Jeremy Zellner | |
|---|---|
| Member of theNew York State Senate from the61st district | |
| Assumed office February 4, 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Sean Ryan |
| Chair of theErie County Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Leonard Lenihan |
| Democratic Commissioner of theErie CountyBoard 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 theNew York State Senate from the61st district since 2026, when he won a special election. He also serves as chair of theErie County Democratic Committee, and was the commissioner of the Erie County Board of Elections from 2017 to 2026.
His district includes parts of theBuffalo,Tonawanda,Amherst andGrand Island, as well as the villages ofKenmore andWilliamsville.[2]
Jeremy J. Zellner was born and raised inTonawanda, New York.[1] His father and grandfather were both autoworkers and members of theUnited Auto Workers labor union, and he was raised in a single-parent household.[3][2] He graduated fromBuffalo State University with abachelor's degree in political science.[2]
Zellner first joined theErie County Democratic Party in 2003 working as a volunteer.[3] He held a number of positions before becoming party chair in 2012.[3][4]
In2016, Zellner served on theHillary for America National Finance Committee, and was a statewide delegate at the2016 Democratic National Convention.[3] In 2024, he was a delegate representingNew York's 26th congressional district at the2024 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 theNew York State Senate.[5]
In November 2025,Sean Ryan won the2025 Buffalo mayoral election, and announced he would resign from the New York State Senate the following month, leaving his seat, the61st district, vacant. GovernorKathy 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 theRepublican andConservative 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]
Zellner has two children with his wife, Carrie.[3] They live inTonawanda.[8]
