Michael Blake (politician)

Michael Alexander Blake (born February 20, 1982) is the Assembly member for the 79th District of the New York State Assembly. He is a Democrat. The district includes portions of Concourse Village, Morrisania, Melrose, Belmont, Claremont and East Tremont in The Bronx.

Blake was born on December 25, 1982 in The Bronx to immigrant parents who had immigrated from Jamaica. He was named after Michael Manley and Alexander Bustamante. After graduating from New York City Public Schools, Blake went on to attend and graduate from Northwestern University with a degree in Journalism.

A political operative, Blake began his career working Michigan House of Representatives and for Illinois state Senator Jeffrey Schoenberg. He previously worked for the organizations Green For All and Operation Hope, and in 2013, he served as the Campaign Manager for Reshma Saujani for New York City Public Advocate. He also helped to found the Atlas Strategy Group, which focuses on policy issues for communities of color.

Blake also 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 & Deputy Associate Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. He served as the National Deputy Director of Operation Vote for President Obama’s 2012 re-election.

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

Blake was sworn-in for his first term on January 1, 2015. He currently serves as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Mitchell-Lama.