Yuh-Line Niou

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Yuh-Line Niou

| image = Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou in Albany (cropped).jpg

| caption = Niou in 2017

| state_assembly1 = New York

| district1 = 65th

| term_start1 = January 1, 2017

| term_end1 = December 31, 2022

| predecessor1 = Alice Cancel

| successor1 = Grace Lee

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|7|15}}

| birth_place = Taipei, Taiwan

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| education = Evergreen State College (BA)
Baruch College (MPA)

| website = {{URL|nyassembly.gov/mem/Yuh-Line-Niou|State Assembly website}}

| native_name = {{no bold|牛毓琳}}

| native_name_lang = Chinese

}}

Yuh-Line Niou ({{IPAc-en|j|u|l|iː|n|_|n|i|oʊ}}; {{lang-zh|t=牛毓琳|p=Niú Yùlín}}; born July 15, 1983){{cite web |url=http://www.vogue.com/13477903/yuh-line-niou-assembly-new-york |title=Meet Yuh-Line Niou: The New Face of Downtown Manhattan's Political Scene |last=Macabasco |first=Lisa Wong |work=Vogue |date=September 15, 2016 |accessdate=December 14, 2016}} is an American politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly for the 65th district.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/14/nyregion/assembly-primary-yuh-line-niou-sheldon-silver.html|title=Yuh-Line Niou Defeats Sheldon Silver Ally in Primary for His Old Assembly Seat|date=September 14, 2016|access-date=December 14, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|last1=Yee|first1=Vivian}} The Lower Manhattan district, which is heavily Democratic and over 40% Asian American,{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/yuh-line-niou-girds-for-the-next-step-1473900617|title=Yuh-Line Niou Girds for the Next Step|last=Hollander|first=Sophia|date=September 15, 2016|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|issn=0099-9660|access-date=December 16, 2016}} includes Chinatown, the Financial District, Battery Park City, and the Lower East Side. Niou is the first Asian American elected to the State Assembly for the district. She was a candidate for Congress in New York's newly redrawn 10th congressional district in 2022.

Early life and education

Niou was born in Taipei, Taiwan, the eldest of three children, and emigrated to the U.S. with her parents when she was six months old. She went to school in El Paso, Texas.{{cite web | url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/personality/2021/07/shes-one-brave-ones-yuh-line-nious-outspoken-leadership-style/183846/ | title='She's one of the brave ones.' Yuh-Line Niou's outspoken leadership style | date=July 19, 2021 }}{{cite news |last1=Fuchs |first1=Chris |title=Taiwanese-American shakes up New York City's political machine |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2017/05/29/2003671490 |access-date=29 May 2017 |work=Taipei Times |date=29 May 2017}} Her mother worked as a registered nurse and hospital administrator while her father worked as a materials science engineer. They were both from Taoyuan, Taiwan. Her father received a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science & Technology and worked as a senior research scientist at the University of Texas at El Paso and senior engineer at WaferTech in Camas, Washington for over a decade.{{cite web|url=https://cn.linkedin.com/in/chorng-shyr-niou-725ba230 |title=Chorng-Shyr Niou |first=Niou|last=Chorng-Shyr |accessdate=August 14, 2022}} From 2001 to 2010, her father worked as a senior director at Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), a Chinese-state owned company, in Shanghai, China. Her mother also worked as an assistant director of environment, safety, and health at the company during this time.

She lived in Moscow, Idaho,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/15/nyregion/nious-victory-spotlights-the-diverse-communities-living-in-lower-manhattan.html|title=Niou's Victory Spotlights the Diverse Communities Living in Lower Manhattan|last=Robbins|first=Liz|date=September 14, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=December 16, 2016}} and El Paso, Texas, before her parents settled in Vancouver, Washington.{{Cite web |title=x.com |url=https://x.com/yuhline/status/1287625593593397255?lang=en |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=X (formerly Twitter)}} She attended and graduated from Columbia River High School.{{Cite web |title=x.com |url=https://x.com/yuhline/status/1594062935562850311 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=X (formerly Twitter)}}

