Pamela J. Hunter grew up in Upstate New York and is a decorated, honorably discharged United States Army veteran. After her military service, Pamela received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Strayer College in Washington D.C., with concentrations in human resources and computer information systems. She has a professional certification in human resources and a Doctor of Humane Letters Honorary Degree from Le Moyne College. Assemblymember Hunter represents the 128th Assembly District, one of the most diverse districts in the state, which includes urban, suburban, and rural areas, as well as the Onondaga Nation. The district encompasses the southern, near west, and eastern portions of the City of Syracuse and the surrounding towns of Dewitt, Onondaga, and Salina.

Prior to her election to the New York State Assembly in 2015, Pamela served on the Syracuse Common Council for three years and chaired the Public Safety Committee. She also has broad professional experience, having held executive positions with nonprofit organizations and professional service firms. Her community service includes participation on various boards: AccessCNY, Catholic Charities, Meals on Wheels, Home Aides of Central New York, and the Syracuse Industrial Development Agency. Assemblymember Hunter's dedication to public service and advocacy has earned her numerous accolades, including, but not limited to the Community Advocate of the Year Award by Nosotros Radio, the Friend of Labor Award by the Greater Syracuse Labor Council-AFLCIO, the Susan B. Anthony Award by the National Organization for Women, the Distinguished Veteran of the Year Award by the Onondaga County Veterans Council, the NAACP President's Award, and the Legislator of the Year Award by the American Red Cross.

Currently, Ms. Hunter serves as Speaker Pro Tempore and presides over legislative session proceedings. Additionally, she is the only female veteran in the State Legislature, giving her unique insight as the Chair of the Assembly Subcommittee on Women Veterans. Pamela serves on several committees, including Insurance, Veterans Affairs, Ways and Means, and Rules, and is an active member of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Caucus, the Women’s Caucus and the Black Task Force. Nationally, Pamela serves as President of the National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL). In this role, she oversees the organization’s operations and advances model laws for adoption in states across the country. In 2023, she passed a model bill, now signed into New York State law, that ensures biomarker diagnostic coverage under health insurance plans. This legislation requires that every state-regulated insurance plan, including Medicaid, provides coverage for biomarker testing, a life-saving tool for cancer and other diseases.

Assemblymember Hunter has been a stalwart defender of human rights and has sponsored legislation to protect the most vulnerable residents of New York State. She has championed anti-poverty legislation, such as the Driver’s License Suspension Reform Act, which ends the practice of suspending a driver’s license for the nonpayment of fines, which had disproportionately impacted our poor and populations of color. Another of her enacted bills secured a property tax credit for low-income households required to carry flood insurance. Ms. Hunter sponsors numerous bills supporting industries and professions that enhance service delivery, including legislation improving access to oncology screenings. She also champions initiatives that strengthen communities and ensure public safety, such as her legislative efforts to boost local firefighter recruitment.

Pamela Hunter lives in Syracuse with her husband and rescue dog.