Michael Blake (politician)

Michael Alexander Blake (born December 25, 1982) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. He formerly served as a New York Assemblyman from the 79th district and was the Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2017 to 2021.

Michael Blake
Blake in 2010
Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee
In office
February 25, 2017 – January 20, 2021
Preceded byR. T. Rybak
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 79th district
In office
January 1, 2015 – January 1, 2021
Preceded byEric Stevenson
Succeeded byChantel Jackson
Personal details
Born (1982-12-25) December 25, 1982
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materNorthwestern University (BA)
WebsiteGovernment website
Campaign website

Early life and education

Blake was born on December 25, 1982, in the Bronx to parents who had immigrated from Jamaica.[1] He was named after Michael Manley and Alexander Bustamante.[2] After graduating from New York City public schools, Blake went on to attend and graduate from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism.[3] While at Northwestern, he served as student council president and was close friends with Jason Wright, who later became the first black president of an National Football League team upon his hiring by the Washington Commanders in 2020.[4]

Career

Blake began his career working in the Michigan House of Representatives and for Illinois State Senator Jeffrey Schoenberg.[5][6]

Blake served as the Iowa deputy political director for Barack Obama in the 2008 United States presidential election, and following his election to the presidency, Blake became associate director of public engagement and the deputy associate director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.[7] He served as the national deputy director of Operation Vote for President, Obama’s 2012 re-election.[8] Blake was noted in Jet magazine as one of nine black politicos behind President Obama’s re-election.[9]

In 2013, he served as the campaign manager for Reshma Saujani for New York City Public Advocate.[10] He helped to found the Atlas Strategy Group, which focuses on policy issues for communities of color.[11]

New York State Assembly

In 2014, Assemblyman Eric Stevenson was found guilty on corruption charges and was required to vacate his seat.[12] Blake entered the race to replace him.[13] His own candidacy was not without controversy, and the Bronx Democratic Party, who did not support his candidacy, claimed he was not actually a resident of the Bronx.[14] Despite these setbacks, Blake won the Democratic primary over five other candidates.[15] He easily won the general election with nearly 92% of the vote.

Blake was sworn-in for his first term on December 15, 2014. He currently is the Chair of the Subcommittee on Mitchell-Lama and is a member of the Corrections, Housing, Banks, Veterans, Election Law and Governmental Operations committees.[16]

Blake did not seek re-election in 2020; instead, he ran for U.S. House of Representatives.[17]

2019 New York City Public Advocate campaign

In 2018, Blake announced his candidacy for New York City Public Advocate.[18] He lost to City Councilmember Jumaane Williams in a crowded race with 17 other candidates.[19]

2020 U.S. House of Representatives campaign
Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in New York § District 15

In 2019, Blake announced his campaign for New York's 15th congressional district; the then-current Representative, José E. Serrano, had announced his retirement from Congress.[20] He lost, finishing in second place behind winner Ritchie Torres in the Democratic primary.[21]

Personal life

Blake is close friends with Jason Wright, a classmate of his at Northwestern who later became the first black president of a National Football League (NFL) franchise upon his hiring by the Washington Commanders in 2020.[22]

References
  1. "Michael Blake Brings It All Back Home to the Bronx". The Observer. July 23, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  2. "Man For The People". Impact. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  3. "Wildcats in the White House". Northwestern. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  4. Wright, Jason. "Jason Wright tackles complex challenges in the National Football League". alumni.northwestern.edu. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  5. "IL: Michael A. Blake". Impact. April 4, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  6. "New York State Assembly | Michael Blake". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  7. "Michael Blake, Star Organizer, Joins Obama's 'Operation Vote' To Rally Black And Minority Support". Huffington Post. November 2, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  8. "Ahead of ex-Obama operative Michael Blake's Bronx Assembly run kickoff, residency questions". Daily News. April 18, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  9. "JET 40 Under 40: Activists - JetMag.com". www.jetmag.com.
  10. "Hilltop hires sitting Democratic assemblyman Michael Blake". Politico. December 11, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  11. "GRASSROOTS POLITICS, FROM BROOKLYN TO THE WHITE HOUSE". The New School. February 8, 2014. Archived from the original on January 30, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  12. "Former Bronx Assemblyman Sentenced for Corruption". New York Times. May 21, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  13. "Michael Blake, Bronx Assembly Candidate, Submits 'Historic' Finance Filing". Gotham Gazette. July 15, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  14. "Residency Issues Plague Michael Blake". Bronx Chronicle. July 30, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  15. "Primary Election Results 2014". Gotham Gazette. September 10, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  16. Michael Blake biography, NY State Assembly
  17. "New York state legislative primary races to watch". City & State NY. June 17, 2020.
  18. Max, Ben. "In Run for New York City Public Advocate, Blake Offers Federal and State Experience". Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  19. "Jumaane Williams Wins Race for NYC Public Advocate".
  20. "Bronx pol got taxpayer reimbursements for political trips". Crain's New York Business. November 21, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  21. "NYS Board of Elections Unofficial Election Night Results". nyenr.elections.ny.gov.
  22. Wright, Jason. "Jason Wright tackles complex challenges in the National Football League". alumni.northwestern.edu. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
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