Senate Dems’ campaign arm names new director

Coming off a year when Democrats lost their supermajority in the state Senate, the conference’s campaign wing is bringing in some new leadership.

The Democratic Senate Campaign Committee announced that it is promoting statewide field director Kaylee May to be the new executive director of the group. She replaces Alex Elmasri, who took a job with the Parkside Group.

The DSCC is also promoting Stephanie Watson to the position of chief operating officer. She was previously the director of operations and human resources at the committee.

Together with Chief Financial Officer Koren Frankfurt, who is retaining her position, the DSCC has for the first time an all-female staff leadership team. Deputy state Senate Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, the chair of the DSCC, said that he was “thrilled” to welcome the historic leadership. “Together, they exemplify the values and vision of our Committee as we continue to elect strong Democrats to the State Senate and deliver for New Yorkers,” Gianaris said in a statement. “Their leadership will ensure we remain ready to meet the challenges ahead and build on our record of success.”

The DSCC helps to elect Democrats to the state Senate and protect its incumbents. Gianaris has been its chair for over a decade, while Elmasri served as its executive director for three years.

After winning the majority in 2018 and increasing their numbers to a supermajority in 2020, Senate Democrats have seen a net loss of two seats in the last two elections. Last year, former state Sen. Iwen Chu lost her seat in Brooklyn, bringing the Democratic conference’s numbers down to 41 – just short of a supermajority, but larger than it was in 2019.