Assembly Member Deborah Glick, first out gay NY state legislator, won’t seek reelection

Assembly Member Deborah Glick, the first out gay member of the state Legislature, announced on Wednesday she would not seek another term in office after her current term ends in 2026. She will serve out her final year, bringing a close to a career in the Assembly spanning over three decades. 

“I don’t believe I could continue to dedicate 100% of my energy beyond next year,” Glick said in a statement about her decision. “It has been a difficult decision at this time, and the time may never be right, but my constituents deserve a representative who can work hard every day for them.”

A lot has changed since Glick first ran for office in 1990. Out lesbians were not exactly common at the time. “I was motivated to run as an out lesbian to ensure that LGBTQ youngsters would not feel isolated and ashamed of who they are,” Glick said. She was the only out LGBTQ+ state legislator from 1991 until former state Sen. Thomas Duane entered the upper chamber in 1999.

From a career spanning 35 years, Glick highlighted her role in establishing protections for the LGBTQ+ community and passing same-sex marriage, her vote to codify Roe v. Wade and her efforts to pass the state-level Equal Rights Amendment. She also served as chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee for the last several years, heralding in several notable bills including first-in-the-nation regulations of neonicotinoid pesticides and a ban on wildlife killing contests.

“With another year left in my tenure – I will work hard to add to my accomplishments, because the world faces serious threats to clean water and clean air,” Glick said. Specifically, she referenced her desire to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, a measure meant to drastically cut plastic waste in the state. Environmental advocates have pushed strongly for the bill in recent years, and it has undergone a number of changes to address various business concerns. The legislation appeared close to passage in the Assembly at the end of this year’s legislative session, but negotiations fell apart at the last minute.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie praised Glick in a statement. “She has dedicated her life and her career to protecting the rights of all New Yorkers and her record of legislative accomplishments is unmatched,” he said. Heastie pointed to several of the same accomplishments that Glick highlighted, in addition to her previous role as chair of the Higher Education Committee. 

Glick represents parts of Manhattan’s West Side, including Greenwich Village, Soho and Tribeca, and her retirement is the latest addition to the ever-growing game of musical chairs in the borough. Nearby Assembly Member Harvey Epstein and state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal are both expected to vacate their seats at the start of 2026 for New York City positions, prompting special elections early next year. Assembly Member Tony Simone is expected to run for Hoylman-Sigal’s seat, creating another potential opening. Rep. Jerry Nadler also said he would retire, prompting Assembly Members Alex Bores and Micah Lasher to jump into the race to replace him, creating a scramble for those seats next year.

On Wednesday, no person immediately announced a bid to replace Glick, and the pool of potential candidates for her Assembly seat seems to be in flux.