Sam Sutton Elected to State Senate with Overwhelming Community Support
Eddie Esses and Sari Setton
In a historic moment for the Sephardic Jewish Community, Sam Sutton was elected to the New York State Senate in the 22nd District with a commanding 67-32% margin—making him the first Sephardic Jew ever elected to the NY State Senate. This victory is not only for Sam; it is a transformative milestone for a community that has steadily grown in strength, unity, and civic engagement.
What made this victory even more extraordinary was the community’s turnout. Special elections in non-presidential years often see minimal participation and voter turnout, but the Sephardic Community turned out in force. Building on the momentum of Joey Saban’s groundbreaking campaign for New York State Assembly just one year ago, the community once again demonstrated that it is organized, motivated, and ready to be taken seriously by elected officials at every level. Borough Park, Midwood, and Flatbush voters also came out strong for Sam by a wide margin, contributing to a diverse and powerful coalition.
The election night celebration reflected the joy and meaning of this historic achievement. Sam gathered with close friends, campaign team members, and a host of dignitaries and elected officials. Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Brooklyn Democratic Chair Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn all called in to congratulate Sam, and addressed the crowd virtually. Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, NYS Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar and NYC Councilmembers Justin Brannan, Susan Zhuang, and Julie Menin took the microphone to offer heartfelt remarks, reflecting on their past work with Sam and highlighting his long standing reputation as a thoughtful, effective, and principled leader. Ronnie Tawil, Sam’s fellow co-founder of the Sephardic Community Federation, gave a moving tribute, speaking of Sam’s unwavering devotion to the community and his decades of quiet yet impactful leadership.
In his remarks that evening, Sam made sure to thank everyone who made the victory possible—but he gave special thanks to his wife, Nancy, a community leader in her own right. Sam acknowledged how much of his communal involvement was inspired and shaped by Nancy’s tireless work, and how grateful he is for her support, wisdom, and example.
Sam’s leadership has deep roots. A lifelong community leader, he has spent decades shaping key community institutions. He served over 30 years at SBH, including five as president, helping it grow into a comprehensive social service powerhouse. He co-founded and still chairs Teach NYS, which secured a $330 per-child education tax credit and opened the door for yeshivot to receive Title I services from culturally appropriate third-party providers. As a founding board member of the SAFE Foundation, a trustee at NYU Langone Hospital, and a former CUNY Board of Trustees member, Sam has spent his life using institutional roles to deliver tangible results for our community.
Behind the scenes, the campaign ran on passion, dedication, and a clear vision. Campaign manager Joey Saban, whose own run for office catalyzed a wave of civic engagement in the community last year, worked nonstop for months to line everything up for a potential campaign and then once launched, ensured every detail of the campaign strategy was executed with heart and precision. That same energy carried through to Election Day, where Sephardic Community voters sent a clear and powerful message: we are no longer on the sidelines—we are shaping the future.
In a statement released after the victory, Sam said, “I’m humbled that the voters of the 22nd Senate District confidently voiced their support, and entrusted me to represent and fight for our community in Albany and in South Brooklyn as their State Senator.” He went on to call the win “a unified voice calling for positive change across our diverse district,” and affirmed his commitment to tackling antisemitism, supporting economic development, and improving public safety across the board.
Looking ahead, Sam is eager to begin his work in Albany. He has pledged to bring more state resources to our community organizations, fight vigorously for the needs of our yeshivot, push back on rising crime, and be a steadfast advocate for the full range of legislative priorities that matter to us.
This was more than an election—it was a moment of long-overdue recognition. The Sephardic community has shown that it is organized, active, and ready to build lasting influence with government. And with Sam Sutton in the State Senate, our voice is finally where it belongs: at the table.
Eddie Esses has been civically engaged in the community for many years, working closely with Joey Saban. He is an active board member of the SCF and owns several retail franchise stores.
Sari Setton is the executive director of the Sephardic Community Federation.
