Early Life and Education

Tiffany Cabán was born in 1988 in Richmond Hill, Queens, to Puerto Rican parents who were raised in the Woodside Houses. Her father worked as an elevator technician, and her mother cared for children. She attended PS 62 in Richmond Hill and JHS 210 Elizabeth Blackwell in Woodhaven. For high school, she enrolled at St. Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows.

Cabán earned a Bachelor’s degree in Crime, Law, and Justice from Pennsylvania State University and a Juris Doctor from New York Law School. Motivated by a deep commitment to social justice and the intersection of law and public policy, she pursued a path in public defense. During law school, she participated in the Impact Center for Public Interest Law, focusing her advocacy on criminal justice and systemic inequality.

Legal Career and Advocacy

As a public defender, Tiffany Cabán utilized a client-centered approach grounded in addressing broader systemic issues such as violence, mental health challenges, substance use, and economic insecurity. She provided legal support while also helping clients access resources including immigration assistance, education and job training, and housing support.

Her advocacy extended to representing immigrant survivors of domestic violence in their efforts to obtain legal status under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) or U-visa protections. She also represented individuals in Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income hearings and advocated for access to healthcare and housing benefits. Outside of court, Cabán engaged in grassroots community education, volunteering with the New York County Defender Services’ Community Outreach Committee and leading “Know Your Rights” trainings across Queens.

Queens District Attorney Race

In June 2019, Tiffany Cabán gained national attention when she entered the Democratic primary for Queens County District Attorney. Running on a progressive platform focused on criminal justice reform, she positioned herself among a growing movement of prosecutors aiming to address mass incarceration, systemic racism, and overly punitive policies.

Though she declared victory on election night, a subsequent count of absentee and provisional ballots led to her narrow loss by fewer than 60 votes to longtime establishment candidate Melinda Katz. Despite the defeat, Cabán emerged as a prominent figure in New York’s progressive political scene and continued to advocate for transformative justice policies.

Personal Life and Identity

Tiffany Cabán resides in Astoria, Queens. She is the devoted owner of two rescue dogs, Natalie and Coltrane. A lifelong athlete, she participates in LGBTQIA+ sports leagues and is an avid sports enthusiast.

During her campaign, Cabán openly embraced her identity as a queer Latina, making it a central element of her platform. If elected, she would have made history as the first Latina and the first openly queer District Attorney in New York State.