Niou earned her Bachelor of Arts in social policy from Evergreen State College and worked as a legislative assistant to State Representative Eileen Cody and Senator Debbie Regala of the Washington State Legislature. She was diagnosed with autism at 22.{{cite news |last=Stanton |first=Andrew |date=May 21, 2022 |title=Yuh-Line Niou running to become first openly autistic member of Congress |url=https://www.newsweek.com/yuh-line-niou-running-become-first-openly-autistic-member-congress-1708882 |work=Newsweek |access-date=August 23, 2022}} She moved to New York City in 2010 to obtain a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Baruch College,{{cite web|url=http://thepoliticalstudent.com/2016/06/we-put-the-able-in-disabled-local-politician-yuh-line-niou-on-autism-spectrum-disorder/|title=We Put the "Able" in "Disabled": Local Politician, Yuh-Line Niou, on Autism Spectrum Disorder|first=Rory|last=Mondshein|date=June 6, 2016|accessdate=February 19, 2021}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/lower-manhattans-new-voice-in-the-state-assembly|title=Lower Manhattan's New Voice in the State Assembly|date=December 13, 2016|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=December 14, 2016}} and served as chief of staff to Ron Kim, a member of the New York State Assembly. In a 2016 interview, Niou said that she first publicly discussed her autism diagnosis with a group of parents representing Autism Speaks who visited Kim's office.{{Cite web |last=Mondshein |first=Rory |date=2016-06-06 |title=We Put the "Able" in "Disabled": Local Politician, Yuh-Line Niou, on Autism Spectrum Disorder |url=http://thepoliticalstudent.com/2016/06/we-put-the-able-in-disabled-local-politician-yuh-line-niou-on-autism-spectrum-disorder/ |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=The Political Student |language=en-US}} Niou also worked as a lobbyist in Washington state.{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/house-candidate-yuh-line-niou-linked-to-panama-papers-company-through-father-chorng-shyr-nious-company |title=Inside a House Candidate's Panama Papers Connection |first1=William |last1=Bredderman |first2=Shannon |last2=Vavra |newspaper=The Daily Beast |date=August 10, 2022 |access-date=August 14, 2022}}

New York State Assembly

=Elections=

After a corruption scandal involving Sheldon Silver forced his resignation, a special election was held to fill the vacancy in April 2016. Alice Cancel, an ally of Silver and a local Democratic District leader, ran as the nominee of the Democratic Party, while Niou, with the encouragement of former State Senator Daniel Squadron, ran as the Working Families Party candidate.{{cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20161108/financial-district/yuh-line-niou-65th-district-assembly-winner|title=Meet Yuh-Line Niou, a Former Winnie's DJ Who's Downtown's New Assemblywoman|website=DNAinfo New York|access-date=2018-01-18|archive-date=November 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110105831/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20161108/financial-district/yuh-line-niou-65th-district-assembly-winner|url-status=dead}} Cancel won the special election.

Niou ran for the seat again in the 2016 Democratic primary and won the Democratic nomination in August 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/14/nyregion/assembly-primary-yuh-line-niou-sheldon-silver.html|title=Yuh-Line Niou Defeats Sheldon Silver Ally in Primary for His Old Assembly Seat|date=September 14, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 14, 2016}} She then won the general election in November 2016 with 76% of the vote.{{Cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/sheldon-silver-successor-loses-primary-race-yuh-line-niou-article-1.2791269|title=Sheldon Silver's successor loses primary race to Yuh-Line Niou|work=New York Daily News|access-date=December 16, 2016}}

In 2018 Niou was uncontested in the primary and general elections. In 2020, Grace Lee ran against Niou in the Democratic primary, receiving 35.7% of the vote to Niou's 64%. Niou was uncontested in the 2020 general election.{{Cite web |title=Yuh-Line Niou |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Yuh-Line_Niou |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}

