Gianaris will not seek reelection

State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris announced Monday he will not seek reelection. Eagle photo by Ryan Schwach

By Ryan Schwach

State Senator Michael Gianaris, one of Queens’ most powerful envoys in Albany, will not run for reelection, he announced Monday.

Gianaris has represented Western Queens since 2001, and has served as deputy majority leader of the Senate, the second-most powerful position in the upper chamber, since 2019.

The longtime senator was about as far left as a progressive Democrat could be while not being a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, who now have a solid shot of getting their own candidate to succeed Gianaris in the progressive district.

Gianaris did not say exactly what his next career move would be, but said he was retiring to spend more time with his family.

“Public service is a tremendous and often thankless sacrifice, even more so in today's divisive climate,” Gianaris said in a statement on Monday. “I honor all those who dedicate their lives to making things better for their neighbors. I tried my best to do that during my decades in public life and am proud of the contributions – large and small – I was able to make.”

Gianaris previously served in the State Assembly in Astoria, in the seat later held by Zohran Mamdani before he was elected mayor last year.

He was a close ally of Mamdani, and one of the first elected officials to endorse him at the beginning of his mayoral run. The two partnered on legislation in Albany that led to the city’s first free bus pilot, which then became a hallmark of the younger legislator’s citywide campaign.

A son of Greek immigrants, Gianaris was first elected to office during a bygone era of Astoria Democratic politics that has now been largely replaced by young progressives who belong to the DSA.

The DSA, which has already tied up continuity in Mamdani’s district, is also taking a swing at Assembly District 34, which overlaps with Gianaris’ Senate boundaries. The leftist group is also running Assemblymember Claire Valdez in the 7th Congressional District, and Samantha Kattan in Valdez’s 37th district, both of which also overlap with Gianaris.

In his announcement, Gianaris thanked the people of Western Queens, and said he hopes to enjoy more time with his family.

“While the State Senate's future is in good hands with the current members of the Democratic conference, it is time for me to embrace a new role as the best father I can be,” he said. “Children grow in the blink of an eye and mine are no exception. The fact is that working in my district, leading the majority's efforts on the floor of the Senate, and steering our conference's campaign arm are intensely time-consuming tasks. But so is being a husband and father. I cherish my time with my family as much as any political success I have experienced, and after a quarter century as a legislator I simply do not want to miss another moment.”

Gianaris’ retirement will set up the sixth open race for a seat in Queens in this upcoming election cycle.