Anathea Simpkins

Anathea Simpkins (Democratic Party) ran for election to the New York State Assembly to represent District 50. She lost in the Democratic primary on June 25, 2024.

Simpkins completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Anathea Simpkins was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. She earned a bachelor's degree from Emerson College in 1994 and a graduate degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1998. Her career experience includes working as an education advocate and certified mediator.^[1]

Elections

2024

General election

General election for New York State Assembly District 50

Incumbent Emily Gallagher won election in the general election for New York State Assembly District 50 on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Emily Gallagher (Working Families Party / D)	98.0	36,598
	Other/Write-in votes	2.0	749

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 37,347
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 50

Incumbent Emily Gallagher defeated Anathea Simpkins and Andrew Bodiford in the Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 50 on June 25, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Emily Gallagher	75.0	4,652
	Anathea Simpkins	20.9	1,295
	Andrew Bodiford	3.7	228
	Other/Write-in votes	0.5	28

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,203
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Working Families Party primary election

The Working Families Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Emily Gallagher advanced from the Working Families Party primary for New York State Assembly District 50.

Campaign finance

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Simpkins in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Anathea Simpkins completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Simpkins' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a single, working mother, anti-violence leader, educator, and renter. I’ve called Greenpoint home for 17 years, and am proud to be raising my 12-year-old son here. I know firsthand how hard it is to make ends meet. For 26 years I’ve dedicated my professional and volunteer work to education as a public school teacher, in education publishing, and most recently in school violence prevention. In 2017, I ran the New York Marathon for and began volunteering with the national nonprofit, Sandy Hook Promise. In 2018, I brought their Start With Hello program to NYC Public School 31 and School District 14. In 2019, I was recruited to work for the organization, most recently as Associate Vice President of the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System. I was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1971, to working-class parents. I earned a BFA in creative writing from Emerson College and an MEd in education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. More recently, I earned a certificate in leadership from the UC Davis School of Business. I am also a trained mediator and hold a certificate from Phoenix Dispute Resolutions. I've dedicated my life to ensuring kids have a bright future, I want to bring that mom energy to Albany to guarantee that all North Brooklyn residents have a say in deciding our collective future as a community.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Put the unity back in Community.
I will represent this community in a way that gives everyone's voice an opportunity to be heard. Together we will fight for better education, housing and environmental conditions.
No issue is too small or too big for me to tackle. I will build coalitions and put forth legislation that my constituents care about.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education, youth violence mental health and violence prevention, and gun safety are my greatest passions.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to Barack and Michelle Obama, because they inspired me to go high, when others go low.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Culture Code: Secrets of Highly Succesful Groups, by Stephen Coyle is a book that could illustrate my philosophy. This book taught me that one of the most important jobs of a leader is to make their team feel safe. This objective can also be analagous to a leader of a community. The job of an Asssembly Member, hyper local as it is, is to make their consituents feel safe: safe that they can get the support they need, safe to disagree with the Assembly Member, emotionally and physically safe, safe from environmental factors that might make them ill, safe that they can keep their home. With this objective constantly at the forefront, an Assembly Member can bring their mission to Albany in a spirit of communication, collaboration, and compromise to work with fellow legislators to ensure that these needs are addressed in a thoughtful, equitable way.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Temperament is always critical. Successful elected officials act respectfully with everyone, actively listen, and respond authentically and calmly whether or not there is agreement. They understand their power, but they are humble in how they wield it. The best elected officials know how to get into the negotiation room and when to compromise; all while maintaining key principles and core values.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I believe that I am an empath and a good listener. These are important qualities to help build relationships and establish trust in order to get things done both within the district and in Albany.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities are to be accessible to their constituents, from within their district and to those statewide who speak on issues. They must also have office locations that are reliably staffed on a daily workweek basis at hours that are consistent and considerate of the constituency. By being accessible, I will learn the issues of importance that I must address. By listening to New Yorkers, my responsibility will be to amend or create new laws to correct problems or create solutions and to have a strong oversight commitment to ensure government agencies are implementing programs according to the law and in the spirit of the legislative policy's intent.

What legacy would you like to leave?

The legacy I would like to leave is successful and safe local schools for our young families. Additionally, I would like to leave improved programming and meeting space for our seniors.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Probably the first historical event that I clearly remember was the murder of John Lennon, which happened when I was 9.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was at age 13, working as a chamber person at a hotel on Cape Cod. I think I lasted one season before moving on to my second job at Frontier Fruit and Nut in the Cape Cod Mall.

What is your favorite book? Why?