=Tenure=

Since her election to the New York State Assembly, Niou has prioritized legislation related to consumer protection and tenants rights as well as advocating for increased funding for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).{{cite web|url=http://nyassembly.gov/mem/Yuh-Line-Niou/bio/|title=New York State Assembly {{!}} Yuh-Line Niou|website=nyassembly.gov|access-date=2018-01-18}} She has also worked to prevent a new housing and office building from being developed on community supported green space, the Elizabeth Street Garden.{{cite web|date=2019-10-11|title=Legislator Who Argues Housing Is a Human Right Also Suing to Stop Affordable Housing in Her District|url=https://reason.com/2019/10/11/legislator-who-argues-housing-is-a-human-right-also-suing-to-stop-affordable-housing-in-her-district/|access-date=2021-05-01|website=Reason.com|language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Yuh-Line-Niou/story/89493 |title=Yuh-Line Niou – Assembly District 65 |Assembly Member Directory | New York State Assembly |publisher=Nyassembly.gov |date=2019-05-05 |accessdate=2022-05-18}} Eventually, the garden's nonprofit lost the battle to save the space, which had begun in 2012, prior to Niou's election.{{cite web|first=Kim |last=Velsey |url=https://www.curbed.com/2021/12/affordable-housing-388-hudson-elizabeth-street-garden.html |title=Affordable Housing to go up at 388 Hudson |publisher=Curbed.com |date=2021-12-14 |accessdate=2022-05-18}}

In January 2019, during an assembly hearing regarding the Child Victims Act, Niou recounted her own sexual assault.Gioino, Catherina and Slattery, Denis (May 24, 2019). "[https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-sexual-harassment-hearing-state-legislature-manhattan-20190524-bfyimzxqbvekrowqwgjtndwwwe-story.html#nt=outfit State officials tell lawmakers they must 'remain neutral' on proposals strengthening New York's sexual harassment laws]". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 24, 2019. The act passed in the state Assembly that day with a vote of 130–3.Wang, Vivian (January 28, 2019). "[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/28/nyregion/child-sex-abuse-victims.html They Were Sexually Abused Long Ago as Children. Now They Can Sue in N.Y.]". The New York Times. Retrieved August 14, 2020. In the same year, she voted to ban the possession of firearms on school campuses with the exception of school's police officers and security guards,{{cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/27435/70236/175059/prohibits-firearms-on-school-campuses#70236 |title=S 101 - Prohibits Firearms on School Campuses - New York Key Vote |date=January 29, 2019 |website=Vote Smart |access-date=August 10, 2022 }} prohibit the manufacturing, sale, or ownership of untraceable 3D printed firearms,{{cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/26402/68508/175059/prohibits-3d-printed-firearms#68508 |title=S 1414 - Prohibits 3D Printed Firearms - New York Key Vote |date=May 20, 2019 |website=Vote Smart |access-date=August 10, 2022 }} and establish a firearm buyback program in New York.{{cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/26938/68948/175059/establishes-a-firearm-buyback-program#68948 |title=S 2449 - Establishes a Firearm Buyback Program - New York Key Vote |date=January 29, 2019 |website=Vote Smart |access-date=August 10, 2022 }} All bills passed the State Assembly and State Senate and were signed into law by New York's governor Andrew Cuomo.

In 2022, she voted to expand legal protections for abortion providers in New York,{{cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/32911/86515/175059/yuh-line-niou-voted-yea-passage-s-9079-expands-legal-protections-for-abortion-providers#86515 |title=S 9079 - Expands Legal Protections for Abortion Providers - New York Key Vote |date=June 2, 2022 |website=Vote Smart |access-date=August 10, 2022 }} prohibit arrests for lawful abortions,{{cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/32795/86019/175059/yuh-line-niou-voted-yea-passage-s-9077-establishes-legal-protections-for-abortion-providers-from-out-of-state-laws#86019 |title=S 9077 - Establishes Legal Protections for Abortion Providers from Out of State Laws - New York Key Vote |date=May 31, 2022 |website=Vote Smart |access-date=August 10, 2022 }} and prohibit extradition of abortion providers to other states. Both bills passed the State Assembly and State Senate and were signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul in June 2022.

As a member of the State Assembly, Niou served as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Catastrophic Natural Disasters that focuses on combating climate change and building a safer New York when disaster strikes,{{cite web |url=https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/in-focus-shows/2021/10/03/legislating-to-protect-new-yorkers-from-bigger-and-more-vicious-storms |title=Legislating to protect New Yorkers from bigger and more vicious storms |last1=Fougere |first1=Debora |last2=Wills |first2= Cheryl |work=Spectrum News NY1 |date=October 3, 2021 |accessdate=July 10, 2022}} and co-chair of the Asian Pacific American Task Force that focuses on fighting anti-Asian bigotry and hate crimes in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.{{cite web |url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/personality/2021/07/shes-one-brave-ones-yuh-line-nious-outspoken-leadership-style/183846 |title='She's one of the brave ones.' Yuh-Line Niou's outspoken leadership style |last=Lewis |first=Rebecca C. |work=City & State |date=July 18, 2021 |accessdate=July 10, 2022}}

