Andrea Stewart-Cousins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andrea Stewart-Cousins
|
|
|---|---|
_NYS_Senate_Majority_Leader_Andrea_Stewart-Cousins_(cropped).jpg)
Stewart-Cousins in 2020
|
|
| Temporary President and Majority Leader of the New York State Senate | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2019 |
|
| Deputy | Michael Gianaris |
| Governor | Andrew Cuomo Kathy Hochul |
| Preceded by | John J. Flanagan |
| Acting Lieutenant Governor of New York | |
| In office April 12, 2022 – May 25, 2022 |
|
| Governor | Kathy Hochul |
| Preceded by | Brian Benjamin |
| Succeeded by | Antonio Delgado |
| In office August 24, 2021 – September 9, 2021 |
|
| Governor | Kathy Hochul |
| Preceded by | Kathy Hochul |
| Succeeded by | Brian Benjamin |
| Minority Leader of the New York State Senate | |
| In office December 17, 2012 – January 9, 2019 |
|
| Deputy | Michael Gianaris Jeffrey D. Klein |
| Preceded by | John L. Sampson |
| Succeeded by | John J. Flanagan |
| Member of the New York State Senate from the 35th district |
|
| Assumed office January 1, 2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Nicholas Spano |
| Member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators from the 16th district |
|
| In office 1996–2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Herman Keith |
| Succeeded by | Ken Jenkins |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Andrea Alice Stewart
September 2, 1950 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Thomas Cousins
(m. 1979; died 2007) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Pace University (BA, MPA) Lehman College (GrCert) |
Andrea Alice Stewart-Cousins (born September 2, 1950) is an American politician and former teacher from Yonkers, New York. As a member of the Democratic Party, she has made history in New York politics. Since 2019, she has been the Majority Leader of the New York State Senate, which means she leads the party with the most members in that part of the state government.
Stewart-Cousins was the first woman in New York's history to lead a political party group in the state government. She was also the first woman to become the Senate Majority Leader. In 2021 and 2022, she served as the acting lieutenant governor of New York, making her the first Black woman to hold that role.
Before joining the State Senate in 2007, she worked as a County Legislator for Westchester County. She has spent her career working to pass laws and serve her community.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Andrea Alice Stewart was born in New York City on September 2, 1950. Her father, Bob Stewart, was a decorated soldier in World War II, and her mother, Beryl Stewart, was a community activist. Growing up, her family lived in public housing in Manhattan and the Bronx.
Before becoming a politician, Stewart-Cousins worked in sales and marketing for the New York Telephone company for 13 years. When the company changed, she took a buyout (a payment to leave her job) and decided to go to college.
She earned a bachelor's degree from Pace University and later got her teaching license from Lehman College. She also earned a Master's degree in Public Administration, which is the study of how to run government and non-profit organizations. For a short time, she worked as a teacher and a journalist before starting her career in public service.
A Career in Public Service
Working for the City of Yonkers
Stewart-Cousins began her public service career in 1992 as the Director of Community Affairs for the city of Yonkers. In this job, she helped create programs for the community. For example, she started an internship program for hearing-impaired students.
She also helped organize "River Fest," a popular festival on the Hudson River that celebrated the city's diverse cultures.
Westchester County Legislator
In 1995, Stewart-Cousins was elected to the Westchester County Legislature, where she represented Yonkers for ten years. As a legislator, she helped write and pass important laws. These included laws to make sure people were paid a fair wage, to create smoke-free workplaces, and to protect people from unfair lenders. She also helped pass tax cuts for senior citizens and veterans.
New York State Senate
In 2006, Stewart-Cousins was elected to the New York State Senate. The State Senate is one of two parts of New York's legislature, which makes laws for the entire state. She has represented the 35th Senate District since 2007.
As a senator, she has supported many important issues. She voted for the law that allowed same-sex marriage in New York in 2011. She has also been a strong supporter of laws that protect a woman's right to choose.
Leading the Senate
In 2012, her fellow Democratic senators chose her to be their leader. This made her the first woman in New York history to lead a party conference in the state legislature.
After the Democrats won more seats in the 2018 elections, they became the majority party in the Senate. In January 2019, Stewart-Cousins was elected Senate Majority Leader. This is one of the most powerful positions in New York's state government.
As leader, she helped pass many new laws on topics like:
- Climate change
- Voting rights
- Criminal justice reform
- Gun safety
- LGBT rights
People who work with her say she leads by listening to everyone and building agreement among the senators.
Acting Lieutenant Governor
In 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo left office, and Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul became the new governor. According to New York law, the Senate Majority Leader steps in as acting lieutenant governor if the position is empty. This meant Stewart-Cousins became the acting lieutenant governor, the first Black woman to do so.
She served in this role again in 2022 after the next lieutenant governor, Brian Benjamin, left his position. This was the first time in New York's history that both the governor and lieutenant governor were women.
Honors and Awards
Stewart-Cousins has received many awards for her work.
- In 2019, Crain's New York Business named her one of the "Most Powerful Women in New York."
- In 2021, she received the Nelson A. Rockefeller Award for her public service.
- She was also honored with the Samuel Untermyer award for her leadership at the Untermyer Gardens in her hometown of Yonkers.
Personal Life
Stewart-Cousins has three children and four grandchildren. Her husband, Thomas Cousins, passed away in 2007.
See also
- 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis
- List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States
