Brian Kavanagh (27)

Brian Kavanagh is a Democratic State Senator representing New York's 27th Senate District, which covers neighborhoods across lower Manhattan from the Battery, serving over 330,000 residents. Born on January 18, 1967, he has established himself as a leading advocate for tenant and homeowner protections, affordable housing, homelessness prevention, and gun violence prevention.

Education and Political Experience

Kavanagh began his career as a housing policy staffer in New York City Hall. He was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 2006 and transitioned to the State Senate in 2017, where he currently serves as Chair of the Committee on Housing, Construction, and Community Development.

Notable Achievements and Positions

• Housing Leadership: Authored and advocated for statewide eviction and foreclosure moratoriums during the COVID-19 pandemic, extending them multiple times to protect New Yorkers from losing their homes.
• Gun Violence Prevention: Founded and co-chaired New York Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention; played a key role in the NY SAFE Act , which mandated background checks, banned assault weapons, and limited high-capacity magazines. Authored New York's "red flag" law and led efforts for community-based interventions and post-2022 Supreme Court reforms to maintain strong gun restrictions.