2022 congressional candidacy

File:Yuh-Line Niou 2022 Campaign Mailer.jpg

In December 2021, Niou stated her intention to issue a primary challenge against state Senator Brian P. Kavanagh of New York's 26th State Senate district.{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Rebecca C. |title=Sources: Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou is challenging state Sen. Brian Kavanagh |url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2021/12/sources-assembly-member-yuh-line-niou-challenging-state-sen-brian-kavanagh/187474/ |website=City & State NY |date=December 10, 2021 |access-date=21 December 2021 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Gartland |first1=Michael |title=N.Y. Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou to challenge fellow Democrat with state Senate run |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/new-york-elections-government/ny-assemblywoman-yuh-line-niou-challenges-state-sen-brian-kavana-20211219-5baopbz5gbgsjkwmz7whnqnhue-story.html |access-date=21 December 2021 |work=New York Daily News}} In May 2022, Niou announced she was instead running for Congress in New York's 10th congressional district.{{cite tweet|number=1528044306497413121|user=yuhline|title=Oh hi. I'm running for Congress. NY-10 let's do this.|date=May 21, 2022}} She was endorsed by the Working Families Party,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/nyregion/wfp-yuh-line-niou.html|title=In N.Y. House Race Scramble, Key Endorsement Goes to Yuh-Line Niou|date=June 23, 2022|access-date=July 10, 2022|newspaper=The New York Times|last1=Fandos |first1=Nicholas}} Sunrise Movement NYC,{{cite web |url=https://gothamist.com/news/heads-are-spinning-why-endorsements-may-pack-a-bigger-punch-in-nys-crowded-10th-congressional-district-race |title='Heads are spinning': Why endorsements may pack a bigger punch in NY's crowded 10th Congressional District race |last=Kim |first=Elizabeth |work=Gothamist |date=June 13, 2022 |accessdate=July 10, 2022}} New York Communities for Change, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Sen. Julia Salazar, State Assemblymember Ron Kim, Mayor of Boston Michelle Wu, former gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon, former candidate for Manhattan District Attorney Tahanie Aboushi, and dozens of other elected officials, activists, and organizations.{{cite news |last1=Coltin |first1=Jeff |last2=Pretsky |first2=Holly |date=August 8, 2022 |title=The endorsements for New York's 10th Congressional District |url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2022/08/endorsements-new-yorks-10th-congressional-district/374474/ |work=City & State NY |location=New York, NY |access-date=August 8, 2022}}

Niou garnered about 1,300 fewer votes than Dan Goldman in the crowded Democratic primary from in-person ballots according to the Associated Press.{{cite news |last1=Durkin |first1=Erin |last2=Anuta |first2=Joe |last3=Chadha |first3=Janaki |date=August 24, 2022 |title=Dan Goldman wins free-for-all New York House seat |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/24/free-for-all-new-york-house-primary-too-close-to-call-00053459 |work=Politico |location=New York, NY |access-date=August 28, 2022}} While the race was not certified by the New York City Board of Elections until September 14, she conceded the primary on September 6 after most of the remaining absentee ballots had been counted.{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Amy B. |last2=Paybarah |first2=Azi |date=August 25, 2022 |title=N.Y. House race may not be settled as Niou weighs run against Goldman |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/08/25/ny10-niou-goldman-wfp/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=New York, NY |access-date=August 28, 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Elizabeth |date=September 6, 2022 |title=Yuh-Line Niou will not run for Congress in general election against Dan Goldman |url=https://gothamist.com/news/yuh-line-niou-will-not-run-for-congress-in-general-election-against-dan-goldman |work=Gothamist |location=New York, NY |access-date=September 6, 2022}} She decided against a third-party challenge to Goldman using the Working Families Party ballot line in the general election, citing her priority of defending democracy in other competitive races and lack of resources needed to mount a serious challenge against the Democratic nominee.

