M. William Bray

Michael William Bray (September 25, 1889 – January 17, 1961) was an American lawyer and politician. He was Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1933 to 1938.

Bray was born in Churubusco, New York on September 25, 1889, the son of John Bray and Hannah Bray. He graduated from Union College in 1911, and from Albany Law School in 1913. He commenced practice in Utica, New York.

In 1924, he became Chairman of the Oneida County Democratic Committee, and he was Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee from 1928 to 1930. He was a delegate to the 1928, 1932, 1940 and 1948 Democratic National Conventions.

In 1932 Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, former Governor Al Smith and state Democratic Party chairman James A. Farley backed the nomination of Herbert H. Lehman for governor, over the opposition of Tammany Hall and its allies. Lehman won, and as a peace offering Farley permitted Tammany to choose the candidate for lieutenant governor. Bray was nominated, and won the general election, defeating Republican F. Trubee Davison. (Prior to 1954 the governor and lieutenant governor of New York were elected separately. Each party's candidates for governor and lieutenant governor now run separately in the primary election, and on a single ballot in the general election.)

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