Thomas Sullivan

Thomas Sullivan is the Republican, Conservative and We The People Party nominee for the open NY State Assembly District 23 seat. He is a retired U.S. Army Reserve colonel and financial-services professional who has run for office before: for NY State Senate District 15 in 2018 and 2020, and for this Assembly seat in 2022 and 2024. His 2024 Ballotpedia survey describes his platform as reducing crime, lowering taxes and cutting wasteful spending.[1][2][3]

Sullivan was born in New York, New York, and the Queens Daily Eagle describes him as a native of Breezy Point.[2][3] According to his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, he is one of seven sons of a retired New York City Police detective and a nurse; the Rockaway Times says he was raised in Brooklyn.[2][5] He grew up working in his family's restaurant, Brennan & Carr, in Brooklyn, and later opened a Brennan & Carr restaurant in Rockville Centre, NY, which he says employed 15-20 people; he says he also handles administrative matters for the family business.[2] Sullivan earned a bachelor's degree (1993) and a graduate degree (1996) from Mount Saint Mary's University, and a graduate degree from the U.S. Army War College (2018).[2]

He served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1993 to 2023, and according to his survey commanded soldiers at the detachment, company, battalion and brigade levels during three combat deployments.[2] His campaign website says his service included combat tours in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.[4] He retired on June 1, 2023, as a colonel and deputy commanding officer of the 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command in Des Moines, Iowa.[2] Sullivan has worked as a financial consultant and financial-services professional for over three decades, according to his survey.[2]

He ran for NY State Senate District 15 as the Republican nominee in 2018, losing to incumbent Joseph Addabbo 35.8% to 64.1%, and again in 2020, losing 41.7% to 58.2% while also on the Conservative and Save Our City lines.[2] Sullivan ran for Assembly District 23 against incumbent Stacey Pheffer Amato in 2022 and 2024; the 2022 race was decided by 15 votes after a recount and legal challenges, according to the Queens Daily Eagle, and Pheffer Amato won in 2024 with 51.6% to his 48.2%, according to Ballotpedia.[2][3] He won the Republican and Conservative Party lines for 2026 without a primary, as both June 23 primaries were canceled.[2] His survey lists affiliations with Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the 77th Infantry Division Reserve Officers Association, Knights of Columbus, Ancient Order of Hibernians and Kiwanis.[2]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.