Goldman won the general election with 84% of the vote.{{Cite news |date=2022-11-08 |title=New York 10th Congressional District Election Results |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/11/08/us/elections/results-new-york-us-house-district-10.html |access-date=2022-12-27 |issn=0362-4331}}

Political positions

=Abortions=

Niou has a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood for her support of abortion rights.{{cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/interest-group/2459/rating/13341 |title=Planned Parenthood Empire State 2022 Positions |website=Vote Smart |access-date=August 10, 2022 }} She has voted to expand legal protections for abortion providers in New York and prohibit extradition of abortion providers to other states. She said codifying abortion rights is one of her first priorities if she were to be elected to Congress in an interview with New York Magazine.{{cite news |last=Prater |first=Nia |date=August 9, 2022 |title=Yuh-Line Niou on Her Especially Personal Run for Congress |newspaper=New York Magazine |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/08/yuh-line-niou-on-why-her-run-for-congress-is-personal.html |access-date=August 10, 2022}}

= Criminal justice =

In 2019, Niou voted in favor of a criminal justice reform bill that prohibits the use of cash bail for misdemeanors and non-violent felonies, requires both defendants and prosecutors to share all evidence in their possession in advance of trials, and mandates all misdemeanor and felony cases in the state of New York to be resolved within 90 and 180 days, respectively.{{cite web |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/26333/66997/175059/amends-criminal-justice-regulations#66997 |title=S 1505 - Amends Criminal Justice Regulations - New York Key Vote |date=April 12, 2019 |website=Vote Smart |access-date=September 3, 2022 }} It passed both the State Assembly and Senate and was signed into law by New York's governor Andrew Cuomo in April 2019. Under the reform, judges retain the ability to set bail in, for example, cases that involve a violent felony, a defendant who is charged while on probation, or are considered high-risk.{{cite web |url=https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/facts-bail-reform-and-crime-rates-new-york-state |title=The Facts on Bail Reform and Crime Rates in New York State |last1=Grawert |first1=Ames |last2=Kim |first2=Noah |date=March 22, 2022 |website=Brennan Center for Justice |access-date=September 3, 2022}}

During a series of civil unrest triggered by the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Niou criticized the police for "escalating tensions or resorting to violence" and called for creating a culture of accountability and fairness within law enforcement.{{Cite web |last=Niou |first=Yuh-Line |date=June 8, 2020 |title=Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou on Protests and Police Accountability Reforms |url=https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Yuh-Line-Niou/story/92838 |website=New York State Assembly |access-date=September 1, 2022}} She also supports efforts to defund the police in order to redirect the funds toward social services, education, and housing.{{Cite web |last=Niou |first=Yuh-Line |title=Yuh-Line's Progressive Platform |url=https://www.nioufornewyork.com/issues |website=Niou for New York 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622205831/https://www.nioufornewyork.com/issues |access-date=August 28, 2022 |archive-date=June 22, 2020}}{{Cite tweet |last=Niou |first=Yuh-Line |author-link=Yuh-Line Niou |user=yuhline |number=1268774296262004737 |title=I also support defunding police |date=June 5, 2020 |access-date=August 31, 2022}}

=Guns=

Niou has a "F" rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF).{{cite web |title=NRA-PVF {{!}} Grades {{!}} New York |url=https://nrapvf.org/grades/new-york |website=nrapvf.org |publisher=NRA-PVF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029013116/https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/new-york/ |archive-date=October 29, 2016 |language=en-US |url-status=usurped}}{{cite web |title=NRA-PVF {{!}} Grades {{!}} New York |url=https://nrapvf.org/grades/new-york |website=nrapvf.org |publisher=NRA-PVF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103183759/http://nrapvf.org/grades/new-york |archive-date=November 3, 2020 |language=en-US |url-status=usurped}}{{cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/interest-group/1034/rating/12303?p=39&of= |title=National Rifle Association (NRA)2020 Positions |website=Vote Smart |access-date=August 10, 2022 }} She has voted to expand red flag laws,{{cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/32746/85828/175059/expands-red-flag-law-relating-to-potentially-violent-individuals#85828 |title=S 9113 - Expands Red Flag Law Relating to Potentially Violent Individuals - New York Key Vote |date=June 2, 2022 |website=Vote Smart |access-date=August 10, 2022 }} require license for possession of a semi-automatic firearm,{{cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/32743/85825/175059/requires-license-for-possession-of-semi-automatic-firearm#85825 |title=S 9458 - Requires License for Possession of Semi-Automatic Firearm - New York Key Vote |date=June 2, 2022 |website=Vote Smart |access-date=August 10, 2022 }} prohibit the sale of privately made firearms,{{cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/31935/83437/175059/prohibits-the-sale-of-ghost-guns#83437 |title=S 14A - Prohibits the Sale of Ghost Guns - New York Key Vote |date=June 8, 2021 |website=Vote Smart |access-date=August 10, 2022 }} and authorize the State of New York to sue gun manufactures for damage caused by their guns.{{cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/31144/81133/175059/authorizes-the-state-to-sue-gun-manufactures-for-damages-caused-by-guns#81133 |title=S 7196 - Authorizes the State to Sue Gun Manufactures for Damages Caused by Guns - New York Key Vote |date=June 8, 2021 |website=Vote Smart |access-date=August 10, 2022 }} She is in favor of banning assault rifles and assault weapons.

