Rob Rolison is a Republican state senator representing New York's 39th Senate District, which spans parts of Dutchess, Putnam, and Orange Counties in the Hudson Valley, including Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, and Montgomery. A retired law enforcement officer and longtime public servant from Poughkeepsie, he was elected in November 2022, flipping the seat to Republican control with a margin of 6,738 votes, and sworn in as a freshman senator in January 2023. Notable achievements include serving as mayor of Poughkeepsie , where he reduced the city's general fund deficit by $10 million, spearheaded infrastructure improvements like roads, bridges, sidewalks, and parks, and created the innovative "Children's Cabinet" for youth development—the only such initiative outside New York City. He previously chaired the Dutchess County Legislature , emphasizing fiscal discipline, tax stability, and opposition to unfunded mandates. In the Senate, he serves as Ranking Member of the Children and Families Committee and Cities Committee, and is a member of committees on Aging, Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Crime Victims/Crime and Correction, and Procurement and Contracts, among others. Rolison follows in his father's footsteps, as his father, Jay P. Rolison Jr., represented a similar district from 1967 to 1990.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Attended Marist College, majoring in Criminal Justice.
• Professional Background: Joined the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department in 1982; served 12 years in patrol and 14 years as a detective before retiring.
• Political Experience:
  • Dutchess County Legislator , including Chair .
  • Mayor of Poughkeepsie .
  • New York State Senator, District 39 .