Karines Reyes (House District 0087)

Biography

Karines Reyes is a Dominican-American politician, registered nurse, and Afro-Latina who has represented New York's 87th State Assembly District as a Democrat since 2019. Born in Los Minas, Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, she has lived in the Bronx for nearly 20 years, is a mother of two young sons, and works in the Oncology Department at Montefiore Einstein Hospital. Notable achievements include her landslide 2018 election win , advocacy for safer nurse-to-patient ratios and single-payer healthcare as a union representative with NYSNA, volunteering as a nurse in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, and sponsoring legislation like A.5975 to amend pregnancy-related condition definitions.

Education and Political Experience

Reyes majored in advertising at college, serving as account executive for a student-run agency, and later studied communications at CUNY Baruch College, graduating with honors; she began her career in health information management at Mount Sinai Hospital. Her political experience includes announcing her campaign in June 2018 for the seat vacated by Luis R. Sepúlveda, defeating two Democratic primary opponents, and winning the general election; she has built ties with elected officials, addressed community boards, and represented NYSNA at national conferences on community issues.