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Brian P. Kavanagh

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Brian Kavanagh
Kavanagh in 2022
Member of the New York State Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 7, 2017
Preceded byDaniel Squadron
Constituency26th district (2017–2022)
27th district (2023–present)
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 74th district
In office
January 3, 2007 – December 6, 2017
Preceded bySylvia M. Friedman
Succeeded byHarvey Epstein
Personal details
BornBrian Patrick Kavanagh
(1967-01-18) January 18, 1967 (age 59)
Staten Island, New York, U.S.[citation needed]
PartyDemocratic
EducationPrinceton University (BA)
New York University (JD)
Signature
WebsiteState Senate website

Brian Patrick Kavanagh (born January 18, 1967)[1] is an American politician who represents the 27th district in the New York State Senate, representing Lower Manhattan since December 2017.[2] A member of the Democratic Party, before redistricting in January 2023, Kavanagh represented part of Brooklyn. He was previously a member of the New York State Assembly for the 74th district and represented the East Side of Manhattan.

Early life and education

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Kavanagh was born on January 18, 1967,[1] on Staten Island[citation needed] to Eileen and John Kavanagh.[3] He is one of six children.[4] His father John immigrated to the United States from Buncrana, Ireland,[3] and worked as a police officer. His mother was a community leader in Staten Island who worked for the Staten Island Advance.[4] Kavanagh graduated from Regis High School in Manhattan.[5] He tutored students at the Nativity Mission Center.[6] He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in politics from Princeton University in 1989.[7] He then received a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law.[8]

Early career

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Kavanagh was an aide to former New York City mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins. He was the chief of staff of New York City Council member Gale Brewer.[8][9]

At the mayor's office, Kavanagh played a key role in launching the New York City Department of Homeless Services and then was the agency's first policy director.[4][better source needed]

With then-councilmember Bill Perkins, councilmember Brewer, and dozens of others, Kavanagh helped to draft and secure passage of Council Resolution 549, opposing the imminent invasion of Iraq.[4][better source needed]

Kavanagh has been a counselor, volunteer, and board member at the Lower East Side's Nativity Middle School and community center.[10] He is a board member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and has worked as an attorney for Demos. He is a member of the New York City Bar Association and has served on the association's election law committee.[4][better source needed]

Kavanagh has lectured at Columbia University.[11]

New York State Assembly

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Following an unsuccessful bid for New York City Council in 2005,[12] Kavanagh was first elected to the New York State Assembly in November 2006. He is a member of the Democratic Party and has been endorsed by the Working Families Party.[8]

New York State Senate

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In 2017, Kavanagh announced that he would run in the special election to succeed New York state senator Daniel Squadron, who was set to resign.[13] Not without criticism, Kavanagh was nominated as the Democratic candidate, despite representing very little of the same territory in the New York State Assembly that the senate district encompassed.[14] Despite this, Kavanagh easily won election.[15] He was re-elected to a full first term in 2018.[16]

Kavanagh has been a proponent of election reform. Stating New Yorkers "have some of the worst election laws in the country," Kavanagh introduced a bill "that would allow voters to cast ballots before Election Day". Until New York enacted early voting in 2019, it was the largest state with no advance voting regime.[17]

With Democrats taking the majority in the New York State Senate in 2019, Kavanagh was named as the chair of the committee on housing, construction and community development.[18]

Kavanagh was a co-sponsor of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA),[19][better source needed] enacted in 2019, and has served on the Environmental Conservation Committee in each of his years in the legislature.[20][better source needed] One of Kavanagh's priorities has been the introduction of extended producer responsibility legislation, which would require producers to be responsible for products from the beginning to end of life. He has introduced legislation in this area for rechargeable batteries, lamps, mattresses, and textiles, among others.[21]

Kavanagh authored the "All-Electric Building Act,"[22][better source needed] which became law in 2023, requiring the state energy construction code to halt the use of fossil fuels in new construction in the state.

Kavanagh has pursued legislation that would curb gun violence in New York. As the founder and chair of the American State Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention,[23] Kavanagh prioritized working across the aisle to curb access to illegal guns. He is the sponsor of New York's red flag law, which would prevent those who may be a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing a firearm.[24]

In February 2026, Kavanaugh stated that he will not seek reelection.[25][26]

Personal life

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Since moving to Manhattan, Kavanagh has lived in different neighborhoods, including the Lower East Side, Murray Hill, NoMad, and Turtle Bay.[27]

