Sean Ryan (American politician)

Sean Ryan
Member of the New York State Senate
from the 61st district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2021
Preceded byChris Jacobs
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 149th district
In office
September 14, 2011 – January 1, 2021
Preceded bySam Hoyt
Succeeded byJonathan Rivera
Personal details
Born (1965-03-04) March 4, 1965 (age 59)
Political partyDemocratic
EducationState University of New York at Fredonia (BA)
Brooklyn Law School (JD)
WebsiteCampaign website
State Senate website

Sean M. Ryan is an American attorney and politician serving as a member of the New York State Senate from the 61st District. A Democrat, he previously served as a member of the New York State Assembly from 2011 to 2021, and the 60th District from 2021 to 2022.

He is currently running to become Mayor of Buffalo, which will be decided by the 2025 Buffalo mayoral election.

Education

Ryan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Fredonia and a Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School. He was then admitted the New York State Bar Association.

Career

As an attorney, Ryan has specialized in anti-discrimination and labor law cases.[1] On September 13, 2011, Ryan was elected during a special election to the New York State Assembly, succeeding longtime assemblyman Sam Hoyt.[2]

In 2012, he was elected to the 149th district. He was supported by the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.[3]

In 2020, he was elected to New York's 60th senate district. Due to redistricting following the 2020 U.S. census, Ryan successfully ran in the newly-drawn 61st senate district in the 2022 election. As a member of the State Senate, Ryan championed legislation to prohibit non-compete clauses in New York, which passed both houses of the state legislature in 2023.[4]

Ryan has announced his candidacy for the 2025 Buffalo mayoral election, where he will challenge acting mayor Christopher Scanlon for the position.[5]

Electoral history

2022 New York's 61st State Senate district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sean Ryan 57,616
Working Families Sean Ryan 6,285
Total Sean Ryan (incumbent) 63,901 56.6
Republican Edward Rath III 39,305
Conservative Edward Rath III 9,500
Total Edward Rath III (incumbent) 48,805 43.3
Write-in 90 0.1
Total votes 112,796 100.0
Democratic win (new boundaries)
2020 New York's 60th State Senate district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sean Ryan 79,396 52.98
Working Families Sean Ryan 9,182 6.13
Independence Sean Ryan 2,452 1.64
Total Sean Ryan 91,030 60.75
Republican Joshua Mertzlufft 49,649 33.13
Conservative Joshua Mertzlufft 9,174 6.12
Total Joshua Mertzlufft 58,823 39.25
Total valid votes 149,853 95.77
Rejected ballots 6,625 4.23
Total votes 156,478 100.00
Democratic gain from Republican
New York State Assembly 149th district election, 2018[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sean Ryan (incumbent) 31,233 72.1
Republican Joseph Totaro 12,062 27.9
Total votes 43,295 100.0
Democratic hold

References

  1. ^ Biography - Sean Ryan (New York State Assembly)
  2. ^ "Interview with Sean Ryan". wnymedia.net. Archived from the original on 2011-11-28. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
  3. ^ Brown, Maurice (19 September 2012). "NYS Assembly Member Sean Ryan Wins Big in Primary".
  4. ^ Reisman, Nick (2023-06-20). "Ending non-compete clauses in New York heading to Hochul's desk". Spectrum Local News. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
  5. ^ Sondel, Justin (November 23, 2024). "Sean Ryan enters Buffalo mayor's race setting up what promises to be a crowded primary". Buffalo News. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  6. ^ "Sean Ryan".