Tyrae Woodson-Samuels became the third youngest Westchester County Legislator in history after a successful election on November 3, 2020. A 28-year-old native of Mount Vernon, Woodson-Samuels brings a record of hands-on government, activist, and business experience to a campaign that promises to pursue a “practical progressive” agenda for the county.

Most recently, Woodson-Samuels served as Deputy Director of Constituent Services for veteran Democratic Congressman Eliot Engel, leading his Westchester County community response and working with residents and public officials on issues that included immigration, gun safety initiatives, Federal funding, military, and veteran’s affairs, healthcare, Social Security and senior issues, and regional environmental concerns.

A longtime community activist committed to representing underserved communities of color and improving Mount Vernon, Woodson-Samuels has been a board member of the Shamoya McKenzie Foundation, Fleetwood Neighborhood Association, and the Community Service Associates Soup Kitchen. He is a legislative committee member of the Westchester Black Democrats, and serves as Caucus of Color chair for the Westchester Young Democrats, in addition to leadership roles with the local NAACP and as a mentor in President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative, working with dozens of young men in the city of Mount Vernon.

In the business community, Woodson-Samuels consulted local businesses, became a licensed real estate salesperson, and formed The Woodson-Samuels Group, LLC. Local sports fans will remember Woodson-Samuels as the first African-American quarterback in Iona Prep history, where he led his team to an undefeated 12-0 record, winning Iona’s only CHSFL AAA State championship and earning Journal News Player of the Year, First Team All-State, and First Team All-County honors. He was also captain and a top sprinter in Section 1 for Iona’s track & field team.

A product of Mount Vernon public schools, Woodson-Samuels attended historic Hampton University where he majored in political science and became a teacher’s assistant working with special needs children.