Roxanne Persaud

Roxanne Persaud is the Senator for the 19th District of the New York Senate. She is a Democrat. The district includes portions of Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetowne, Ocean Hill and Starrett City in Brooklyn.

A native of Guyana, Persaud immigrated with her family to Brooklyn, New York as a young person. She graduated from Pace University with both a Bachelor's and a master's degree before entering a career in education.

Persaud previously served as a school administrator with Pace University and St. Francis College, Brooklyn, and also was involved with her community board in Canarsie, and has served on numerous boards and commissions for the community. In 2015, Persaud won the Democratic nomination to succeed Alan Maisel in the New York Assembly, and served from January to November 2015.

In 2015, Senator John Sampson was found guilty of corruption and forced to resign. Persuad, then a first-term Assemblywoman, was chosen by the King County Democratic Party to succeed him, and easily won election that November to finish his term.

Persaud was sworn in as state Senator on November 4, 2015.