It's hard to choose just one book, but my most recent favorite is Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah. This is an incredible story of resilience that is both hilarious and heartbreaking. I also found it to be very educational. While I am old enough to remember the calls to abolish apartheid, Nelson Mandela's release from prison, and the eventual abolition, it was enlightening to learn about the more intricate nuances related to the struggles post-apartheid.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Lizzie Bennett from Pride and Prejudice--Smart, independent, funny, loyal, excellent at building relationships, and a good listener

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"Solid Ground," by Gaby Moreno

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Something that has been a struggle in my life is endometriosis, something that took far too long to get diagnosed. For much of my adult life, I struggled with a variety of infections, undiagnosed abdominal pain, horrific cramps, and more. It was only when I was 32 that a doctor came to the conclusion that endometriosis might be the cause of these ailments. Shortly thereafter, I had laparoscopic surgery, which was a very painful and left a lasting emotional and physical effect on me. This taught me to advocate for myself medically, and to coach others to do the same.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature should be an equal share of power. Unfortunately, in recent years and in many states, including NY, Governors have tried to usurp some of the legislature's power. The Legislature's duty is an important one, it sets policy through legislation and the Executive's role is to implement that policy. Therefore, both branches play critical and equal roles in shaping the state's policies/direction and implementing those policies. This takes a lot of continual and constructive dialogue between both branches of the government, the Legislature and the governor, to get it right. By working together to identify common goals and strategies, while respecting each other's distinct roles, they can address New York's pressing issues more effectively. A positive working relationship ensures a government that is responsive, efficient, and accountable to the people it serves.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

I believe that housing affordability, educational quality and equity, and climate change will be among New York's greatest challenges over the next decade.

In terms of housing, rising costs and limited supply have made it increasingly difficult for many New Yorkers to find affordable homes. We need to pursue policies that increase the stock of affordable housing, protect tenants, and provide support for homeownership, while balancing development with community needs.

In terms of primary, secondary and post-secondary education, we must ensure that every child in New York, regardless of zip code, has access to a high-quality education that prepares them for success. This will require equitable funding, attracting and retaining great teachers, expanding early childhood education, and increasing college access and affordability.

Climate change poses an existential threat that will impact New York in many ways, from rising sea levels that lead to massive flooding to extreme weather that damages property and threatens lives. We need to take bold action to reduce emissions, transition to clean energy, make our infrastructure more resilient, and protect vulnerable communities. Meeting this challenge will also create opportunities to be a leader in the green economy.

Tackling these issues will not be easy, but I believe that with strategic investments, innovative policies, and a collaborative, forward-thinking approach, New York can make meaningful progress on housing, education, and the climate, so we build a brighter future for the next generation.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe that previous experience in government or politics can certainly be beneficial for state legislators, as it provides valuable insight into the policymaking process, stakeholder interests, and the practical realities of implementing legislation. Experienced legislators can hit the ground running and often have the relationships and institutional knowledge to be effective from day one. However, I don't think such experience is the absolute requirement. I believe that the legislature should reflect a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives, and that passionate, committed individuals with strong leadership abilities, subject matter expertise, creative ideas, and a willingness to learn can also make excellent legislators, even if they are new to government. Ultimately, I believe the most important qualities are a deep commitment to public service, an ability to listen to and represent one's constituents, sound judgment and temperament, and a collaborative approach focused on solving problems and delivering results.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes, I strongly believe that building relationships with other legislators is beneficial and essential to being an effective representative. The legislature is a collaborative body, and having strong working relationships with colleagues across the ideological spectrum is crucial for advancing important priorities. By getting to know other members, understanding their districts' needs and concerns, and finding areas of common ground, we can build the coalitions necessary to pass impactful legislation that improves the lives of New Yorkers. Even when we may disagree on certain issues, maintaining positive, respectful relationships allows for more productive dialogue and creates opportunities for compromise. Some of the most significant legislative achievements have come about through cooperative efforts and a willingness to engage in good faith negotiations. Ultimately, the ability to build bridges and bring people together in service of shared goals is a key part of leadership and vital to making a real difference for our constituents.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Shirley Chisholm was a principled leader who spoke out and worked against economic and social injustices. She was a fierce advocate, and she understood that good politics meant working with other politicians to accomplish progress. That’s exactly what I believe--especially, like the Congresswoman, when it comes to civil rights and women’s rights.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

