14th – May 26th so we legally qualify our Independent line.
Alina
Bonsell
candidate for ny
state senate
Alina Bonsell is a Yorkville
resident, mother, and small
business owner, not a career
politician. In 1989, her family
immigrated to the United States
as Jewish refugees from the
Soviet Union when she was a
small child. She has spent her
life building businesses and
fighting to stay afloat in a city
that is increasingly hostile to the
people who make it run.
With 20 years of experience in
pharmaceutical operations and
private sector leadership,
including roles in regulatory
affairs, executive management,
and complex systems oversight,
Alina brings a track record of
accountability and measurable
results. She will bring that same
discipline to Albany.
