Effie Phillips-Staley
American politician, longtime nonprofit leader, and sexual assault survivor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Effie Phillips-Staley is an American politician currently serving in her third term as a village trustee in Tarrytown, New York. She is running for the Democratic nomination for the United States House of Representatives in New York's 17th District on June 23, 2026. The seat has been held by Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler since 2023.
Effie Phillips-Staley | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1970 or 1971 (age 54–55) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | University of California, Berkeley (BA) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Early life and career
Phillips-Staley grew up in Sacramento and attended Sacramento High School.[1] Her mother is a Salvadoran immigrant who taught ESL as a public school teacher. Her father is a combat veteran from Oklahoma who operated a machine press at the United States Mint.[2][3][4][5] Phillips-Staley graduated from University of California, Berkeley with honors.[6]
Phillips-Staley is the former vice president for strategic advancement of the Hispanic Federation, a national advocacy group supporting Hispanic populations on local and national issues.[4]
Sexual assault
In 2010, after delivering her daughter via C-section at Columbia University's New York Presbyterian hospital, her stitches opened up as she left the hospital. Returning inside, the doctor who delivered her baby, Robert Hadden sexually assaulted her. He was later convicted for assaulting hundreds of patients over more than twenty years and sentenced to more than 20 years in prison. New York's 2022 law, the Adult Survivors Act, enabled Phillips-Staley and 575 other patients victimized by Hadden to settle lawsuits with Columbia University for more than $750 million total.[4][7]
Political career
Phillips-Staley was first elected as the trustee of the village of Tarrytown in 2021.[7][8] She was re-elected in 2023 and 2025.[9][10] She told City and State that she viewed advocating for renters as one of her main roles as trustee.[2]
2026 congressional campaign
Phillips-Staley is running as an "unapologetic progressive" to represent New York's 17th congressional district, a seat currently held by Republican Mike Lawler.[2][3]
Phillips-Staley said that in Congress she will focus on improving the lives of working class people and immigrants, housing affordability crisis, the impact of climate change, and abortion rights.[3][5] She has been endorsed by former U.S. Congressman Jamaal Bowman who represented the neighboring district,[11] as well as the Latino Victory Fund[12] and the Working Families Party.[13][14]
In March, platinum funk rock band Cake performed a benefit concert in support of the congressional campaigns of Phillips-Staley and Mai Vang. Lead singer John McCrea, Vang, and Phillips-Staley attended the same high school, though not at the same time.[1]
On March 29th, Phillips-Staley was interviewed by progressive Hasan Piker on his Twitch live stream[15]. The interview was widely covered in local and national media.[16][17][18]
Personal life
Phillips-Staley is married with two children, the latest a daughter born in 2010 at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center.[4]