I am focused on this race right now with no thoughts on the future at this time.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I have been spending a lot of time in senior centers across the district. Currently, 25% of seniors in North Brooklyn live below the poverty line. They are struggling. While many might own the building that they worked their entire lives to purchase, now all of their money is wrapped up in their house and the extraordinarily high costs of taxes, insurance, electricity, and maintenance. Many can not afford food the week prior to receiving their monthly social security. The only way that they can make money would be to sell their homes and leave the neighborhood, a place they helped build and where they’ve been their entire lives. These are the homes in which they raised their children, the streets where they have built a community. No one should be forced to leave the place they have called home for decades because they can’t afford the cost of living or because gentrifying has driven them out. I have seen and felt their desperation. Additionally, the struggles of our seniors stretch to our senior centers, the places where people can gather, interact, engage in the arts, or continue to learn. Science informs us that community relationships make people healthier. That's good for all parts of our community. We need to support all efforts that improve and increase opportunities for our seniors to gather. Since I have started spending time in the centers, I have heard stories of elevators not working; elevators in NYCHA housing breaking down and seniors being stuck inside for almost an hour; centers not having enough money to replace decades old vans with broken lifts; centers not having air conditioning or heat; centers struggling to buy a new exorbitantly-priced kitchen appliances to ensure that they're up to code; or centers not having working kitchens for over a year. These stories of struggle and neglect are criminal. They are what keep me fighting to win this election. When elected I will use my power to make government at all levels work for its people.

Tell us your favorite joke.

A priest, a politician and a clown walk into the bar. The bartender says, “What is this, some kind of joke?”

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

The use of emergency powers should be extremely rare and for very short periods of time. And, the legislature must have oversight over all emergency powers. There are extraordinary times when a Governor needs to respond quickly, but the legislature must have the ability to act if it is determined that the emergency powers are being abused. This can never be a limitless act, and it is only in the rarest of time that emergency powers should be used.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

The first bill I would introduce is a comprehensive youth violence prevention bill modeled after the Ohio Comprehensive School Safety Framework. In addition to measures included in the New York Anti-Violence Bill recent passed, this legislation would take it a step further to fund suicide prevention programs, K-12-specific anonymous reporting systems with 24/7/365 crisis center support, student-led violence prevention clubs, funding for a higher student:social worker ration in all K-12 schools, and training on how to be a trusted adulted. These programs, integrated with common sense gun law, can work together to stop gun, and other forms of, violence before it starts.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Former Assembly Member Joseph Lentol, Assembly Candidate Gabi Madden, United Fire Officers Association Local 854, Theatrical Teamsters Local 817, DC9 IUPAT Painters and Allied Trades, 100% Planned Parenthood rating

What committees interest you?

Education, Mental Health, Small Business, Housing and Ways and Means

These are all critical issues facing our state where I believe I could make a meaningful impact. On Education, I want to ensure that every child has access to a high-quality education that prepares them for success. Regarding Mental Health, we must address the growing crisis, expand access to care, and support those struggling. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and I want to support policies that help them thrive. Housing is an essential need where rising costs have created significant challenges for many New Yorkers. Finally, by being a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I would be able to direct the state’s financial resources to those areas most in need of funding. I would welcome the opportunity to work on legislation and oversight in these key areas to deliver real results for my constituents and move our state forward.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I believe in open government. That means the budget process on allocating funds must be public--open to review and influence by the public. It also means that funded government programs must be subject to rigorous oversight and to public audits. Shining the light on the government's budgeting and accounting processes reduces corruption.

Would a state ballot initiative process be good or bad for your state?

The current process where the legislature can bring ballots forward must remain.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Anathea Simpkins campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	New York State Assembly District 50	Lost primary	$0	$0
Grand total			$0	$0
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

External links

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Candidate

New York State Assembly District 50

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on June 6, 2024

[show]

Current members of the New York State Assembly

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Carl Heastie

Representatives

District 1

Thomas Schiavoni (D)

District 2

Jodi Giglio (R)

District 3

Joseph DeStefano (R)

District 4

Rebecca Kassay (D)

District 5

Doug Smith (R)

District 6

Philip Ramos (D)

District 7

Jarett Gandolfo (R)

District 8

Michael Fitzpatrick (R)

District 9

Michael Durso (R)

District 10

Steve Stern (D)

District 11

Kwani O'Pharrow (D)

District 12

Keith Brown (R)

District 13

Charles Lavine (D)

District 14

David McDonough (R)

District 15

Jake Blumencranz (R)

District 16

Daniel Norber (R)

District 17

John Mikulin (R)

District 18

Noah Burroughs (D)

District 19

Edward Ra (R)

District 20

Eric Brown (R)

District 21

Judy Griffin (D)

District 22

Michaelle Solages (D)

District 23

Stacey Amato (D)

District 24

David Weprin (D)

District 25

Nily Rozic (D)

District 26

Edward Braunstein (D)

District 27

Sam Berger (D)

District 28

Andrew Hevesi (D)

District 29

Alicia Hyndman (D)

District 30

Steven Raga (D)

District 31

Khaleel Anderson (D)

District 32

Vivian Cook (D)

District 33

Clyde Vanel (D)

District 34

Jessica González-Rojas (D)

District 35

Larinda Hooks (D)

District 36

Zohran Mamdani (D)

District 37

Claire Valdez (D)

District 38

Jenifer Rajkumar (D)

