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Andrea Stewart-Cousins

Andrea Stewart-Cousins (born September 2, 1950) is an American politician and educator from Yonkers, New York. A member of the Democratic Party, Stewart-Cousins represents District 35 in the New York State Senate. She serves as the body's Majority Leader and Temporary President. Stewart-Cousins is the first woman in the history of New York State to lead a conference in the New York State Legislature and is also the first female Senate Majority Leader in New York history.

Stewart-Cousins was first elected to the New York State Senate in 2006. Prior to her Senate service, Stewart-Cousins was a Westchester County Legislator from 1996 to 2006. In 2012, she was chosen by her colleagues to lead the Senate Democratic Conference. After the Democratic Party won an outright Senate majority in the 2018 elections, Stewart-Cousins became Majority Leader in January 2019

Early life, education, early career, and family

Stewart-Cousins was born in 1950 in Yonkers, New York. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from Pace University and her teaching credentials in Business Education from Lehman College. She received her Masters of Public Administration from Pace University in May 2008 and is a member of Pi Alpha Alpha, the public administration honor society. She spent twenty years in the private sector, including thirteen years in sales and marketing with New York Telephone, later known as AT&T. She also pursued a career in journalism and teaching before entering public service.

Stewart-Cousins's public service career began in 1992, when she was appointed as the Director of Community Affairs in the City of Yonkers. There she created an internship program for the hearing-impaired and for children in working families. She also advocated for and contributed to the revitalization of the City of Yonkers and was a founder of the original "Art on Main Street," as well as a co-creator of "River Fest", which for more than 20 years has been a widely attended multi-cultural citywide celebration on the Hudson River in Yonkers.

Stewart-Cousins was married to the late Thomas Cousins. She has three children and four grandchildren.

Westchester County Legislator

Prior to her election to the New York State Senate in 2006, Stewart-Cousins served for a decade as a Westchester County Legislator representing Yonkers. During her tenure, she was elected Majority Whip and Vice-Chair, and she authored and passed living wage laws, smoke-free workplace laws, tougher gun laws, laws that prosecute "predatory lenders", laws that have provided tax cuts for seniors and veterans, and Westchester County's first human rights laws.

New York State Senator

Stewart-Cousins first ran for New York State Senate in 2004, but was defeated by 18 votes by incumbent Republican Sen. Nicholas Spano. In 2006, she challenged Spano again and defeated him. As of 2019, Senate District 35 includes all of Greenburgh and Scarsdale and portions of Yonkers, White Plains and New Rochelle.

Stewart-Cousins voted in favor of same-sex marriage legislation on December 2, 2009, but the bill was defeated. A same-sex marriage law was eventually passed in 2011. Stewart-Cousins is a vocal supporter of abortion rights, and has pushed for legislation to expand abortion access in the State of New York.

On April 17, 2010, it was reported that Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) was under consideration by then-gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo to be his running mate, but he chose Bob Duffy instead.

On December 17, 2012, Senate Democrats elected Stewart-Cousins as Senate Democratic Leader. Stewart-Cousins is the first woman in history to lead a conference in the New York State Legislature.  The Democratic Party won a Senate majority in the 2018 elections. On January 9, 2019, Stewart-Cousins was elected Senate Majority Leader. She is the first female Senate Majority Leader in New York history. Stewart-Cousins sponsored the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019.

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