Andrew Gounardes is a Democratic State Senator representing New York's 26th State Senate District, which includes neighborhoods such as Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Sunset Park, Red Hook, Park Slope, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, Downtown Brooklyn, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Heights, and DUMBO. Born on July 8, 1985, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, he was first elected to the State Senate in November 2018. Notable achievements include co-founding Bay Ridge Cares after Superstorm Sandy to provide 25,000 hot meals and ongoing emergency assistance; organizing the Concerned R Train Riders for better subway service and accessibility; advocating for speed cameras in school zones through Bay Ridge Advocates for Keeping Everyone Safe ; authoring the New Deal for CUNY to invest billions in the City University of New York; leading efforts on street safety, including expanding speed camera programs and proposing a vehicle safety rating system; and reforming NYC's property tax system with a circuit breaker for families. He currently serves as Chairman of the Committee on Budget and Revenue and was named a 2025 Women of Distinction Honoree.

Education and Political Experience

Gounardes earned his JD from George Washington University Law School in 2010. His political experience began as an aide to former City Councilmember Vincent Gentile and a Legislative Aide for Investigations in the United States Senate. Prior to election, he served as Counsel to the Brooklyn Borough President and trustee of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System. He has also worked as an attorney and community advocate, providing pro bono legal counsel for the Bay Ridge Storefront Art Walk and serving as past president of the Bay Ridge Historical Society.