Gabriella RomeroServing

Gabriella Romero

State HouseDemocrat

NY-NY AD-109 State House

Puerto Rican·New York State Assemblymember, District 109 (January 2025-present)

Why This Race Matters

Romero is a first-term Assemblymember who won her seat in 2024 by 72.1% in the general election. As one of the youngest Latina legislators in Albany, she brings a public defender's perspective to criminal justice policy and has quickly established herself on housing issues, having championed Albany's Good Cause Eviction protections while on the Common Council.

All 150 NY Assembly seats are up in 2026. Romero succeeded Patricia Fahy, who moved to the State Senate. She serves on the Codes, Governmental Employees, Real Property Taxation, Social Services, and Transportation committees. Won a competitive 4-way Democratic primary with 29.8% of the vote before dominating the general. Member of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus and the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force.

Key dates to watch: Primary on June 23, 2026 and General Election on November 3, 2026.

About

Gabriella Romero is the New York State Assemblymember for District 109, representing Albany, New Scotland, and parts of Guilderland. Born in Albany to Puerto Rican parents who were both unionized state workers, she graduated from Union College and served as a Minerva Fellow in Ecuador before earning her JD from Albany Law School, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the Government Law Review. She worked as a felony trial attorney in the Albany County Public Defender's Office before entering politics. In 2021, she became the first Latina elected to Albany's Common Council, and in 2024 she won election to the State Assembly, succeeding Patricia Fahy.

Family & Heritage

Born in Albany, raised in Colonie, NY. Daughter of two Puerto Rican unionized state workers. Her parents moved to Albany from the Bronx (father Rene) and Manhattan (mother Doris) to pursue a better life. Before them, her grandparents came from Puerto Rico to New York City. Attended Shaker High School. First Latina elected to Albany Common Council Ward 6.

Political Career

Before Politics

Felony trial attorney, Albany County Public Defender's Office; Minerva Fellow in Estero de Platano, Ecuador (Union College post-graduation program)

Education

Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Union College (2011-2014); Juris Doctor from Albany Law School (2015-2018), Editor-in-Chief of Government Law Review, Pro Bono Scholar

Awards & Recognition

First Latina elected to Albany Common Council Ward 6; Editor-in-Chief, Albany Law School Government Law Review; Pro Bono Scholar; Minerva Fellow

Key Issues & Priorities

*Affordable housing and tenant rights (Good Cause Eviction)
*Criminal justice reform and diversion programs
*Healthcare access and reproductive autonomy
*Youth recreation and community investment
*Government transparency
*Climate crisis solutions
*Capital city funding for Albany

Notable Legislation

Good Cause Eviction Protections

Led Albany to become first NY city to adopt Good Cause Eviction protections

Passed (Albany)

Endorsements

Working Families PartyPolitical

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