Jeremy Zellner
Jeremy Zellner | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New York State Senate from the 61st district | |
| Assumed office February 4, 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Sean Ryan |
| Chair of the Erie County Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Leonard Lenihan |
| Democratic Commissioner of the Erie County Board of Elections | |
| In office 2017–2026 | |
| Preceded by | Leonard Lenihan |
| Succeeded by | Howard J. Johnson, Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Tonawanda, New York, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | Buffalo State University[1] |
Jeremy Zellner is an American politician serving as a member of the New York State Senate from the 61st district since 2026, when he won a special election. He also serves as chair of the Erie County Democratic Committee, and was the commissioner of the Erie County Board of Elections from 2017 to 2026.
His district includes parts of the Buffalo, Tonawanda, Amherst and Grand Island, as well as the villages of Kenmore and Williamsville.[2]
Early life and education
Jeremy J. Zellner was born and raised in Tonawanda, New York.[1] His father and grandfather were both autoworkers and members of the United Auto Workers labor union, and he was raised in a single-parent household.[3][2] He graduated from Buffalo State University with a bachelor's degree in political science.[2]
Career
Zellner first joined the Erie County Democratic Party in 2003 working as a volunteer.[3] He held a number of positions before becoming party chair in 2012.[3][4]
In 2016, Zellner served on the Hillary for America National Finance Committee, and was a statewide delegate at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.[3] In 2024, he was a delegate representing New York's 26th congressional district at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.[3]
Zellner has served as commissioner of the Erie County Board of Elections,[3][5] and previously served as chair of the legislative committee of the New York State Elections Commissioners Association.[3] He resigned as commissioner in January 2026 after first being elected in 2017, in order to contest a special election in the New York State Senate.[5]
New York State Senate
In November 2025, Sean Ryan won the 2025 Buffalo mayoral election, and announced he would resign from the New York State Senate the following month, leaving his seat, the 61st district, vacant. Governor Kathy Hochul set the special election to fill the seat for February 3, 2026.[6]
Zellner was declared the winner an hour after in-person voting ended, beating Dan R. Gagliardo, who ran on the Republican and Conservative ballot lines.[6] He was sworn in the following day.[7]
He serves as Chair of the Procurement and Contracts Committee, and is a member of seven other standing committees.[2]
Personal life
Zellner has two children with his wife, Carrie.[3] They live in Tonawanda.[8]
References
- ^ a b "Jeremy Zellner to step down as Board of Elections commissioner for run in state senate". WIVB. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ^ a b c d "About Jeremy J. Zellner". New York Senate. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Chairman Jeremy Zellner". Erie County Democratic Committee. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
- ^ "Zellner reelected, makes history in Erie County serving as the 2nd longest party chair in modern times". WGRZ. September 24, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ^ a b "Jeremy Zellner to step down as Board of Elections commissioner for run in state senate". Yahoo News. November 5, 2025. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
- ^ a b "Jeremy Zellner elected to state senate". WGRZ. February 3, 2026. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
- ^ Fink, Jim (February 4, 2026). "Zellner's first order of business: Get to work". Audacy. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ^ Kelly, Geoff (September 18, 2025). "Zellner, Rivera jockey for state Senate seat". Investigative Post. Retrieved February 7, 2026.