Patricia Fahy

Patricia Fahy (born July 1958) is an American politician and a member of the Democratic Party, who currently represents parts of Albany County, Schenectady County, and Montgomery County in the New York State Senate, including all of the city of Albany. She was previously was Assemblymember for the 109th District, representing parts of Albany County, for 12 years. Before serving on the state legislature, Fahy was president of the Albany City Board of Education.

Patricia Fahy
Fahy in 2023
Member of the New York State Senate from the 46th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 2025
Preceded by	Neil Breslin
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 109th district
In office January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2024
Preceded by	Jack McEneny
Succeeded by	Gabriella Romero
Personal details
Born	July 1958 (age 67) Chicago, Illinois
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Wayne Bequette
Children	2
Residence	Albany, New York
Alma mater	Northern Illinois University (BA), University of Illinois, Chicago (MPA)
Profession	Educator, politician
Signature
Website	Official website

Electoral history

2012 elections

On September 13, 2012, there was a primary election in the Democratic Party^[1] to replace the retiring incumbent Jack McEneny, who had been an assemblyman for 20 years. Fahy received 5,335 votes (36.34%) in a crowded field that included Frank J. Commisso, Jr., Christopher T. Higgins, William J. McCarthy, Jr., Jim Coyne and Margarita Perez, as well as write-in candidates.^[2] Ted J. Danz, Jr., however, beat Fahy in the Independence Party primary held the same date, 51 to 46%, with some write-ins.^[2] Her opponents were all politically well-connected: Commisso, Jr. was a sitting member of the Albany Common Council; Higgins was a sitting member of the Albany County Legislature; McCarthy was an attorney and scion of a well-known family of the area; Perez was a notable local political activist; businessman Danz had been active in local Republican politics for decades.

In the November 2012 general election, Fahy won with 37,967 votes, or almost 63%, on the Democratic and Working Family party lines, against Danz, who received about 32.5% on the Republican and Independence lines, and the perennial candidate and Tea Party activist Joseph P. Sullivan on the Conservative line, who got about 3.5% of the vote.^[3]

2024 election

Fahy succeeded retiring incumbent state senator Neil Breslin of New York's 46th State Senate District after defeating^[4] Republican Ted Danz in the 2024 election.^[5]

Legislative work

Main article: New York State Assembly

Fahy raised concerns about the impact of Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposed 2014-2015 budget on P-12 education.^[6]

In February 2017, Fahy, along with Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Congressman Paul Tonko, were criticized by Bishop Edward Scharfenberger for being Catholic politicians who supported and attended a rally for Planned Parenthood. The rally, which drew hundreds of attendees in support of Planned Parenthood, emphasized the risk of losing services like pregnancy testing and cancer screening due to potential federal funding cuts.^[7]

On March 27, 2025, Fahy introduced a bill that would issue new certificates of registration to ZEV-exclusive manufacturers not previously permitted to participate in direct manufacturer auto sales in New York State.^[8]