Leadership. Resilience. Public Service.

DAVID A. PATERSON 55th Governor of New York | Author of Black, Blind & In Charge

When David Paterson was a child, his mother fought to enroll him in public school — at a time when blind students simply weren't admitted. Today, that school bears his name.

That trajectory — from being told he didn't belong to reshaping the institutions that excluded him — defines Governor Paterson's life and leadership.

As New York's 55th Governor and the first African American and blind chief executive in the state's history, Paterson warned of the 2008 financial crisis months before it made national headlines. While others dismissed his forecast, he convened the legislature, cut $2 billion immediately, and ultimately reduced New York's deficit by nearly $40 billion — all while preserving the state's credit rating.

He got it done by doing something radical: building genuine coalitions across party lines.

Governor Paterson's political career began in 1985 when he was elected to represent Harlem and the Upper West Side at age 31 — the third youngest state senator in New York history. In 2002, he became Minority Leader of the New York State Senate, the first African American and blind legislative leader in the state. He addressed the 2004 Democratic National Convention and later served as Chairman of the New York State Democratic Party.

His influence extends well beyond the State House. Governor Paterson has advised major institutions at the intersection of finance, real estate, infrastructure, and public policy — including Las Vegas Sands Corp., Stifel Investment Bank, the Durst Organization, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. He currently serves as Vice President of Campus Engagement and Distinguished Professor at Touro University, sits on the board of advisors at BRAVO Group, and chairs the board of the Achilles Track Club.

A gifted communicator with sharp wit and hard-earned wisdom, Governor Paterson hosts a popular drive-time show on 77WABC and appears regularly as a national political commentator. His autobiography, Black, Blind & In Charge, chronicles a life of visionary leadership, resilience, and redefining what's possible.

He and his wife Mary were married in 2019 by former New York City Mayor David N. Dinkins. Their family includes three children: Anthony, Alex, and Ashley.