=Healthcare=

Niou supports a nationwide single-payer health care system{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/07/12/yuh-line-niou-house-campaign-harassment/ |title=She's running for Congress, despite the anti-Asian attacks against her |date=July 12, 2022|access-date=August 6, 2022|newspaper=The Washington Post|last=Youn |first=Soo}} and has been a supporter of the New York Health Act introduced by fellow assemblymember Richard N. Gottfried, which would establish a statewide single-payer health plan if passed.{{cite news|url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2021/12/it-finally-finally-year-new-york-health-act/359763/ |title=Is it finally, finally the year for the New York Health Act? |date=December 15, 2021|access-date=August 6, 2022|newspaper=City & State NY|last=Lewis |first=Rebecca C.}}

In 2021, Niou co-introduced and cosponsored legislation to expand the practice of applied behavior analysis in New York State.{{Cite web |date=2021-05-11 |title=NY State Assembly Bill A3523A |url=https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/a3523/amendment/a |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=NY State Senate |language=en}} It was signed into law on Dec. 30, 2021 and took effect June 30, 2023.

=Housing=

In 2019, Niou supported a controversial lawsuit to stop a Habitat for Humanity affordable housing development for seniors in Elizabeth Street Garden in Little Italy.{{cite web |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/ny-elizabeth-street-garden-lawsuit-20190306-story.html |title=NYC sued to protect Little Italy's Elizabeth Street Garden |last=Keogh |first=Elizabeth |work=NY Daily News |date=March 6, 2019 |accessdate=July 10, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Rubinstein |first=Dana |date=August 5, 2022 |title=In a House Race With Big Names, 2 Women With Local Ties Rise |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/05/nyregion/rivera-niou-ny10.html |access-date=August 5, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}} Niou has expressed doubts about proposals to allow for more dense housing, including affordable housing, in NoHo and SoHo.

Niou supports allocating 100 percent of residential units in the proposed 5 World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan as affordable housing.{{cite news|url=https://gothamist.com/news/affordable-housing-in-one-of-nycs-most-expensive-neighborhoods-becomes-litmus-test-in-competitive-congressional-race |title=Affordable housing in one of NYC's most expensive neighborhoods becomes litmus test in competitive congressional race |date=July 11, 2022|access-date=August 6, 2022 |newspaper=Gothamist |last=Kim |first=Elizabeth}}

=Judiciary=

Niou supports expanding the Supreme Court of the United States and implementing term limits on Justices.{{cite news |author=The Editorial Board |agency=The New York Times |date=August 13, 2022 |title=The New York Times's Interview With Yuh-Line Niou |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/13/opinion/yuh-line-niou-nyt-interview.html |location=New York, NY |access-date=August 25, 2022}} In the wake of the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, she again advocated for expanding the court,{{Cite tweet |last=Niou |first=Yuh-Line |author-link=Yuh-Line Niou |user=yuhline |number=1539999359739346946 |date=June 23, 2022 |title=We must expand the court now |access-date=August 25, 2022 |link=https://twitter.com/yuhline/status/1539999359739346946 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825222023/https://twitter.com/yuhline/status/1539999359739346946 |archive-date=August 25, 2022}} citing concern over further erosion of constitutional rights to privacy with respect to intimate practices as established by Griswold v. Connecticut.{{Cite tweet |last=Niou |first=Yuh-Line |author-link=Yuh-Line Niou |user=yuhline |number=1540343437211439105 |date=June 24, 2022 |title=Make no mistake: this decision will kill people, and our Supreme Court simply does not care |access-date=August 25, 2022 |link=https://twitter.com/yuhline/status/1540343437211439105 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825224032/https://twitter.com/yuhline/status/1540343437211439105 |archive-date=August 25, 2022}}

=Environment=

Niou supports the Green New Deal. She has been endorsed by Sunrise Movement NYC for her campaign for New York's 10th congressional district in 2022.

