Randy Weingarten

Born

1957-12-18

Advocacy

New Deal for Higher Education

Education

J.D., Yeshiva University Cardozo School of Law (1983)

Full Name

Rhonda "Randi" Weingarten

Influence

Included in City & State New York’s 2021 New York City Labor

Birthplace

New York City, New York, USA

Profession

Labor leader, attorney, educator

Recognition

First openly gay person elected president of a national American labor union

Sexual Orientation

Lesbian

Political Affiliation

Democrat

1957-12-18

1979

1980

1983

1991

1997

2002

2008

2008

2009-01

2021

2025-06-05

Rhonda "Randi" Weingarten (born December 18, 1957) is an American labor leader, attorney, and educator. She has been president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) since 2008, and is a member of the AFL-CIO. She is the former president of the United Federation of Teachers. ## Early life [edit] [...] A lifelong Democrat, Weingarten was a member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from 2002 until her resignation in mid 2025. She was an early and critically important supporter of Howard Dean as Chairman of the DNC. She is a superdelegate who was pledged to Hillary Clinton during the 2008 presidential primary. In January 2009, she was mentioned as a possible candidate in the appointment process to replace Clinton's U.S. Senate seat. [...] From 1979 to 1980, Weingarten was a legislative assistant for the Labor Committee of the New York State Senate. She received a B.S. degree in labor relations from the ILR School at Cornell University in 1980 and a J.D. degree from the Yeshiva University Cardozo School of Law in 1983. ## Legal career [edit]

RANDI WEINGARTEN is president of the 1.8 million-member AFT, which represents teachers; paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; higher education faculty and staff; nurses and other healthcare professionals; local, state and federal government employees; and early childhood educators. The AFT is dedicated to the belief that every person in America deserves the freedom to thrive, fueled by opportunity, justice and a voice in our democracy. This freedom is achieved through an economy that [...] Weingarten is an advocate for a New Deal for Higher Education, a campaign calling for substantial federal investment in higher education that would prioritize teaching, research and student supports; provide sustainable careers with professional voice for all faculty and staff; allow all students to attend regardless of ability to pay; create academic environments free of racism and other forms of bigotry; and cancel student debt. [...] Prior to her election as AFT president in 2008, Weingarten served for 11 years as president of the United Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 2, representing approximately 200,000 educators in the New York City public school system, as well as home child care providers and other workers in health, law and education. Weingarten is the recipient of many commendations; she was included in Washingtonian’s 2021 Washington’s Most Influential People, City & State New York’s 2021 New York City Labor

Randi Weingarten, the current president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), was born in New York City in 1957 and grew up in Rockland County, NY. She developed her interest in labor unions and politics as a teenager, when her mother—a teacher—went on strike. In high school, she and fellow students also successfully protested school board budget cuts. [...] Weingarten is a lesbian, and the first openly gay person to be elected president of a national American labor union. She and her partner were members of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, New York's gay and lesbian synagogue. Sources: American Federation of Teachers. "AFT President Randi Weingarten." Accessed April 25, 2012. . Wikipedia. "Randi Weingarten." Accessed April 25, 2012. . ## Donate Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. donate now ## Listen to Our Podcast [...] In addition to her work as a lawyer and leader for teacher unions, Weingarten also has direct teaching experience, having taught history at Clara Barton High School in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, from 1991 to 1997. Weingarten is an active member of Democratic National Committee, among other civic organizations. She served for ten years as the chair of New York City's Municipal Labor Committee, an umbrella organization for the city's many public sector unions.

Weingarten, a member of the DNC for 23 years and a highly controversial figure regarding pandemic-era school closures, wrote to DNC Chair Ken Martin that she had fundamental disagreements with him. “I appear to be out of step with the leadership you are forging,” the union leader said in the letter dated June 5, Politico reported, “and I do not want to be the one who keeps questioning why we are not enlarging our tent and actively trying to engage more of our communities.” [...] Five years after Covid: Innovations that are driving results View Now Edsource News Topics Featured Special Reports # Kindly Log In ##### EdSource staff News Brief Tuesday, June 17, 2025 — 11:15 am # Teachers union head Randi Weingarten quits DNC post in dispute with chairman American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, a longtime key member of the Democratic National Committee, is leaving the DNC, according to a letter obtained by Politico. [...] Weingarten’s exit is only the most recent sign that the Democratic Party is embroiled in factional disputes, and it is likely to only further finger-pointing and intensify criticism among Democrats. Weingarten has defended former DNC Vice Chair David Hogg, who was ousted last week from his post on the committee, coming under fire over his decision to fund primary challenges against Democrats. ### More News Briefs Friday, June 20, 2025, 10:27 am