Decision Maker

Julia Salazar

New York State Senate - District 18

District 18, New York

Julia Salazar is an American politician and activist currently serving as the New York State Senator for the 18th district, which includes much of northern Brooklyn, centered on Bushwick. She made headlines in 2018 when she defeated incumbent Senator Martin Malave Dilan in the Democratic Party primary, running as a first-time candidate. A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Salazar became the first member of the organization to serve in New York's state legislature. She is noted for her advocacy for sex workers' rights, among other progressive causes. Salazar has been a member of the New York State Senate since 2019. She has also worked as a community organizer with Jews for Racial and Economic Justice. Salazar attended Columbia University.