=Foreign policy=

==Israel==

Niou has advocated for a negotiated solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, stating that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve the right to live in safety and security. She supports providing Israel with defensive military assistance, as long as it is not used for human rights violations and is accompanied by appropriate oversight.{{cite web |last=Kassel |first=Matthew |date=July 11, 2022 |title='I do support BDS': Yuh-Line Niou lays out her Middle East policy approach |url=https://jewishinsider.com/2022/07/yuh-line-niou-new-york-city-congress-democratic-primary/ |access-date=July 11, 2022 |publisher=Jewish Insider}}{{Cite web |last=Kornbluh |first=Jacob |date=2022-07-20 |title=Jewish group endorses candidate who supports BDS in crowded race for Congress |url=https://forward.com/news/511273/jewish-group-endorses-yuhline-niou-race-congress-bds-israel/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=The Forward |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Kornbluh |first=Jacob |date=2022-07-12 |title=NY lawmaker withdraws endorsement from congressional candidate who announced support for BDS |url=https://forward.com/fast-forward/509962/ny-lawmaker-withdraws-endorsement-from-congressional-candidate-yuhline-bds-israel/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=The Forward |language=en}}

In July 2022, Niou explicitly stated, “I do support BDS,” referring to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel.{{Cite web |last=McDonough |first=Annie |date=2022-07-27 |title=Niou reiterates BDS support at NY-10 forum |url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2022/07/niou-reiterates-bds-support-ny-10-forum/375019/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=City & State NY |language=en}} She clarified that she views BDS as a constitutionally protected form of protest rather than antisemitic, and opposes anti-BDS legislation on free speech grounds. Niou has simultaneously said she has not personally participated in any boycott of Israel, adding that she does not embrace all of BDS’s tactics or demands. Her stance on BDS prompted at least one state legislator to withdraw his endorsement of her campaign.

Despite her support for the right to boycott, Niou has said Israel “deserves to live in safety and security” and has backed providing U.S. military aid for defensive purposes.{{Cite web |last=Kassel |first=Matthew |date=2022-08-30 |title=Yuh-Line Niou adds Israel policy to website, mulls possible third-party run |url=https://jewishinsider.com/2022/08/yuh-line-niou-israel-bds-mondaire-jones-working-families-party/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=Jewish Insider |language=en-US}} She has also indicated that any American tax dollars sent overseas, including to Israel, should be subject to “transparency” and must never facilitate harm to civilians. In April 2024, Niou expressed support for pro-Palestinian protestors at Columbia University, decrying the involvement of the NYPD by university administration and the removal of protestors from Columbia University grounds.{{Cite web |last=@yuhline |date=April 21, 2024 |title=Tweet |url=https://twitter.com/yuhline/status/1781077666843496920 |website=X (formerly Twitter)}}

Personal life

Niou is a cousin of Howard Wang, an American voice actor known for his roles in anime dubs.{{Cite web |title=x.com |url=https://x.com/yuhline/status/1474965247421206528 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250325022720/https://x.com/yuhline/status/1474965247421206528 |archive-date=March 25, 2025 |url-status=live}} She is Christian and attends Redeemer Presbyterian Church.{{Cite web |last=Report |first=Capstone |date=2022-06-12 |title=Tim Keller is pastor to politician with perfect score from Planned Parenthood |url=https://capstonereport.com/2022/06/12/tim-keller-is-pastor-to-politician-with-perfect-score-from-planned-parenthood/38277/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Capstone Report |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |author=Staff Writer |date=2022-06-13 |title=Country's Most Progressive Politician Attending Tim Keller's Church, Calling Him Her 'Pastor'? |url=https://protestia.com/2022/06/13/countrys-most-progressive-politician-attending-tim-kellers-church-calling-him-her-pastor/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Protestia |language=en-US}}