U.S. House, New York 12th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in New York's 12th Congressional District?
Micah Lasher has the strongest record in New York's 12th Congressional District. Micah Lasher scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Micah Lasher's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Wilneida Negron (3 of 15 criteria), Karen Ortiz (7 of 15 criteria) and Caroline Shinkle (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
Micah Lasher
On the ballot as Micah C. Lasher
68 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 75
Independent
Wilneida Negron
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 3 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Independent
Karen Ortiz
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 56
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Caroline Shinkle
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Micah Lasher
- Credit2025-12-19
Assembly sponsor of the FAIR Business Practices Act, the first update of New York's main consumer protection law in 45 years, signed by Gov. Hochul in December 2025.
Wilneida Negron
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Karen Ortiz
- On the record2025-06-24
The EEOC reprimanded her for "discourteous conduct" over emails opposing leadership's gender identity directives, then fired her in June 2025; she contested the action through her union.
Sources: AP via NBC News, June 26, 2025, AP via KSAT, May 12, 2025
Caroline Shinkle
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Micah Lasher. A House candidate financial disclosure was filed Sept. 21, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10082924, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00918565
Wilneida Negron. House candidate financial disclosures were filed Jan. 31, 2026 and June 12, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10078036, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00927095
Karen Ortiz. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00928283
Caroline Shinkle. A House candidate financial disclosure was filed May 24, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10079799, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00937920
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Micah Lasher. No public record found.
Wilneida Negron. No public record found.
Karen Ortiz. As an EEOC administrative judge in 2025 she publicly opposed agency leadership's handling of gender identity cases and was fired in June 2025.
Sources: AP via NBC News, June 26, 2025, AP via KSAT, May 12, 2025
Caroline Shinkle. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Micah Lasher. Took part in the PIX11 and NY1 Democratic primary debates in June 2026. No general election debate found.
Sources: Spectrum News NY1, June 9, 2026, PIX11
Wilneida Negron. No public record found.
Karen Ortiz. No public record found.
Caroline Shinkle. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Micah Lasher. Has held senior posts in city and state government since 2010 and a seat in the Assembly since 2025. No conduct finding found.
Source: Wikipedia, Micah Lasher
Wilneida Negron. No public record found.
Karen Ortiz. No public record found.
Caroline Shinkle. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Micah Lasher. Has held sworn office as a State Assembly member since January 2025. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Micah Lasher
Wilneida Negron. No public record found.
Karen Ortiz. Served as a federal administrative judge from 2018 to 2025. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Wikipedia, Karen Ortiz
Caroline Shinkle. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Micah Lasher. State Assembly member since 2025; earlier director of policy for Gov. Kathy Hochul, chief of staff to the state attorney general and Mayor Bloomberg's director of state legislative affairs.
Wilneida Negron. No public record found.
Karen Ortiz. EEOC administrative judge in New York from 2018 to 2025 and earlier a legal director at the MTA. Has not held elected office.
Source: Wikipedia, Karen Ortiz
Caroline Shinkle. Attorney with a 2015 MIT degree and a 2020 Harvard law degree. Has not held public office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Caroline Shinkle
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Micah Lasher. Publishes a detailed platform across 14 issue areas naming specific federal bills he would back, alongside his Assembly record.
Wilneida Negron. No public record found.
Karen Ortiz. Campaign site sets out numbered priorities with specific pledges, such as introducing articles of impeachment on her first day and backing Medicare for All.
Source: Campaign site
Caroline Shinkle. Campaign site lists priorities on taxes, housing, schools and public safety, mostly in general terms.
Source: Campaign site
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Micah Lasher. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, took part in two televised primary debates and publishes detailed issue pages.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Micah Lasher, Spectrum News NY1, June 9, 2026, Campaign site, Platform and Policies
Wilneida Negron. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Source: Ballotpedia, Wilneida Negron
Karen Ortiz. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and publishes issue priorities.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Karen Ortiz, Campaign site
Caroline Shinkle. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and publishes priority pages.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Caroline Shinkle, Campaign site
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Micah Lasher. Born in Manhattan, grew up and lives on the Upper West Side, which is in the 12th District, and represents part of it in the Assembly. FEC by-state totals show about 89 percent of itemized individual contributions from New York.
Sources: Wikipedia, Micah Lasher, Karen Ortiz campaign site, district neighborhoods, FEC contribution totals by state
Wilneida Negron. No public record found.
Karen Ortiz. No public record found.
Caroline Shinkle. Described as a midtown Manhattan resident. FEC by-state totals show about 49 percent of itemized individual contributions from New York.
Sources: Jewish Link, Sept. 3, 2026, Karen Ortiz campaign site, district neighborhoods, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Micah Lasher. As chief of staff to the state attorney general from 2013 he managed a staff of 1,800. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no administrative fine found.
Sources: Wikipedia, Micah Lasher, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00918565
Wilneida Negron. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00927095
Karen Ortiz. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00928283
Caroline Shinkle. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00937920
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Micah Lasher. Assembly sponsor of the FAIR Business Practices Act, the first update of the state's main consumer protection law in 45 years, signed by the governor in December 2025.
Wilneida Negron. No public record found.
Karen Ortiz. No public record found.
Caroline Shinkle. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Micah Lasher. No public record found.
Wilneida Negron. No public record found.
Karen Ortiz. No public record found.
Caroline Shinkle. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Micah Lasher. No public record found.
Wilneida Negron. No public record found.
Karen Ortiz. No public record found.
Caroline Shinkle. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Micah Lasher. No public record found.
Wilneida Negron. No public record found.
Karen Ortiz. No public record found.
Caroline Shinkle. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Micah Lasher. No public record found.
Wilneida Negron. No public record found.
Karen Ortiz. No public record found.
Caroline Shinkle. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in New York's 12th Congressional District?
Micah Lasher has the strongest record in New York's 12th Congressional District. Micah Lasher scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Micah Lasher's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Wilneida Negron (3 of 15 criteria), Karen Ortiz (7 of 15 criteria) and Caroline Shinkle (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in New York's 12th Congressional District in 2026?
Micah Lasher (Democratic), Wilneida Negron (Independent), Karen Ortiz (Independent), Caroline Shinkle (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Micah Lasher a good candidate for Congress?
Micah Lasher scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Wilneida Negron a good candidate for Congress?
Wilneida Negron has public evidence on 3 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Karen Ortiz a good candidate for Congress?
Karen Ortiz has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Caroline Shinkle a good candidate for Congress?
Caroline Shinkle has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every New York race scored, and the New York 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.