Lisa Kaul, a Rhodes Scholar with a PhD from Oxford University, who has served as a Dutchess County, NY legislator since 2023, won the Democratic Primary for State Senator from District 39, June 3, 2026.
She will face off against Republican/Conservative Party candidate Robert Rolison in the November 3 general election.
Kaul, who grew up in India and came to the US in 2004 from UK, soundly defeated her Democratic rivals in the June 23 primary, securing 62 percent of the vote. Her opponents Evan Menist, a Democrat, won 30.4 percent and Gay Lee, Working Families Party, 7.5 percent, according to Ballotpedia.
During her campaign for the primary, Kaul got some ringing endorsements from local sources. The Highlands Current ran a “Reader Endorsement: State Senate 39” news item where Kaul’s background of activism and her achievements were laid out by former candidates for office like Julie Shiroishi, the Democratic candidate for District 39 in 2022, who said, “Even if you don’t know Lisa, you have been touched by something she’s accomplished.”
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Shiroishi went on to recount Kaul’s participation in the Women’s March in Poughkeepsie in 2017; her work on the school board; launching the Poughkeepsie Repair Café; flipping a Republican seat to be in the Dutchess County Legislature; being on the board of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund, to name a few.
She is described as “A stalwart environmental champion,” helping local businesses, and being endorsed by major unions. “I’ve met a lot of candidates for local office in my time. I’ve never met anyone as impressive as Lisa Kaul,” Shiroishi said.
Kaul launched her State Senate campaign December 2025, and has garnered numerous endorsements including from lawmakers in Congress, nurses, children’s rights groups, and seniors’ groups.
In the Dutchess County Legislature, Kaul serves as Chair of the Environment Committee, Vice-Chair of Family and Human Services Committee, and a member of several others.
For her endorsements and more on Kaul’s campaign for the November general elections, visit lisa4ny.org.