Ben Kallos


Benjamin Kallos is the Council member for the 5th District of the New York City Council. He is a Democrat. The district includes East Harlem, Midtown, Murray Hill, Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Life and career

Kallos was born in Florida. He attended Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School. He then attended Bronx Science for high school, SUNY Albany as an undergraduate, and SUNY Buffalo School of Law. He has served as a Manhattan Community Board Public Member and Statewide Coordination Committee Chair for the New York Democratic Lawyers Council. He was also Chief of Staff for New York State Assemblyman Jonathan Bing, Director of Policy for former New York City Public Advocate Mark J. Green, and Executive Director of New Roosevelt.

New York City Council

On September 10, 2013, Kallos won the Democratic primary for the 5th New York City Council District, receiving 46% of the vote to Micah Kellner's 39% and Ed Hartzog’s 15%. He won the general election on November 5, 2013 and assumed office on January 1, 2014.
On November 5, 2017, Kallos won reelection to another term with 81% of the vote.
Kallos is ranked as the sixth best lawmaker in New York City by City & State. He chairs the Committee on Contracts and is a member of the committees on Education, Governmental Operations, Oversight and Investigations, and Women and Gender Equity.

Campaign for Manhattan Borough President

U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney endorsed Kallos for Manhattan Borough President in the 2021 race, joining "dozens of labor union endorsements."

Election history