Erik Bottcher wins New York State Senate seat, making politics ‘twice as gay’
During his time on the City Council, Bottcher advocated for marginalised communities, while opposing ICE actions and anti-LGBTQ+ extremism
By Aaron Sugg
Democrat Erik Bottcher won a special election on 3 February and is now a New York State Senator, marking a win for LGBTQ+ representation in US politics.
Bottcher, who is openly gay, previously served as a New York City Council Member representing Manhattan’s District 3 and now represents District 47 in the State Senate.
He replaced Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who quit the Senate to become Manhattan borough president, winning about 92% of the vote against Republican Charlotte Friedman.
“Tonight, I was honoured to be elected the New York State Senate” – Erik Bottcher announcing his political win
Bottcher announced his win in a statement issued on social media on election night. He said: “Tonight, I was honoured to be elected the New York State Senate in the special election for senate district 47.”
Moving on from District 3, he continued: “I will now begin a new chapter of public service representing district 47 in the New York State senate, which includes the upper west side, Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea and parts of the west village.”
“I am deeply grateful for the true voters placed in me, and I am ready to get to work on behalf of our shared community,” he said.
Bottcher began working in public service in 2009 as an LGBTQ & HIV/AIDS community liaison with the New York City Council, and later became a member himself in 2022.
Bottcher has pushed back against ICE and advocated for LGBTQ+ rights
During his time representing District 3, Bottcher highlighted achievements including helping to create 15,000 new homes, planting 1,000 trees, improving composting programmes and public transport, and standing up for marginalised communities such as New York’s immigrant population. He also pushed back against ICE and spoke out against anti-LGBTQ+ extremists.
He has long been an LGBTQ advocate, even before being elected, working on marriage equality in New York, serving as an LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS liaison, and acting as chief of staff to former Council Speaker Corey Johnson, the first openly gay man to serve as speaker.
In 2022, during his first year in office, Bottcher passed legislation requiring the city’s Department of Education to provide students with suicide-prevention information, after experiencing his own battles with mental health as a gay teenager.
“The New York State Senate is now twice as gay” – Jabari Brisport welcoming Bottcher to the NY Senate
The NY State Senate is now twice as gay. Welcome to Albany, Senator @ebottcher! pic.twitter.com/b0mvZQrcJG
— Jabari Brisport (@JabariBrisport) February 4, 2026
Jabari Brisport, a New York State Senator representing District 25, welcomed his fellow gay Democrat to the New York Senate in a post on social media.
He said: “The New York State Senate is now twice as gay. Welcome to Albany, Senator Erik Bottcher.”
Yesterday, Bottcher cast his first vote in his new role, supporting the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which allows mentally competent, terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to request life-ending medication.
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