District 39

Catalina Cruz (D)

District 40

Ron Kim (D)

District 41

Kalman Yeger (D)

District 42

Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn (D)

District 43

Brian Cunningham (D)

District 44

Robert Carroll (D)

District 45

Michael Novakhov (R)

District 46

Alec Brook-Krasny (R)

District 47

William Colton (D)

District 48

Simcha Eichenstein (D)

District 49

Lester Chang (R)

District 50

Emily Gallagher (D)

District 51

Marcela Mitaynes (D)

District 52

Jo Simon (D)

District 53

Maritza Davila (D)

District 54

Erik Dilan (D)

District 55

Latrice Walker (D)

District 56

Stefani Zinerman (D)

District 57

Phara Souffrant Forrest (D)

District 58

Monique Chandler-Waterman (D)

District 59

Jaime Williams (D)

District 60

Nikki Lucas (D)

District 61

Charles Fall (D)

District 62

Michael Reilly (R)

District 63

Samuel Pirozzolo (R)

District 64

Michael Tannousis (R)

District 65

Grace Lee (D)

District 66

Deborah Glick (D)

District 67

Linda Rosenthal (D)

District 68

Eddie Gibbs (D)

District 69

Micah Lasher (D)

District 70

Jordan Wright (D)

District 71

Alfred Taylor (D)

District 72

Manny De Los Santos (D)

District 73

Alex Bores (D)

District 74

Harvey Epstein (D)

District 75

Tony Simone (D)

District 76

Rebecca Seawright (D)

District 77

Landon Dais (D)

District 78

George Alvarez (D)

District 79

Chantel Jackson (D)

District 80

John Zaccaro (D)

District 81

Jeffrey Dinowitz (D)

District 82

Michael Benedetto (D)

District 83

Carl Heastie (D)

District 84

Amanda Septimo (D)

District 85

Emerita Torres (D)

District 86

Yudelka Tapia (D)

District 87

Karines Reyes (D)

District 88

Amy Paulin (D)

District 89

J. Pretlow (D)

District 90

Nader Sayegh (D)

District 91

Steven Otis (D)

District 92

Maryjane Shimsky (D)

District 93

Chris Burdick (D)

District 94

Matthew Slater (R)

District 95

Dana Levenberg (D)

District 96

Patrick Carroll (D)

District 97

Aron Wieder (D)

District 98

Karl Brabenec (R)

District 99

Christopher Eachus (D)

District 100

Paula Kay (D)

District 101

Brian Maher (R)

District 102

Christopher Tague (R)

District 103

Sarahana Shrestha (D)

District 104

Jonathan Jacobson (D)

District 105

Anil Beephan (R)

District 106

Didi Barrett (D)

District 107

Scott Bendett (R)

District 108

John McDonald (D)

District 109

Gabriella Romero (D)

District 110

Phil Steck (D)

District 111

Angelo Santabarbara (D)

District 112

Mary Walsh (R)

District 113

Carrie Woerner (D)

District 114

Matthew Simpson (R)

District 115

Vacant

District 116

Scott Gray (R)

District 117

Kenneth Blankenbush (R)

District 118

Robert Smullen (R)

District 119

Marianne Buttenschon (D)

District 120

William Barclay (R)

District 121

Joe Angelino (R)

District 122

Brian Miller (R)

District 123

Donna Lupardo (D)

District 124

Christopher Friend (R)

District 125

Anna Kelles (D)

District 126

John Lemondes (R)

District 127

Al Stirpe (D)

District 128

Pamela Hunter (D)

District 129

William Magnarelli (D)

District 130

Brian Manktelow (R)

District 131

Jeff Gallahan (R)

District 132

Philip Palmesano (R)

District 133

Andrea Bailey (R)

District 134

Josh Jensen (R)

District 135

Jennifer Lunsford (D)

District 136

Sarah Clark (D)

District 137

Demond Meeks (D)

District 138

Harry Bronson (D)

District 139

Stephen Hawley (R)

District 140

William Conrad (D)

District 141

Crystal Peoples-Stokes (D)

District 142

Patrick Burke (D)

District 143

Patrick Chludzinski (R)

District 144

Paul Bologna (R)

District 145

Angelo Morinello (R)

District 146

Karen McMahon (D)

District 147

David DiPietro (R)

District 148

Joe Sempolinski (R)

District 149

Jonathan Rivera (D)

District 150

Andrew Molitor (R)

Democratic Party (102)

Republican Party (47)

Vacancies (1)

[1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on June 6, 2024

[1]

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Anathea Simpkins

Contents

Biography

Elections

2024

General election

General election for New York State Assembly District 50

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 50

Working Families Party primary election

Campaign finance

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

Trending

Public Policy

Information for candidates

Get Engaged

Services

Additional analysis

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