Andrea Stewart-Cousins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Stewart-Cousins in 2020
Temporary President and Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
Incumbent
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
Incumbent
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 (1950-09-02) September 2, 1950 (age 74) 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 educator. She is from Yonkers, New York. As a member of the Democratic Party, Stewart-Cousins has served in the New York State Senate since 2007. She represents District 35.

Since 2019, she has been the Majority Leader and Temporary President of the Senate. She has also served twice as acting lieutenant governor of New York under Governor Kathy Hochul. She was acting lieutenant governor for 16 days in 2021. She served again between April and May 2022. Stewart-Cousins is the first Black woman to hold this role, even if it was temporary. She is also the first woman in New York State history to lead a group in the New York State Legislature. This makes her the first female Senate Majority Leader in New York history.

Stewart-Cousins was first elected to the New York State Senate in 2006. Before that, she was a Westchester County Legislator from 1996 to 2006. In 2012, her fellow senators chose her to lead the Senate Democratic group. After the Democratic Party won most seats in the 2018 elections, Stewart-Cousins became the Majority Leader in January 2019. She became acting lieutenant governor on August 24, 2021. This happened when Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned and Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul became governor. When the next lieutenant governor resigned, Stewart-Cousins again became acting lieutenant governor.

Early Life and Education

Andrea Alice Stewart was born on September 2, 1950, in New York City. Her father, Bob Stewart, was a World War II veteran and repairman. Her mother, Beryl Stewart, was a stenographer and community activist. The Stewart family lived in public housing in Manhattan and the Bronx. Andrea also had chronic asthma.

Stewart-Cousins worked for twenty years in the private sector. This included thirteen years in sales and marketing for New York Telephone, which later became AT&T. After New York Telephone closed, she went to college while working for Gannett. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from Pace University. She also got her teaching credentials in Business Education from Lehman College. In May 2008, she received her Masters of Public Administration from Pace University. She is a member of Pi Alpha Alpha, which is an honor society for public administration. Before working in public service, she also worked in journalism and teaching.

Career in Public Service

Yonkers Director of Community Affairs

Stewart-Cousins began her public service career in 1992. She was named Director of Community Affairs in the City of Yonkers. In this job, she created a program for hearing-impaired students to get work experience. She also started a program for children in working families. She helped improve the City of Yonkers and was a founder of "Art on Main Street." Stewart-Cousins also helped create "River Fest." This was a popular celebration held on the Hudson River in Yonkers.

Westchester County Legislator

Before joining the New York State Senate in 2006, Stewart-Cousins was a Westchester County Legislator. She represented Yonkers. She was first elected in 1995 and served from 1996 to 2006. During her time, she was chosen as Majority Whip and vice-chair. Stewart-Cousins wrote laws about fair wages and smoke-free workplaces. She also created stronger gun laws and laws against unfair lenders. She helped pass tax cuts for seniors and veterans. She also created Westchester County's first human rights laws.

New York State Senate

Stewart-Cousins first ran for the New York State Senate in 2004. She lost by a small number of votes to the person already in office, Republican Senator Nicholas Spano. In 2006, she ran against Spano again and won. As of 2019, her Senate District 35 includes all of Greenburgh and Mt. Pleasant. It also includes parts of Yonkers.

Stewart-Cousins voted to support same-sex marriage laws on December 2, 2009. A same-sex marriage law was later passed in 2011.

Senate Democratic Leader

On December 17, 2012, Stewart-Cousins was elected to lead the Senate Democratic group. She is the first woman in history to lead a group in the New York State Legislature.

Senate Majority Leader

The Democratic Party won more seats in the Senate in the 2018 elections. On January 9, 2019, Stewart-Cousins was elected Senate Majority Leader. She serves as the Senate's Majority Leader and Temporary President. She is the first female Senate Majority Leader in New York history. In 2019, Stewart-Cousins supported the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019. This law changed rules for rent-controlled apartments in New York City.

When Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul became governor. Because of state law, Stewart-Cousins became the state's Acting Lieutenant Governor. She held this role until Governor Hochul appointed a new full-time lieutenant governor. She was the first Black woman to serve in this position. This was also the first time New York had both a female governor and an acting female lieutenant governor.

Honors and Awards

In 2019, Stewart-Cousins was named to Crain's New York Business list of the "Most Powerful Women in New York." This list comes out every two years.

In February 2021, she received the Nelson A. Rockefeller Award for 2020.

On September 14, 2021, Stewart-Cousins was given the Samuel Untermyer award. This award is for great civic leadership. She was honored at Untermyer Gardens in her hometown of Yonkers, New York.

Personal Life

In 1979, Andrea Stewart married Thomas Cousins. The couple then moved to Yonkers. Stewart-Cousins has three children and four grandchildren. Thomas Cousins passed away on November 26, 2007.

See also

• 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis
• List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States

Images for kids

• Andrea Stewart-Cousins 2012.jpg

  Andrea Stewart-Cousins in 2012