Michelle Hinchey | |
---|---|
Member of the New York State Senate | |
Assumed office January 1, 2021 | |
Preceded by | George Amedore |
Constituency |
46th district (2021–2022) 41st district (2023–present) |
Personal details | |
Born | November 3, 1987 |
Political party | Democratic |
Relatives | Maurice Hinchey (father) |
Education | Cornell University ( BS) |
Website |
Campaign website State Senate website |
Michelle Hinchey (born November 3, 1987) is an American politician serving as a member of the New York State Senate for the 41st district. Elected in November 2020, she assumed office on January 1, 2021. [1] [2]
Hinchey, the daughter of former Congressman Maurice Hinchey and Ilene Marder Hinchey, was born in 1987 and grew up in Saugerties. After graduating from Saugerties High School, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University. [3]
Hinchey worked as a communications executive and served on the board of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development. [4]
In 2020, Hinchey announced she would run for the 46th district of the New York State Senate, which was being vacated by retiring Republican George Amedore. [5] After winning the Democratic primary unopposed, Hinchey narrowly defeated Richard Amedure, her Republican opponent and George Amedore's distant cousin, by a margin of 51–49%. [6] Hinchey took office in January 2021 as part of the first Democratic Senate supermajority in decades. [7]
As a result of 2022 New York redistricting, Hinchey ran for reelection in the newly drawn 41st Senate district, against fellow incumbent Sue Serino. [8] In November 2022, Hinchey won reelection, defeating Republican Serino with 52.5% of the vote to Serino’s 47.6%. [9]
Hinchey serves as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, [10] and introduced legislation establishing a farm soil health program advocated by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at her alma mater, Cornell University. [11] [12]
After Congressman Antonio Delgado was selected to serve as lieutenant governor of New York in May 2022, Hinchey was mentioned as a possible candidate in a special election to fill his vacant House seat. [13]