Jonathan D. Rivera

Jonathan D. Rivera is a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly representing the 149th Assembly District. He serves parts of the cities of Buffalo and Lackawanna, the town of Hamburg , and the hamlet of Lake View.

Born on July 19, 1986, in Buffalo, New York, Rivera is a lifelong resident of Buffalo's West Side. He was raised by a police officer and a teacher, which instilled in him a strong commitment to public service. He resides in Buffalo with his wife, Stephanie, and daughter, Ana.

Education

Rivera is a graduate of Buffalo Public Schools and attended Hutchinson Central Technical High School. He earned his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from SUNY Buffalo State College and a master's degree in Political Management from George Washington University .

Political Experience

Rivera's career in public service began in 2005 as a Field Representative in the office of Congressman Brian Higgins. He transitioned to the private sector in 2007, working at HSBC Bank where he advanced to Branch Manager, and later served as Branch Manager at KeyBank .

His focus returned to local government in 2014 when he became a Legislative Liaison for Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, where he helped draft local laws and facilitated on-time budget passage. In 2018, he was promoted to Special Assistant to the Commissioner of Public Works for Erie County.

Rivera was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2021. As of 2025, he serves as Chair of the Subcommittee on Regional Tourism Development and Chair of the Administrative Regulations Review Committee. He is a member of multiple committees including the Banks Committee, Housing Committee, and Energy Committee. Throughout his tenure, he has championed issues related to lead poisoning prevention, housing reform, refugee resettlement, education investment, and waterfront development. He also chairs the Erie County Commission of New Americans and serves on the boards of several community organizations.