Andrea Stewart-Cousins is a Democratic and Working Families Party member representing New York State Senate District 35, which includes Greenburgh, parts of White Plains, part of New Rochelle, part of Yonkers, and Scarsdale. She serves as President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader, becoming the first woman and first African American woman in New York State Senate history to hold this role in 2019, and the longest-serving Democratic majority leader. Notable achievements include pioneering Westchester County's human rights laws, workplace smoking restrictions, gun storage requirements, and living wage laws; advancing progressive voting laws, criminal justice reforms like raising the age of criminal responsibility to 18, reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, education, environmental justice, and affordable health care access.

Education and Political Experience

• Earned a Bachelor of Science from Pace University and teaching credentials in Business Education from Lehman College while raising her children.
• Obtained a Master of Public Administration from Pace University in 2008 and is a member of Pi Alpha Alpha Public Administration Honor Society.
• Early career: Journalist, public-school teacher, and 13 years in customer service, sales, and marketing at New York Telephone/AT&T.
• 1992: Appointed Yonkers Director of Community Affairs, first African American woman in the role.
• 1996–2006: Westchester County Legislator, rising to Vice Chair; chaired task force on women and families, advocating for day care, foster care, and kinship care.
• 2006: Elected to New York State Senate .
• 2012: First woman elected Leader of the Senate Democratic Conference.