Toby Ann Stavisky

Toby Ann Stavisky is an American politician serving as a member of the New York State Senate, having held a seat since 1999. She represents the 11th district, which comprises parts of Queens.

Life and career

Stavisky was born and raised on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She attended New York City public schools before graduating from Bronx High School of Science. She attended the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University on an academic scholarship, graduating in 1960. The Senator completed graduate courses at Hunter College and Queens College.
After working in the actuarial department of a major insurance company, Stavisky taught Social Studies in the New York City high schools. She served as District Manager in Northeast Queens for the Census, where she directed more than 1,000 field and office staff and was cited by the Commerce Department for her outstanding work.
Stavisky was married to Dr. Leonard P. Stavisky, a member of the New York State Assembly from 1966 to 1983, and of the New York State Senate from 1983 until his death in 1999. Her son, Evan M. Stavisky, is a political consultant as well as a local district leader. She is Jewish.

New York Senate

Upon the death of her husband in 1999, Stavisky ran and easily won the special election to succeed him. She is the first woman from Queens County elected to the State Senate. When she first won election, the district was predominantly Jewish, but has shifted drastically over the past two decades to become majority Asian American. As such, Stavisky has faced primaries in recent years against Asian-American candidates, but has been successful in each challenge.
From 2003 to 2008, Stavisky served as Assistant Minority Whip and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on Higher Education. She currently serves as the Chairwoman of the Committee on Higher Education. In 2013, Stavisky was appointed to the subcommittee on New York City Education.
In 2022, Stavisky sponsored a bill that would give state health insurance coverage to unauthorized immigrants.
Stavisky has claimed that New York's bail reform laws have had no clear impact on the increase in crime.
In 2023, Stavisky's Senate district changed from the 16th to the 11th.

Year	Senator	Votes	%	Opponent	Votes	%	Opponent	Votes	%
1999	Toby Stavisky	7,688	92%	Richard Jannaccio	639	8%
2000	Toby Stavisky	36,913	98%	Josephine Jones	783	2%
2002	Toby Stavisky	7,559	60%	Julia Harrison	4,938	40%
2002	Toby Stavisky	28,836	83%	Julia Harrison	4,008	12%	Mark Ralin	1,545	4.5%
2004	Toby Stavisky	54,419	100%	unopposed
2006	Toby Stavisky	36,134	100%	unopposed
2008	Toby Stavisky	5,459	67%	Robert Schwartz	2,687	33%
2008	Toby Stavisky	51,076	69.5%	Peter Koo	22,482	30.5%
2010	Toby Stavisky	7,480	47.5%	Isaac Sasson	5,287	33.5%	John Messer	2,997	19%
2010	Toby Stavisky	34,471	87%	Robert Schwartz	5,171	13%
2012	Toby Stavisky	5,337	58%	John Messer	3,879	42%
2012	Toby Stavisky	43,978	76.5%	JD Kim	13,507	23.5%
2014	Toby Stavisky	5,417	60%	SJ Jung	3,880	40%
2014	Toby Stavisky	21,166	100%	unopposed
2016	Toby Stavisky	5,690	59%	SJ Jung	3,966	41%
2016	Toby Stavisky	52,495	78%	Carlos Giron	14,856	22%
2018	Toby Stavisky	42,816	95.5%	Vincent Pazienza	2,053	4.5%
2020	Toby Stavisky	65,240	100%	unopposed
2022	Toby Stavisky	38,524	57%	Stefano Forte	29,378	43%