Raised in a small Adirondack town as the only gay person he knew, Erik’s struggles with depression gave him a deep understanding of the challenges facing marginalized people.

His commitment to public service began in 2009 as the City Council’s LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS Liaison, where he organized grassroots campaigns for equal rights, supportive housing, and protections for LGBTQ youth.

Bottcher 2026

Erik D. Bottcher was raised in a small Adirondack town.

New York State Sen. Erik Bottcher - Biography - LegiStorm

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Erik D. Bottcher is originally from Wilmington, New York. He earned his bachelor degree from The George Washington University. 

Growing up in a small town in the Adirondack Mountains as the only gay person he knew, Erik’s personal struggles with depression sparked in him a lifelong dedication to helping the most marginalized members of society.

His career in public service began in 2009 as the LGBTQ & HIV/AIDS Community Liaison in the New York City Council’s community outreach unit, where he organized grassroots campaigns on issues including hate crimes, transgender rights, housing for people living with HIV/AIDS, and marriage equality.

His commitment to public service began in 2009 as the City Council’s LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS Liaison, where he organized grassroots campaigns for equal rights, supportive housing, and protections for LGBTQ youth. He later served as the statewide LGBTQ Community Liaison in the Governor’s Office and helped lead New York’s successful fight to legalize marriage equality.

From 2015 to 2021, Erik served as Chief of Staff to New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. In that role he developed a deep knowledge of every block of Manhattan’s West Side while providing constituent services to tens of thousands of residents and working alongside tenant associations, block associations, community boards, PTAs, parks groups, and local organizations — all in an effort to improve his neighbors' quality of life.

About Erik Bottcher | NYSenate.gov

Erik previously served as chief of staff to New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. He also served as the statewide LGBTQ Community Liaison in the Governor’s Office and as the LGBTQ & HIV/AIDS Community Liaison in the New York City Council’s community outreach unit.

Erik previously worked as chief of staff to New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. He also has worked as the statewide LGBTQ Community Liaison in the Governor’s Office and as the LGBTQ & HIV/AIDS Community Liaison in the New York City Council’s community outreach unit.

Erik Bottcher is a dedicated public servant and activist who has devoted his life to progressive causes and the betterment of the community he loves. In 2026, he was elected to represent New York State Senate District 47, which includes the Upper West Side, Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea, and parts of Greenwich Village. His mission is simple yet vital: making New York a better place to live for everyone.

In 2021, Erik was elected to represent Council District 3 in the New York City Council, serving neighborhoods including the West Village, Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, Times Square, Hudson Square, Flatiron, and the Garment District. During his time on the Council he built a reputation as one of the body’s most active and effective members, leading on issues such as mental health services, housing affordability, sanitation reform, and environmental sustainability.

Erik was elected to represent New York State Senate District 47 in 2026. He was elected to represent Council District 3 in the New York City Council in 2021.

Erik currently serves as the state senator for New York District 47. He was first elected in a special election in February 2026 and is in his first term. Previously, he served on the New York City Council representing District 3, and was first elected to that position in 2021 and reelected in 2023 and 2025. 

2026 New York General Election

The work needs to continue on a state level. The housing shortage is a statewide problem, and one of the reasons that we’re under so much pressure in New York City is that the counties surrounding New York City and across New York state have not been contributing to addressing the housing shortage. So we need to compel other counties outside of New York to begin building housing again, to provide housing opportunities so that we can relieve pressure on New York City.

A Conversation with Erik Bottcher, the Upper West Side’s New State Senator

Recognizing the urgency of the housing crisis, Erik worked to create a pipeline of thousands of new homes in Council District 3, including permanently affordable housing.

Environmental sustainability has also been a major focus of Erik’s work.

Supports requiring counties outside New York City to build housing to help address the statewide housing shortage.

Supports compelling counties outside New York City to build housing to help address the statewide housing shortage.

Worked to create thousands of new homes, including permanently affordable housing, in Council District 3.

- Supports compelling counties outside New York City to build housing to help address the statewide housing shortage.
- Worked to create thousands of new homes, including permanently affordable housing, in Council District 3.

Economy

Erik authored and passed landmark legislation expanding mental health services in family homeless shelters and strengthening suicide prevention resources for students. He also championed major sanitation reforms, including efforts to containerize trash, reduce single-use plastics, and improve neighborhood cleanliness.

Environmental sustainability has also been a major focus of Erik’s work. He secured funding to plant hundreds of new street trees in his district and authored legislation establishing New York City’s Urban Forest Master Plan, which set a goal of increasing the city’s tree canopy coverage to 30 percent. He has also supported universal curbside composting, improvements to parks and playgrounds, and the expansion of protected bike lanes.

