Rebecca Lamorte Named In Albany 40 Under 40

For Rebecca Lamorte, a subway accident when she was 22 years old changed everything.

In 2013, she was taking the No. 6 train home when a woman exiting shoved Lamorte, causing her to step into the gap between the train and the platform. The resulting injury caused permanent nerve degeneration in her leg and forced her to use a cane.

“That day changed my life and how other people treat me,” she says. “It gave me a passion not only to fight for myself but also for others.”

The Long Island native has continued to advocate for disability rights and organized labor. She got an internship with a woman-owned lobbying firm and helped construction laborers meet with elected officials. Then Lamorte joined a labor union as its in-house lobbyist in 2016.

In 2021, Lamorte mounted a New York City Council campaign with a pledge to improve accessibility.

“I ran with a campaign platform rooted in disability justice,” she says. “There aren’t many people with disabilities in elected office.”

In 2024, she joined the top lobbying firm Brown & Weinraub, where she helped pass legislation requiring the state to add formerly incarcerated people to New York State Industries for the Disabled’s hiring program. This year, she’s seeking more funding for a pediatric primary care program and hospital systems to ensure patients can get affordable prescriptions.

She enjoys demystifying the political process for her clients.

“It’s not something we learn about in school but being able to advocate for yourself is one of the main tenets of government,” she says.

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