With nearly 30 years of working in government behind her, New York State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins continues to be a force for change, as well as the county’s most powerful politician, claiming the top spot on the 2020 City & State NY Magazine Power 100 List for Westchester.
In 2019, after a historic ascent, she became the first woman, and Black woman, in the state’s history to be elected Senate Majority Leader. In 2019, Stewart-Cousins was also named to the Crain’s New York Business biennial list of the “Most Powerful Women in New York.”
Andrea Stewart-Cousins officially broke the long-standing “three men in a room” tradition in New York politics when she became the first woman and first African-American woman to lead a legislative chamber in the state’s history.
Taking over as Senate Majority Leader in January 2019 following a “blue wave” that gave Democrats control of the Senate, she immediately shifted the power structure that had historically consisted of the Governor, Senate Majority Leader, and Assembly Speaker—all men—negotiating behind closed doors.
Andrea Stewart-Cousins is also the first Black woman to serve as the New York lieutenant governor, when former Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned. Under Governor Kathy Hochul, she served as acting lieutenant governor of New York for 16 days in 2021 and from April 12, 2022, to May 5, 2022. It is also the first time the state is led by two women. She is the first woman and first Black woman in the history of New York State to lead a conference in the New York State Legislature and is also the first female Senate Majority Leader in New York history.
Members of her own party delayed but could not deny Senator Stewart-Cousin’s moment in history. Top Democrats from NYC and Westchester rallied in front of the Harriet Tubman statue in Harlem on Monday, August 14, 2017, to say State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins “will become the first black female Senate Majority Leader.”
Through disrespectful racial remarks and the formation of the breakaway Independent Democratic Conference (IDC), a renegade group of 8 Democrats who collaborate with Republicans, Stewart-Cousins remained unscathed. She continued to chip away at the glass ceiling of the New York State Legislature, even though it seemed they had stacked the deck against her. She has remained strong throughout the adversity while remaining regal throughout – she is the embodiment of beauty in the struggle.
Before becoming the first woman Senate Minority Leader in 2019, and her election to the New York State Senate in 2006, Andrea Stewart-Cousins served for a decade as a Westchester County Legislator representing Yonkers. During her tenure (from 1996 to 2006), she was elected Majority Whip and Vice-Chair. She authored and passed landmark legislation, including Westchester County’s first human rights laws, living wage laws, smoke-free workplace laws, tougher gun laws, laws that prosecute “predatory lenders”, and laws that have provided tax cuts for seniors and veterans. As Chair of the Health Committee, Legislator Stewart-Cousins brought the “Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program” to Westchester County.
Sen. Stewart-Cousins was inducted into the Westchester Women’s Hall of Fame during the 7th Annual “In The Company of Women” Luncheon at the Westchester Marriott, 670 White Plains Rd., Tarrytown, Friday, May 6, 2016.
In 1992, Sen. Stewart-Cousins became the first African-American to serve as Director of Community Affairs for the City of Yonkers
This Yonkers resident has represented the 35th State Senate District in NY (Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Greenburgh, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Tarrytown, Scarsdale, and parts of Yonkers, White Plains, and New Rochelle) with distinction for the past 20 years.
We wanted to acknowledge her historic achievement and thank you for her continuous support. When Black Westchester first started the radio show People Before Politics and was trying to make a name for ourselves, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins appeared on the 10th Episode on Sunday, October 12, 2014, along with then County Legislator Ken Jenkins, which really put Black Westchester and our new radio show on everyone’s radar. She truly understands the importance of free and independent community-based Black Media and has been a strong supporter since our inception.
Black Westchester proudly celebrates and salutes New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a true Black Westchester legend.