Championed sanitation reforms including containerized trash and reduced single-use plastics.

Authored New York City’s Urban Forest Master Plan, which set a goal of 30 percent tree-canopy coverage.

Supports universal curbside composting and expanded protected bike lanes.

- Championed sanitation reforms including containerized trash and reduced single-use plastics.
- Authored New York City’s Urban Forest Master Plan, which set a goal of 30 percent tree-canopy coverage.
- Supports universal curbside composting and expanded protected bike lanes.

Energy & the Environment

Another area that I’ve led on is addressing the mental health crisis. I passed legislation requiring every family homeless shelter in New York City to provide on-site mental health services. Homeless families are the most vulnerable of populations. One year in, we saw a dramatic improvement in outcomes for those families, a dramatic reduction in emergency room visits for mental health crises, an increase in connection to mental health care.

Passed legislation requiring on-site mental health services in every New York City family homeless shelter.

- Passed legislation requiring on-site mental health services in every New York City family homeless shelter.

Healthcare

As of September 9, 2026, Erik D. Bottcher’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

There’s been poor enforcement of our existing laws. It’s not legal to ride on the sidewalk. It’s not legal to ride against traffic. It’s not legal to ride recklessly and blow through red lights, yet that’s what we see every day.

In Council District 3, I helped win protected bike lanes on 10th Avenue and lower 6th Avenue with pedestrian refuge islands. But we need our laws enforced.

Bottcher: One issue that is before us right now is standing up to ICE and this campaign of persecution against immigrant families in our state. I want to extend the kind of protections that we have in New York City statewide. We in New York City have concrete rules in place against cooperation with ICE in civil immigration matters.

I want to extend the kind of protections that we have in New York City statewide. We in New York City have concrete rules in place against cooperation with ICE in civil immigration matters. It has worked very well here in New York City and has not compromised public safety.

As a State Senator, Erik is continuing his work to advance public safety and public health. He has introduced first-in-the-nation legislation requiring graphic warning imagery in gun stores to illustrate the lethal risks of firearms in the home, modeled on public health warnings used on cigarette packaging in other countries.

Sponsors: Oswald J. Feliz , Rafael Salamanca, Jr. , Farah N. Louis , Robert F. Holden , Carmen N. De La Rosa , Rita C. Joseph , Susan Zhuang , Mercedes Narcisse , Shekar Krishnan , Chris Banks , Christopher Marte , Eric Dinowitz , Selvena N. Brooks-Powers , Crystal Hudson , Erik D. Bottcher

Summary: This bill would require syringe service programs in New York City to give participants guidance on safely disposing of used needles and syringes, provide information about nearby disposal sites, and offer portable disposal containers.

The New York City Council - File #: Int 1169-2025

Calls for enforcement of laws against unsafe riding on sidewalks, riding against traffic, and riding through red lights.

Wants to extend statewide New York City rules limiting cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in civil immigration matters.

Wants to extend existing New York City rules limiting cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in civil immigration matters to the entire state. 

Introduced legislation requiring gun stores to display graphic warnings about the risks of firearms in the home.

Co-sponsored a bill requiring syringe-service programs to provide safe-disposal guidance, nearby disposal-site information, and portable disposal containers.

- Calls for enforcement of laws against unsafe riding on sidewalks, riding against traffic, and riding through red lights.
- Wants to extend existing New York City rules limiting cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in civil immigration matters to the entire state. 
- Introduced legislation requiring gun stores to display graphic warnings about the risks of firearms in the home.
- Co-sponsored a bill requiring syringe-service programs to provide safe-disposal guidance, nearby disposal-site information, and portable disposal containers.

Public Safety

Passed legislation strengthening suicide-prevention resources for students.

- Passed legislation strengthening suicide-prevention resources for students.

Education

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Erik D. Bottcher

- Calls for enforcement of laws against unsafe riding on sidewalks, riding against traffic, and riding through red lights.
- Introduced legislation requiring gun stores to display graphic warnings about the risks of firearms in the home.
- Co-sponsored a bill requiring syringe-service programs to provide safe-disposal guidance, nearby disposal-site information, and portable disposal containers.

- Worked to create thousands of new homes, including permanently affordable housing, in Council District 3.

- Introduced legislation requiring gun stores to display graphic warnings about the risks of firearms in the home.
- Co-sponsored a bill requiring syringe-service programs to provide safe-disposal guidance, nearby disposal-site information, and portable disposal containers.

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Charlotte Friedman

- Your state senator is involved in the legislative process at the state level as part of the New York State Senate, which consists of 63 members and serves as the upper house of the New York State Legislature, the state's lawmaking body. 
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- State senators are elected for a two-year term with no term limits.  
- Their annual salary is $142,000.  

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