Elijah Reichlin-Melnick

American politician

Elijah Reichlin-Melnick

Member of the New York State Senate
from the 38th district
In office
January 1, 2021 – January 1, 2023
Preceded by| David Carlucci
Succeeded by| Bill Weber
Personal details
Born|  (1984-06-02) June 2, 1984 (age 41)
Nyack, New York, U.S.
Political party| Democratic
Education|

* Cornell University (BA)
* Rutgers University (MCRP)

Website|

* Campaign website
* Official website

Elijah Reichlin-Melnick is a former politician who served one-term as a member of the New York State Senate for the 38th district. He succeeded David Carlucci and was defeated by Bill Weber (New York politician) in 2022 and again in 2024.

## Early life and education

[edit]

Reichlin-Melnick was born and raised in Nyack, New York. He attended Nyack High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Cornell University in 2006. He later earned a master's degree in city and regional planning, with a concentration in housing and real estate, from Rutgers University in 2015.

## Career

[edit]

### Early career

[edit]

After receiving his bachelor's degree, he spent two years as an elementary school teacher at Dwight Elementary School in New Haven, Connecticut. He later served on the Nyack Village Planning Board and was elected vice president of the Rockland County Young Democrats and chairman of the Nyack Democratic Committee. He was an active member of the Nyack NAACP and the Nyack Tree Committee. After leaving Dwight Elementary School, Reichlin-Melnick began working as a constituent service specialist and district representative for Congressman Eliot Engel and Congresswoman Nita Lowey until 2013. After working in Congress, Reichlin-Melnick completed his master's degree, he worked as the executive assistant for Orangetown, New York Town Supervisor Andy Stewart. He later worked as the legislative director for New York State Senator James Skoufis.[1]

### Nyack Village Board

[edit]

In April 2017, Reichlin-Melnick was appointed to the Nyack Village Board to fill a vacancy left by Doug Foster. On November 7, 2017, Reichlin-Melnick was elected to a two-year term on the Village Board and was subsequently re-elected on November 3, 2019.

### New York State Senate

[edit]

On December 17, 2019, Reichlin-Melnick announced his candidacy for district 38 in the New York State Senate.[2] On June 23, 2020, Reichlin-Melnick defeated Clarkstown Town Clerk Justin Sweet and Spring Valley Trustee Eudson Francois in the Democratic primary election.[3] On November 3, 2020, he defeated Republican nominee Bill Weber.[4] In 2022, Reichlin-Melnick was defeated by Weber in a rematch.[5] Reichlin-Melnick and Weber faced off for a third time in 2024, and on November 5, 2024, Weber again defeated Reichlin-Melnick by nearly triple the margin of his 2022 victory.[6]

## Personal life

[edit]

Reichlin-Melnick's brother, Aaron, is an immigration policy expert and senior fellow at the American Immigration Council.[7]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "State Senate Closing Arguments: Elijah Reichlin-Melnick". Nyack News and Views. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
2. ^ Cutler, Nancy. "Nyack Trustee Elijah Reichlin-Melnick announces bid for Carlucci's SD 38 seat". The Journal News. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
3. ^ Lieberman, Steve. "State Senate: Reichlin-Melnick wins primary as Sweet concedes after most absentees are counted". The Journal News. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
4. ^ Lieberman, Steve. "Elections Update: Reichlin-Melnick wins Senate seat over Weber; Lawler unseats Jaffee". The Journal News. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
5. ^ "State Senate: Weber wins District 38, Harckham takes District 40". News 12 - Westchester. November 9, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
6. ^ "Republican Bill Weber defeats Elijah Reichlin-Melnick in battle for NY Senate seat". LOHUD. November 6, 2024.
7. ^ Donaldson, Sahalie (September 20, 2023). "Republicans parrot Eric Adams at Homeland Security Committee hearing on migrants". City & State. Retrieved December 11, 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Members of the New York State Senate

204th New York Legislature (2021–2022)

President of the Senate
Antonio Delgado (D)
President pro tempore and Majority Leader
Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D)
Minority Leader
Rob Ortt (R)

1. ▌Anthony Palumbo (R)
2. ▌Mario Mattera (R)
3. ▌Dean Murray (R)
4. ▌Monica Martinez (D)
5. ▌Steven Rhoads (R)
6. ▌Siela Bynoe (D)
7. ▌Jack Martins (R)
8. ▌Alexis Weik (R)
9. ▌Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (R)
10. ▌James Sanders Jr. (D)
11. ▌Toby Ann Stavisky (D)
12. ▌Michael Gianaris (D)
13. ▌Jessica Ramos (D)
14. ▌Leroy Comrie (D)
15. ▌Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D)
16. ▌John Liu (D)
17. ▌Steve Chan (R)
18. ▌Julia Salazar (D)
19. ▌Roxanne Persaud (D)
20. ▌Zellnor Myrie (D)
21. ▌Kevin Parker (D)
22. ▌Sam Sutton (D)
23. ▌Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D)
24. ▌Andrew Lanza (R)
25. ▌Jabari Brisport (D)
26. ▌Andrew Gounardes (D)
27. ▌Brian P. Kavanagh (D)
28. ▌Liz Krueger (D)
29. ▌José M. Serrano (D)
30. ▌Cordell Cleare (D)
31. ▌Robert Jackson (D)
32. ▌Luis R. Sepúlveda (D)
33. ▌Gustavo Rivera (D)
34. ▌Nathalia Fernandez (D)
35. ▌Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D)
36. ▌Jamaal Bailey (D)
37. ▌Shelley Mayer (D)
38. ▌Bill Weber (R)
39. ▌Robert Rolison (R)
40. ▌Peter Harckham (D)
41. ▌Michelle Hinchey (D)
42. ▌James Skoufis (D)
43. ▌Jake Ashby (R)
44. ▌Jim Tedisco (R)
45. ▌Dan Stec (R)
46. ▌Patricia Fahy (D)
47. ▌Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D)
48. ▌Rachel May (D)
49. ▌Mark Walczyk (R)
50. ▌Chris Ryan (D)
51. ▌Peter Oberacker (R)
52. ▌Lea Webb (D)
53. ▌Joseph Griffo (R)
54. ▌Pam Helming (R)
55. ▌Samra Brouk (D)
56. ▌Jeremy Cooney (D)
57. ▌George Borrello (R)
58. ▌Tom O'Mara (R)
59. ▌Kristen Gonzalez (D)
60. ▌Patrick M. Gallivan (R)
61. ▌Sean Ryan (D)
62. ▌Rob Ortt (R)
63. ▌April Baskin (D)

* ▌Democratic (41)
* ▌Republican (22)

* New York State Legislature
* New York State Assembly
* New York State Senate

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