Rachel May
Rachel May | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New York Senate from the 53rd district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | David Valesky |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Syracuse, New York |
| Alma mater | Princeton University (A.B.) Oxford University (M.A.) Stanford University (Ph.D.) SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (M.S.) |
Rachel May is an American politician. She is a member of the New York State Senate, representing the 53rd district since 2019. The district comprises Syracuse, New York and surrounding communities.
A Democrat, May defeated incumbent David Valesky in the primary election to first take the seat.
Background
May graduated with an A.B. in Slavic languages and literature from Princeton University in 1978 after completing a 99-page long senior thesis titled "Leisure Time and Its Functions in the Upbringing of New Soviet Men."[1] She also graduated from the University of Oxford with a Master of Arts, and from Stanford University with a Doctor of Philosophy in Slavic languages and Slavic literature. She taught at Macalaster College in St. Paul, Minnesota, becoming a tenured professor. In 2001, she and her husband moved to Syracuse, New York, when her husband became a professor of philosophy at Le Moyne College.[2]
May graduated from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry with a master's degree in environmental communications.[2] She worked as an administrator at Syracuse University, serving as the Director of Sustainability Education.[3]
Prior to her election to the Senate, May served on the Onondaga County Board of Zoning Appeals and the Democratic County Committee.[4] She is married with a daughter.[5]
New York Senate
Following the election of Donald Trump, voters became more aware of the Independent Democratic Conference, where state Senators elected as Democrats ultimately caucused with Republicans to provide them with the majority in return for better committee assignments and larger office budgets, among other benefits.[6] Among the members of the IDC was David Valesky, who had represented the district since 2005.[7]
In the 2018 elections, May ran for New York State Senate against Valesky in the Democratic primary, making it Valesky's first real challenge since taking office.[8] In a year with strong anti-IDC sentiment, May narrowly defeated Valesky.[9] With the district leaning Democratic, she was elected in November.[10]
With Democrats taking the majority in the general election, May is serving as the Chair of Committee on Aging.[11]
References
- ^ May, Susan Rachel (1978). "Leisure Time and Its Functions in the Upbringing of New Soviet Men".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b "Interview with Rachel May, Primary Challenger to Sen. Valesky (53rd NY) By Luke Perry". Utica College Center of Public Affairs and Election Research. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ^ "Rachel May beats incumbent Sen. Dave Valesky in Democratic primary". syracuse.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ^ "Rachel May to challenge David Valesky for NY's 53rd Senate District". Oneida Dispatch. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ^ "Rachel May holds off declaring victory; Dave Valesky doesn't concede in NY Senate race". syracuse.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ^ Wang, Vivian (September 11, 2018). "How 3 Little Letters (I.D.C.) Are Riling Up New York Progressives". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ^ "David Valesky tries to hold off Democratic uprising in NY Senate primary". syracuse.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ^ "Rachel May defeats Dave Valesky in NY Senate primary (updated)". syracuse.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ^ Parsnow, Luke (September 13, 2018). "In stunning upset, Rachel May defeats Dave Valesky in state Senate Democratic primary". WSTM. Sinclair Broadcast Group. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
- ^ Parsnow, Luke (November 6, 2018). "Rachel May defeats Janet Burman for N.Y. state Senate race". WSTM. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ^ "Senator-elect Rachel May Named Chair of Committee on Aging". Upstate Politics. December 20, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
