Brian Benjamin | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Benjamin in 2021 | |
| 64th Lieutenant Governor of New York | |
| In office September 9, 2021 – April 12, 2022 | |
| Governor | Kathy Hochul |
| Preceded by | Andrea Stewart-Cousins (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Andrea Stewart-Cousins (acting) |
| Member of the New York State Senate from the 30th district | |
| In office June 5, 2017 – September 9, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Perkins |
| Succeeded by | Cordell Cleare |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 9, 1976 Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Cathleen Benjamin |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Brown University (BA) Harvard University (MBA) |
Brian A. Benjamin (born December 9, 1976)[1] is an American politician and businessman who was the 64th lieutenant governor of New York from September 2021 until his resignation on April 12, 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously represented the 30th district in the New York State Senate from 2017 to 2021.
A political progressive,[2][3] Benjamin was first elected to the New York State Senate in a May 2017 special election. He represented New York's 30th State Senate district from 2017 to 2021. During his Senate tenure, Benjamin was the senior assistant majority leader of the Senate and as chair of the Senate Committee on Budget and Revenue.
On August 26, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul appointed him to the post of lieutenant governor of New York. She had vacated the position when she was sworn in as governor of New York following the resignation of Governor Andrew Cuomo. On April 12, 2022, Benjamin resigned the position after having been indicted earlier that day on federal wire fraud and bribery charges, to which he pleaded not guilty. On December 6, 2022, the charges were dismissed, but on March 8, 2024, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the dismissal stating “We conclude that the indictment sufficiently alleged an explicit quid pro quo."