Emily Gallagher

Gallagher became involved in politics while attending Ithaca College in 2002. After moving to Brooklyn in 2006, she became deeply involved in neighborhood organizing especially around tenants' rights and environmental justice and eventually came to know many local players and issues in the community over a decade of grassroots participation. At the time, Gallagher was uninspired by local politics because she was unimpressed with status quo politicians, who often waffled with advocates, saying one thing and doing another, and she craved to see elected officials use their power to advance social justice. In the hopes that she could support such politicians, she began to reconsider her position, becoming involved with the Brooklyn political organization New Kings Democrats.^[2] In 2016, New Kings Democrats approached Gallagher to consider a run for District Leader.^[2] Gallagher ran for Democratic leader of New York's 50th State Assembly district against 32-year incumbent Linda Minucci.^[3] She was endorsed by Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez and New York City Council Member Antonio Reynoso,^[1] but ultimately lost with 44.9% of the vote.^[4]

On September 23, 2019, Gallagher launched a campaign against incumbent Joe Lentol for the Democratic primary to represent District 50 in the New York State Assembly.^[5] A member of the Brooklyn Democratic Socialists of America, she sought their endorsement but did not receive it due to Brooklyn DSA's limited capacity and desire to focus on building power in working-class communities of color.^[6]

Gallagher's team had to quickly pivot in March 2020 when the COVID-19 epidemic necessitated a universal shut down. Their campaign pivoted to completely rely on phone banking, text banking, events on the video chat platform Zoom, and holding virtual fundraisers. Their campaign was run with 25-30 core volunteers.^[2]

On primary election night, June 23, 2020, Gallagher trailed Lentol by 1,763 votes based on in-person totals. Absentee ballots were more significant than usual, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and once they were counted, Gallagher was determined to have won by between 400 and 600 votes.^[7] In the final certified result, Gallagher won by 1,151 votes.^[8]

On June 28, 2022, Gallagher won the Democratic primary with 79.5% of the votes over Paddy O'Sullivan.^[9]

On June 25, 2024, Gallagher won the Democratic primary with 75% of the votes over Anathea Simpkins and Andrew Bodiford.^[10]