Former U.S. Senate and N.Y. Assembly staffer running to improve public safety and education in Bronx and Westchester
Community organizer, mother and Democrat Lisa Do Hofflich today announces her campaign for New York State Senate District 36 representing the Bronx and Westchester. The former U.S. Senate and N.Y. Assembly staffer who has more than a decade-long experience in issue advocacy and state and federal legislation is running to be a leader on public safety, education and climate justice.
“My first-hand experiences with the challenges of the pandemic, both personally and in my work throughout the state, inspired me to step up to be a leader in quality of life issues like protecting our communities from violent crime and standing up for our fundamental rights,” said Hofflich. “I’ve spent my entire career tearing down barriers that prevent families from flourishing and have always fought for my fellow neighbors. I will take this fight to Albany to build a safer future for New Yorkers.”
Hofflich, 49, has had a life-long career in public service. She recently served as Lower Hudson Valley Regional Director and Special Advisor for U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on issues related to the Asian American Pacific Islander community and human trafficking. She’s Chair of the Westchester Asian American Democratic committee.
Prior to her role in the U.S. Senate, Hofflich served as Legislative Advisor to New York State Assembly members Amy Paulin and Sandy Galef where she was instrumental in writing and pushing key legislation that led to the passage of “Walking While Trans,” “End Child Sex Trafficking,” banning salary history questions in job interviews, strengthening New York’s response to human trafficking, and ending child marriage, among almost two dozen other laws.
A fellow of the United Nations Association of New York’s Worldview Institute, Hofflich was a founding coalitions member spearheading the passage of landmark state laws, including the Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act, the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act, and the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act. She also reactivated and led the Westchester Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), served on the Executive Committee for NOW New York State and chaired the NOW New York State LGBTQ Task Force. Lisa is also a former board member and co-chaired the New York State Public Affairs Committee of the Junior Leagues.
Hofflich was three years old when she and her parents made a harrowing escape from Vietnam to the United States during the fall of Saigon. Her father was a lieutenant in the South Vietnamese Air Force before his helicopter was shot down by enemy fire. As refugees, the Do family were resettled in North Dakota where Hofflich’s father worked as a supermarket stocker, restaurant cook and diesel mechanic. The family moved across the country out West where Hofflich spent the rest of her childhood before leaving home at age 17 to attend New York University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and worked as an investigative television news producer for CNBC, WNBC, and Consumer Reports, and an assignment editor for the nationally syndicated show EXTRA.
Hofflich resides in the Fleetwood neighborhood of Mount Vernon where she has lived 22 years with her husband and their five children who have attended Jewish day schools in Riverdale. The family belongs to CSAIR Synagogue.
The 36th State Senate District is the redrawn district of State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, who is giving up her seat to run for Congress.
