| Sean Ryan | |
| State Senate: | New York State |
| District: | 61st |
| Term Start: | January 1, 2021 |
| Predecessor: | Chris Jacobs |
| State Assembly1: | New York |
| District1: | 149th |
| Term Start1: | September 14, 2011 |
| Term End1: | January 1, 2021 |
| Predecessor1: | Sam Hoyt |
| Successor1: | Jonathan Rivera |
| Birth Date: | 4 March 1965 |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Education: | State University of New York at Fredonia (BA) Brooklyn Law School (JD) |
| Website: | |
Sean M. Ryan is an American attorney and politician serving as a member of the New York State Senate from the 61st District. A Democrat, he previously served as a member of the New York State Assembly from 2011 to 2021, and the 60th District from 2021 to 2022.
He is currently running to become Mayor of Buffalo, which will be decided by the 2025 Buffalo mayoral election.
Ryan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Fredonia and a Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School. He was then admitted the New York State Bar Association.
As an attorney, Ryan has specialized in anti-discrimination and labor law cases.[1] On September 13, 2011, Ryan was elected during a special election to the New York State Assembly, succeeding longtime assemblyman Sam Hoyt.[2]
In 2012, he was elected to the 149th district. He was supported by the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.[3]
In 2020, he was elected to New York's 60th senate district. Due to redistricting following the 2020 U.S. census, Ryan successfully ran in the newly-drawn 61st senate district in the 2022 election. As a member of the State Senate, Ryan championed legislation to prohibit non-compete clauses in New York, which passed both houses of the state legislature in 2023.[4]
Ryan has announced his candidacy for the 2025 Buffalo mayoral election, where he will challenge acting mayor Christopher Scanlon for the position.[5]