Emily Gallagher: Biography
Emily E. Gallagher is a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly representing District 50, which covers the North Brooklyn neighborhoods of Greenpoint and Williamsburg. First elected in 2020, she was the first new Assembly member to represent the district in nearly half a century . She is affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America and the Working Families Party .
Early Life and Family Background
Gallagher was born on March 23, 1984, in Fairfax, Virginia, according to Wikipedia and Ballotpedia . Her official Assembly biography describes her as a lifelong resident of New York State, though it does not specify a birthplace . She was raised in a suburb of Rochester, New York, where she grew up in a middle-class family .
Education
Gallagher attended Ithaca College, where she first became involved in politics in 2002 . She earned a bachelor's degree from Ithaca College in 2006 . After moving to Brooklyn, she later pursued a master's degree in Public Administration at Baruch College, where her research focused on sewage overflow and Superfund sites, issues directly relevant to her Greenpoint community .
Professional Career
Before entering electoral politics, Gallagher built a career in education and nonprofit work. She worked as an educator and public historian at the Tenement Museum and other local cultural institutions . In 2015, she became the Community Affairs Director for Hostelling International (HI USA), as described by her official Assembly biography, where she focused on sustainability and community engagement in the tourism industry . Ballotpedia lists her title at HI USA as national community affairs assistant director .
Gallagher also worked as a researcher and oral historian, and her professional background included positions with EF Smithsonian in addition to her museum education roles .
Personal Life
Gallagher has resided in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, since moving there shortly after graduating from college in 2006 . She has publicly identified as a survivor of sexual violence, an experience that informed her advocacy work around police reform and support for assault survivors .
Political Identity and Orientation
Gallagher identifies as a democratic socialist and is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America . She joined the NYC-DSA Socialists in Office caucus shortly after taking her Assembly seat in January 2021 . She also carries the Working Families Party ballot line in her elections . Her political orientation places her firmly within the progressive-left wing of the New York State Legislature, with a focus on housing justice, environmental policy, tenants' rights, and anti-corporate advocacy .