Michael Blake

In 2019, Blake announced his campaign for New York's 15th congressional district, as current Representative, José E. Serrano, has announced his retirement from Congress.

In 2018, Blake announced he would be running for the New York City Public Advocate seat himself, but lost to city councilman Jumaane Williams in a crowded race with 17 other candidates.

In 2014, Assemblyman Eric Stevenson was found guilty on corruption charges and was required to vacate his seat. 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, claimed he was not actually a resident of the Bronx. Despite these 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 December 15th, 2014. He currently is the Chair of the Subcommittee on Mitchell-Lama and is a member of the Corrections, Housing, Banks, Veterans, Election Law and Governmental Operations committees.

In 2013, he served as the campaign manager for Reshma Saujani for New York City Public Advocate. He helped to found the Atlas Strategy Group, which focuses on policy issues for communities of color.

Blake 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 and the 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. Blake was noted in Jet magazine as one of nine black politicos behind President Obama’s re-election.

Michael Alexander Blake (born December 25, 1982) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. He currently serves as both a New York Assemblyman from the 79th district and a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee. 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 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.