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Andrea Stewart-Cousins

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Article Genealogy
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Andrea Stewart-Cousins
NameAndrea Stewart-Cousins
CaptionStewart-Cousins in 2023
OfficeMajority Leader of the New York State Senate
Term startJanuary 9, 2019
PredecessorJohn J. Flanagan
Office1Minority Leader of the New York State Senate
Term start1December 17, 2012
Term end1January 9, 2019
Predecessor1John L. Sampson
Successor1Position abolished
State senate2New York
District235th
Term start2January 1, 2007
Predecessor2Nicholas A. Spano
Successor2Incumbent
PartyDemocratic
Birth date2 September 1950
Birth placeNew York City, New York, U.S.
SpouseThomas Cousins, 1979
EducationPace University (BA)
WebsiteOfficial website

Andrea Stewart-Cousins is an American politician serving as the Majority Leader of the New York State Senate, a position she has held since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she represents parts of Westchester County, including Yonkers, in the 35th New York State Senate district. She made history in 2012 by becoming the first woman to lead a legislative conference in Albany as Minority Leader, and again in 2019 as the first woman and first African American to serve as Senate Majority Leader.

Early life and education

She was born in New York City and raised in the Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea. Her mother was a domestic worker and her father was a World War II veteran. She attended Pace University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and later worked as a teacher and public relations professional for the New York City Board of Education.

Early political career

Her political career began in local government, serving as a legislative aide to Westchester County Legislator Katherine S. Carsky. She was later elected to the Westchester County Board of Legislators in 1995, representing parts of Yonkers and Greenburgh. During her tenure on the county board, she chaired the Committee on Budget and Appropriations and advocated for issues including affordable housing and healthcare access.

New York State Senate

She first ran for the New York State Senate in 2004, narrowly losing to longtime incumbent Nicholas A. Spano. She ran again in 2006 and defeated Spano, becoming the first African American woman to represent Westchester County in the state legislature. In the Senate, she served on committees including the Committee on Elections, the Committee on Health, and the Committee on Finance. She was elected Democratic Conference Leader by her colleagues in 2012 following the leadership crisis involving former leader John L. Sampson.

Leadership and legislative achievements

After the 2018 elections gave Democrats control of the New York State Senate for the first time in a decade, she was formally elected Majority Leader in January 2019. Under her leadership, the chamber passed a sweeping progressive agenda, including the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the New York State Child Victims Act, and landmark rent regulations under the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019. She also helped secure passage of the Reproductive Health Act, which codified Roe v. Wade protections into New York law, and the New York State Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act.

Electoral history

In the 2006 election for the 35th New York State Senate district, she defeated Republican incumbent Nicholas A. Spano. She was re-elected in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022, often by wide margins. Her 2012 re-election coincided with her elevation to Minority Leader. In the 2022 election, she defeated Republican challenger James P. Nolan in the newly redrawn district.

Personal life

She has been married to Thomas Cousins since 1979, and they have three adult children. She resides in Yonkers and is a member of the NAACP and the National Organization for Women. She has received numerous awards, including the New York Civil Liberties Union's Liberty Award and recognition from the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators.

Category:1950 births Category:Living people Category:New York (state) Democrats Category:Majority Leaders of the New York State Senate Category:Women state legislators in New York (state) Category:African-American state legislators in New York (state) Category:Pace University alumni Category:People from Yonkers, New York Category:People from Westchester County, New York