Election results

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Brian P. Kavanagh...5,213
Sylvia M. Friedman...4,857
Esther Yang...1,022
Juan Pagan...807
Brian P. Kavanagh (DEM)...21,875
Sylvia M. Friedman (WOR)...3,855
Frank J. Scala (REP)...3,576
Brian P. Kavanagh (DEM - WOR)...38,777
Bryan A. Cooper (REP)...6,684
Brian P. Kavanagh (DEM - WOR)...23,071
Dena Winokur (REP)...4,332
Brian P. Kavanagh...3,286
Juan Pagan...1,223
Brian P. Kavanagh (DEM - WOR)...34,736
Brian P. Kavanagh (DEM - WOR)...15,588
Bryan A. Cooper (REP)...2,738
Brian P. Kavanagh (DEM - WOR)...81.68% (35,648 votes)
Frank Scala (REP)...15.04% (6,562 votes)
Scott Andrew Hutchins (GRE)...3.28% (1,432 votes)
Brian P. Kavanagh (DEM - WOR)...34,674 (85.04%)
Analicia Alexander (REP)...5,915 (14.51%)
Brian P. Kavanagh(DEM)...(58.1%)
Vittoria Faiello...(29.0%)
Danyela Souza Egorov...(12.3%)

References

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  1. 1 2 "State Assembly: Brian P. Kavanagh (D), District 74". Capitol Info. Retrieved April 14, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  2. ↑ "Brian Kavanagh Seated as State Senator for Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Waterfront - NY State Senate". www.nysenate.gov. December 20, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Buncrana Hosts US Democrat". Inishowen News. October 10, 2007.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "New York State Assembly - Member Section". Archived from the original on September 6, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  5. ↑ "About Brian Kavanagh". The New York State Senate. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Local and National News | am New York". www.amny.com. July 3, 2026.
  7. ↑ Kavanagh, Brian Patrick (1989). "Residential Abandonment and Political Economy in Urban America".
  8. 1 2 3 "Assembly District 74, Brian Kavanagh: Biography". New York State Assembly. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  9. ↑ Anderson, Lincoln (July 13, 2004). "Kavanagh says he's running to fill Lopez's Council seat". amNewYork.
  10. ↑ "Brian Kavanagh's Super Sunday swearing-in ceremony". The Villager. February 13, 2007. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Brian Kavanagh, Lecturer Sustainability Management; New York State Senator". Columbia SPS.
  12. ↑ "Our Campaigns - NYC Council 02 - D Primary Race - Sep 13, 2005". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh Announces Candidacy For Squadron's Senate Seat". The Lo-Down : News from the Lower East Side. August 9, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Kavanagh Secures Nomination For Senate Seat; Outrage Over Process Persists". The Lo-Down : News from the Lower East Side. September 19, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  15. ↑ "NY 26th State Senate Results: Brian Kavanagh Wins". Tribeca-FiDi, NY Patch. November 6, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Our Campaigns - NY State Senate 26 Race - Nov 06, 2018". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  17. ↑ Wilson, Reid (November 20, 2018). "New York's election laws come under attack by Dems". The Hill. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  18. ↑ Hudson, Erin (December 11, 2018). "Sen. Brian Kavanagh to chair NY Senate housing committee". The Real Deal New York. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  19. ↑ Callahan, Devin (May 31, 2023), "Senator Kavanagh, Assemblymember Barrett, environmental advocates, and labor unions rallied for legislation to increase New York's offshore wind goals", New York League of Conservation Votes, retrieved September 13, 2024
  20. ↑ "The honorable Brian Kavanagh". National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. September 7, 2023.
  21. ↑ "New York Sen. Brian Kavanagh". TrackBill.
  22. ↑ Gutierrez, Nydia (May 3, 2023). "NY State Legislators and Climate Advocates Celebrate Passage of First-in-the-Nation State Law Ending Fossil Fuel Use in New Buildings". EarthJustice.
  23. ↑ "American State Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention". Candid.
  24. ↑ "Red Flag Law Preventing Potential Gun Violence Enacted". The National Herald. August 26, 2019.
  25. ↑ Ed Litvak (February 11, 2026). "Senator Brian Kavanagh Will Not Run for Re-Election". www.thelodownny.com.
  26. ↑ Kate Lisa; Rebecca C. Lewis (February 3, 2026). "Brian Kavanagh won't seek reelection to state Senate". www.cityandstateny.com.
  27. ↑ Anderson, Lincoln (February 13, 2007). "Brian Kavanagh's Super Sunday swearing-in ceremony". amNewYork.
  28. ↑ "Democratic Primary Election Results, 74th Assembly District: September 12, 2006" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. September 27, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  29. ↑ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 7, 2006" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 14, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  30. ↑ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 4, 2008" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 4, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  31. ↑ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 2, 2010" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 13, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  32. ↑ "Democratic Primary Election Results, 74th Assembly District: September 13, 2012" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. September 27, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 5, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  33. ↑ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 6, 2012" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. March 20, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  34. ↑ "2014 election results: Complete list of New York winners". Syracuse Post Standard. November 5, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  35. ↑ "2016 Election Results, Member of the Assembly - 74th Assembly District 2016 Election Results". DNAInfo. November 10, 2016. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Our Campaigns - NY State Senate 26 Special Race - Nov 07, 2017". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
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