Senator Jamaal T. Bailey was elected to the New York State Senate on November 8, 2016, representing the 36th Senatorial District, which includes parts of the Bronx and Mount Vernon. He serves as Chairman of the Insurance Committee and is a member of several key committees, including Codes, Rules, Finance, and Judiciary. A strong advocate for criminal justice reform, he played a key role in passing reforms on speedy trial, bail, and discovery, including the repeal of the “Blindfold Law.” He also led efforts on police reform, such as repealing CRL 50-A, which restricted access to police disciplinary records, and legislation ensuring accountability in police-involved incidents.

A lifelong resident of the 36th District, Bailey grew up playing in the North Bronx Little League, has been a member of the Butler Memorial United Methodist Church, and is a member of the Williamsbridge Branch of the NAACP. He earned his bachelor’s from SUNY Albany and a law degree from CUNY School of Law. His passion for public service began during an internship with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, where he helped develop legislation that eventually became law. Before his Senate election, he served as Community Relations Director for Speaker Heastie and as District Leader of the 83rd Assembly District, dedicating his career to advocacy and leadership in his community.