Robert Jackson is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party and Working Families Party, representing District 31 in the New York State Senate since 2019. He is the first Muslim New York State Senator and previously served in the New York City Council from 2002 to 2013 for the 7th district in Manhattan, including Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood. Growing up in Northern Manhattan with eight brothers and sisters, he faced challenging times and attended PS 186. Notable achievements include leading the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit, which secured $16 billion for New York City public schools; creating over 4,000 pre-K seats; sponsoring the Small Business Jobs Survival Act and a landmark MWBE law for minority- and women-owned businesses; advocating for marriage equality, tenant protections, workers' rights, and education funding; and serving as Chair of the Senate Civil Service & Pensions Committee and Chairman of the Committee on Cities.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Attended SUNY New Paltz.
• Early Career: Worked 23 years in the labor movement, starting at the New York State Department of Labor and later with the Public Employees Federation ; served as elected president of Community School Board 6 in 1992, launching the school funding lawsuit.
• Political Roles: New York City Councilmember , where he chaired the Education Committee and co-chaired the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus; elected to State Senate in 2018 with 89% of the vote, assuming office January 1, 2019, succeeding Marisol Alcantara.