Sam Sutton (politician)
Sam Sutton | |
|---|---|
_NYS_Senator_Sam_Sutton_(cropped).jpg) Sutton in 2025 | |
| Member of the New York Senate from the 22nd district | |
| Assumed office May 27, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Simcha Felder |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Solomon Sutton 1949 or 1950 (age 75–76) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Website | Legislature website Campaign website |
Solomon "Sam" Sutton (born 1949)[1][2] is an American nonprofit executive and politician serving as a member of the New York State Senate from the 22nd district. A Democrat, he won a May 2025 special election to succeed Simcha Felder, who resigned after being elected to the New York City Council.[3]
Career
[edit]Sutton served with the Sephardic Bikur Holim, a social service organization, for 30 years. He has also worked for the Sephardic Community Federation, New York Cancer Center, the Safe Foundation, and is a former trustee of the CUNY Board of Trustees as well as of the NYU Langone Medical Center.[4] He is also a co-founder and board chair of Teach NYS, a group advocating for funding to nonpublic schools such as yeshivas and Jewish day schools.[5]
He previously ran a business importing women's accessories.[6]
New York State Senate
[edit]Following Simcha Felder's resignation to join the New York City Council, the Brooklyn Democratic Party nominated Sutton as its nominee for the special election to fill the vacant seat.[4] Although the district overwhelmingly voted for Republican President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, giving him 77% of the vote, it generally supports conservative and moderate Democrats at the local level, largely due to bloc voting from its Orthodox Jewish population[7][8] Sutton defeated Republican and Conservative candidate Nachman Carl Caller in the May 20, 2025 election.[3] His election makes him the first Sephardic Jew elected to the state senate.[9]
He was sworn in on May 27, 2025. He was appointed chair of the Administrative Regulations Review Commission and is a member of the Aging, Disabilities, Education, Health, New York City Education, and Social Services committees.[1]
Personal life
[edit]_NYS_Senator_Sam_Sutton.jpg)
Sutton is a Sephardic Jew and longtime community activist within New York's Sephardic community.[8] He wears a kippah and keeps kosher.[2]
Electoral history
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sam Sutton | 8,661 | 66.85% | |
| Republican | Nachman Caller | 3,640 | 28.10% | |
| Conservative | Nachman Caller | 517 | 3.99% | |
| Total | Nachman Caller | 4,157 | 32.09% | |
| Write-in | 138 | 1.07% | ||
| Total votes | 12,956 | 100.00% | ||
| Turnout | ~8% | |||
| Registered electors | 155,468 | |||
References
[edit]- ^ a b Gronich, Marc (June 6, 2025). "Sam Sutton Quietly Begins Career In The State Senate". The Jewish Press. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ a b Gronich, Marc (April 23, 2025). "Senator Simcha Felder Bids Fond Farewell To The State Senate, As Special Election Looms". Jewish Press. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Gans, Jared (May 20, 2025). "Democrats win New York state Senate race in Trump-friendly district". The Hill. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ a b "Sephardic Community Leader Launches Brooklyn Senate Bid". BK Reader. April 18, 2025. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ "Teach NYS Leads Historic Interfaith Coalition Trip to Albany". Orthodox Union. May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ Ngo, Emily; Coltin, Jeff; Reisman, Nick (April 11, 2025). "Call to action after scary day for air travel". Politico. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ Campanile, Carl (May 18, 2025). "GOP fights to flip NY Senate seat in Tuesday special election after Trump won big in blue territory". New York Post. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Lewis, Rebecca (May 20, 2025). "GOP looks to flip a southern Brooklyn Senate seat". City and State. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ Lewis, Rebecca (May 20, 2025). "Democrat Sam Sutton wins special Senate election in southern Brooklyn". City and State. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
- ^ "UNOFFICIAL ELECTION NIGHT RESULTS - State Senator 22nd Senatorial District". BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
