Brian A. Cunningham
Brian Cunningham | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Cunningham in 2025 | |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 43rd district | |
| Assumed office March 30, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Diana Richardson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Brian-Christopher Cunningham December 16, 1984 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Signature |  |
| Website | State Assembly website |
Brian-Christopher A. Cunningham (born December 16, 1984) is an American politician serving as a member of the New York State Assembly from the 43rd Assembly District, which includes parts of Flatbush, East Flatbush, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, and Crown Heights in Brooklyn, New York City. A Democrat, Cunningham was first elected to the Assembly in 2022 following a special election.
Early life and education
[edit]Born in New York City, Cunningham was raised in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn. The son of immigrants from Jamaica, Cunningham attended public schools growing up.[1] Cunningham lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Stephanie Cunningham, the executive director of Museum Hue. They have one son.
Career
[edit]Prior to his election to the Assembly, Cunningham worked in government, nonprofit, and educational sectors that focused on youth development and community engagement. He also served as a senior aide in city, state and federal government, concentrating on constituent services, housing, and education policy.[2]
Cunningham first sought election in 2017 for the 40th district of the New York City Council. He received second place in the Democratic primary, losing to then-incumbent Mathieu Eugene, before contesting the general election as a third party candidate. He ran as nominee of the Reform Party with the endorsement of the Working Families Party.[3] However, he placed second again to the then-incumbent.
Cunningham was elected to the New York State Assembly in March 2022, succeeding Diana Richardson in a special election. Since taking office, he has championed policies focused on education equity, affordable housing, workforce development, and public safety reform.[4][5]
In 2022, Cunningham endorsed Yuh-Line Niou for the 2022 election in the 10th congressional district. However, he later rescinded his endorsement following Niou's declaration of support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.[6]
In June 2023, Cunningham honored Ezras Nashim with the “2023 Women of Distinction Award” for achieving the first all-female volunteer EMT team.[7]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Brian Cunningham - Assembly District 43 |Assembly Member Directory | New York State Assembly". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ↑ "Brian Cunningham - Assembly District 43 |Assembly Member Directory | New York State Assembly". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
- ↑ "Third-Party Council Candidate Gets Big Endorsement Over Flatbush Incumbent". DNAinfo. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
- ↑ "Brian Cunningham wins Assembly special election in Brooklyn". City & State NY. March 23, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ↑ "Brian A. Cunningham". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ↑ Kornbluh, Jacob (July 12, 2022). "NY lawmaker withdraws endorsement from congressional candidate who announced support for BDS". The Forward. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
- ↑ "Judge Ruchie Freier and Ezras Nashim were honored with the '2023 Women of Distinction Award". Arutz Sheva. January 8, 2017.
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- 1984 births
- 21st-century African-American politicians
- 21st-century members of the New York State Legislature
- African-American state legislators in New York (state)
- American politicians of Jamaican descent
- Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly
- Living people
- People from Flatbush, Brooklyn
- Politicians from Brooklyn
- New York (state) politician stubs