Brian P. Kavanagh


Brian Patrick Kavanagh is an American politician who represents the 27th district in the New York State Senate, representing Lower Manhattan since December 2017. Before the redrawing of legislative districts in January 2023, Kavanagh represented the west part of Brooklyn. He previously served in the New York State Assembly representing the East Side of Manhattan. Kavanagh is a Democrat.
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Early life and education

Kavanagh is a lifelong resident of New York City. He was born and raised on Staten Island and graduated from Regis High School in Manhattan. Kavanagh is one of six children of an Irish-immigrant police officer and a community leader in Staten Island who worked at a local newspaper. Kavanagh tutored students at the Nativity Mission Center. He graduated with a B.A. in politics from Princeton University in 1989. He then received a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law.

Early career

Kavanagh was an aide to former New York City Mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins. He served as chief of staff to New York City Council member Gale Brewer.
At the Mayor's Office, Kavanagh played a key role in launching the New York City Department of Homeless Services and then served as the agency's first Policy Director.
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.
Kavanagh has served as a counselor, volunteer, and board member at the Lower East Side's Nativity Middle School and community center, and as a board member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. He is a member of the New York City Bar Association and has served on the Association's Election Law Committee.
Kavanagh has taught at Columbia University.

New York State Assembly

Following an unsuccessful bid for the New York City Council in 2005, 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.

New York State Senate

In 2017, Kavanagh announced that he would run in the special election to succeed Senator Daniel Squadron, who was resigning to found a non-profit. Not without criticism, Kavanagh was nominated as the Democratic candidate, despite representing very little of the same territory in the state Assembly that the Senate district encompassed. Despite this, Kavanagh easily won election. He was easily re-elected to a full first term in 2018.
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.
With Democrats taking the majority in the Senate in 2019, Kavanagh was named Chair of the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development.
Kavanagh was a co-sponsor of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, enacted in 2019, and has served on the Environmental Conservation Committee in each of his years in the legislature. 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.
Kavanagh authored the "All-Electric Building Act," 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, 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.

Personal life

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

Election results

September 2006 Democratic primary election, NYS Assembly, 74th ADNovember 2006 general election, NYS Assembly, 74th ADNovember 2008 general election, NYS Assembly, 74th ADNovember 2010 general election, NYS Assembly, 74th ADSeptember 2012 Democratic primary election, NYS Assembly, 74th ADNovember 2012 general election, NYS Assembly, 74th ADNovember 2014 general election, NYS Assembly, 74th ADNovember 2016 general election, NYS Assembly, 74th ADNovember 2017 special election, NYS Senate, 26th SD