Michael Gianaris

Michael Gianaris (born April 23, 1970)[1] is an American politician and attorney from Queens, New York. He represents New York's 12th State Senate district, which includes the Queens neighborhoods of Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside and parts of Woodside, Maspeth, Ridgewood and Woodhaven. He is the second Greek-American to be elected to the New York State Legislature after Dean Skelos. Since 2019, he has served as the Deputy Majority Leader, the second-highest ranking member of the Senate.

Michael Gianaris
Deputy Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
LeaderAndrea Stewart-Cousins
Preceded byJohn DeFrancisco
Member of the New York State Senate
from the 12th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2011
Preceded byGeorge Onorato
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 36th district
In office
January 1, 2001 – December 31, 2010
Preceded byDenis Butler
Succeeded byAravella Simotas
Personal details
Born (1970-04-23) April 23, 1970
Queens, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Queens, New York, U.S.
EducationFordham University (BA)
Harvard University (JD)
WebsiteCampaign website
Official website

Life and education

Gianaris was born in Astoria and is the son of Greek immigrants,[2] Nicholas and Magdalene Gianaris. He graduated from New York City (NYC) public schools P.S. 84, Junior High School 141 and Long Island City High School. He received a B.A. summa cum laude in economics and political science from Fordham University and earned a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School.[3]

In 2000, he was elected to the New York State Assembly. Gianaris had previously served as Associate Counsel to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection, Governmental Operations, Veterans Affairs, and Agriculture and Markets of the Assembly, and also served as an aide to former Queens Congressman Thomas Manton, an aide to former Governor Mario Cuomo's Queens County Regional Representative, and as a member of Queens Community Planning Board 1 and Legal Counsel to the United Community Civic Association.

In September 2007, he was named one of City Hall's "40 under 40" for being a young influential member of NYC politics.[4] He is divorced and resides in Astoria.[1]

New York State Senate

In 2010, Senator George Onorato decided not to seek re-election, and Gianaris was nominated to replace him.[5] In a strongly Democratic district, Gianaris was elected easily, and has never faced a serious re-election.

In 2018, Gianaris was seen as the architect in helping to eliminate the Independent Democratic Conference and in creating a roadmap for Democrats to take the majority in the state Senate, which was successful.[6] Following their ascent to the majority, Gianaris was named Deputy Majority Leader.[7]

Gianaris supports bail reform and elimination of cash bail.[8] He has introduced a bill which would give judges three options in lieu of cash bail: release on recognizance, conditional monitored release, or remand to a correctional facility.[9]

Gianaris introduced legislation to automatically register eligible voters otherwise interacting with state government, something which is already implemented in 14 states and Washington, D.C., including in states such as California, Alaska, and West Virginia. He also has proposed allowing "eligible voters to register and cast a ballot on Election Day". It would require amending the state constitution.[10]

Gianaris was the principal figure in the cancelling of Amazon's HQ2 in NYC.[11] Gianaris has been noted for his support for antitrust enforcement, having introduced the "21st Century Antitrust Act" in the New York State Legislature and written in support of the federal American Innovation and Choice Online Act proposal.[12]

References
  1. "Legislative Preview: Meet The New Members". The Capitol. Manhattan Media. January 6, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  2. "Senate Deputy Leader Gianaris And New York's Greek-American Legislators Introduce Resolution Marking 200th Anniversary Of Greek Independence". NY State Senate. March 23, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  3. "Michael Gianaris: Biography". New York State Senate. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  4. Rising Stars 40 Under 40: Michael Gianaris Archived 2014-02-01 at the Wayback Machine, City & State, September 17, 2007.
  5. "Our Campaigns - NY State Senate 12 Race - Nov 02, 2010". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  6. Porcelli, Victor. "Senate Democrats Full of Optimism About Flipping Chamber, One-Party Control of State Government". Gotham Gazette.
  7. d_evers (January 8, 2019). "State Sen. Michael Gianaris has big plans for 2019". CSNY. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  8. "Momentum Builds For Ending Cash Bail System That Punishes The Poor". Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  9. "Senator Gianaris Calls to End Cash Bail Following Pedro Hernandez Case - NY State Senate". www.nysenate.gov. July 28, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  10. Wilson, Reid (November 20, 2018). "New York's election laws come under attack by Dems". The Hill. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  11. "'Amazon isn't bigger than New York': meet the man who killed the deal". the Guardian. February 15, 2019.
  12. "Gianaris Urges Feds to Take Action on Competition Reform". The National Herald. June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
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