Senator Chuck Schumer

Transcription

1 New York

2 Senator Chuck Schumer Democrat Charles Chuck Schumer, first elected to the Senate in 1998, is New York s senior senator and current Senate minority leader. When he was just out of Harvard Law School, Schumer began immediately running for a seat in the New York State Assembly. In 1980, Schumer was elected to an open seat in the House. His career was threatened almost as soon as it started. Due to the 1980 reapportionment, New York stood to lose five House seats and, under the requirements of the Voting Rights Act, the state was under pressure to create a second majority-minority district in Brooklyn. Consequently, the district of the newly arrived Schumer was widely regarded as being on the chopping block. However, exhibiting the fundraising prowess that would later help him climb the Senate leadership ladder, Schumer quickly accumulated a large campaign treasury which saved him and his district; the neighboring district of a more senior House member, albeit a legislator with a far thinner campaign bankroll, was eliminated instead. The 2016 election made Schumer the national Democratic Party s most influential figure, if not its de facto leader. It was not the role, however, that he had hoped for. He had aspired to begin his tenure as the top Senate Democrat serving as majority -- not minority -- leader, working alongside his one-time New York Senate colleague, Hillary Clinton, to enact the White House s policy initiatives. Currently: Senator, NY Elected: 1998 Education: Harvard U., B.A., 1971, J.D., 1974 Religion: Jewish Family: Married (Iris), 2 children Contact: (202) Hart Senate Office Washington, DC Supports Obamacare expansion Opposes absolute right to gun ownership Supports unrestricted abortion rights Favors higher taxes on the wealthy Supports green energy initiatives Supports Same-Sex Marriage Supports marijuana legalization Supports a pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens Favors expanding the military Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Senate Committee on Intelligence Chuck Schumer (D) Votes: 5,221,967 Percent: 71.0% Wendy Long (R) Votes: 2,009,380 Percent: 27.0% Sources: Ballotpedia, 2017; National Journal Research.

3 Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, New York s junior senator, had been in the House for just one term when Democratic Gov. David Paterson in 2009 appointed her to the Senate seat vacated by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Gillibrand graduated from Dartmouth College, where she majored in Asian studies and attained fluency in Mandarin. Gillibrand graduated from law school at the University of California, Los Angeles. After law school, Gillibrand clerked for a Reagan-appointed federal Appeals Court judge. She then joined a major New York law firm, Boies, Schiller & Flexner. In 2005, she launched a quixotic campaign against four-term U.S. Rep. John Sweeney who had never faced a serious re-election challenge. Gillibrand won the seat. When she arrived in the House, Gillibrand began posting a Sunlight Report of her daily schedule, including meetings with lobbyists. She held office hours in grocery stores throughout the district. She got the committee seats she wanted, on Agriculture and Armed Services. The reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, passed into law in the lame-duck session of 2010, included a number of her proposals, such as banning junk food from schools. The issue that initially brought Gillibrand the most attention was her call for repeal of the 17-year-old don t ask, don t tell policy barring openly gay military service members. Gillibrand also began burnishing her national image by starting a campaign, Off the Sidelines, to mobilize female candidates across the country. Currently: Senator, NY Elected: 2009 Education: Dartmouth Col., B.A., 1988; UCLA, J.D., 1991 Family: Married (Jonathan), 2 children Contact: (202) Russell Senate Office Washington, DC Supports Obamacare expansion Opposes absolute right to gun ownership Favors unrestricted abortion rights Favors higher taxes on the wealthy Favors green energy initiatives Supports Same-Sex Marriage Favors pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens Opposes stricter punishment to reduce crime Senate Committee on Aging Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Senate Committee on Armed Services Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works 2012 General Kirsten Gillibrand (D) Votes: 4,822,330 Percent: 72.0% Wendy Long (R) Votes: 1,758,702 Percent: 26.0% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016; Ballotpedia, 2016.

4 Congressman Lee Zeldin Republican Lee Zeldin's race in 2014 against Democratic Rep. Tim Bishop was far more successful for him than their 2008 matchup, when Bishop prevailed in what was a strong Democratic year. The second time around, Zeldin was able to convince voters it was time to replace an opponent he called a "backbencher." After completing his education, Zeldin received an Army commission as a second lieutenant and deployed to Iraq with an infantry battalion of paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division. The national Republican Party had sought for several years to make inroads in the eastern Long Island swing district. Bishop defeated Zeldin in 2008 with 58 percent of the vote, but the gap narrowed in subsequent years. President Obama barely carried the district in Meanwhile, Zeldin won election to the state Senate in 2010 and became known for his effort to fund a pilot program for soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. He also led a bid to scale back a transportation-authority payroll tax and sought to end fees for saltwater fishing. In the GOP primary for the 1st district, he defeated perpetual candidate George Demos even though Demos outspent him by a ratio of more than 3-to-1. In the general election, a September poll showed Bishop with a 10-percentage-point lead. The American Action Network and the National Republican Congressional Committee each spent more than $1 million accusing Bishop of being a corrupt Washington insider. He won to become the House's lone Jewish Republican, a status once held by Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia before his primary loss and subsequent resignation. 01 Elected: 2014 Education: St. U. at Albany, B.A., 2001; Albany Law School, J.D., 2003 Religion: Jewish Family: Married (Diana), 2 children Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Supports property tax caps Opposed the MTA Payroll Tax Opposes Common Core education Supports peer-to-peer counseling for veterans House Committee on Foreign Affairs House Committee on Financial Services Sources: National Journal Almanac, Ballotpedia Lee Zeldin (R) Votes: 188,499 Percent: 58.2% Anna Throne-Holst (D) Votes: 135,278 Percent: 41.8%

5 Congressman Peter King Republican Peter King, first elected in 1992, went from being known mainly as a loquacious maverick to becoming a serious counterweight to the Obama administration on domestic security matters. His penchant for quotable quips has made him a constant presence on cable television, and he has flirted with a long-shot 2016 presidential bid. King s voting record ranks him near the ideological center of the House. He is more conservative on foreign policy than on economic or social issues, but with distinctive interests. He is far to the left of other Republicans on gun control, declaring after the Newtown, Conn., school massacre that Americans don t need assault weapons and renewing his call for background checks for firearm purchases at gun shows. He opposes racial quotas and preferences as well as bilingual education. He supports English-only laws and opposes aid to illegal immigrants. King occasionally has picked fights on TV with Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz, one of the leaders of the tea party movement. When Cruz led the attempt to try to defund the Affordable Care Act, prompting a government shutdown in October 2013, King told MSNBC: "We have to start going after him by name. It s really time to speak out against him. And when House Majority Leader Eric Cantor unexpectedly lost his primary in 2014, King told the network: We can t allow [Cantor's] defeat last night allow the Ted Cruzes and the Rand Pauls to take over the party, or their disciples to take over the party. 02 Elected: 1992 Education: St. Francis Col., B.A., 1965; U. of Notre Dame, J.D., 1968 Family: Married (Rosemary), 2 children, 2 grandchildren Contact: (202) Cannon House Office Supports the PATRIOT Act Supports greater funding for homeland security Supports enhanced resources for preventing illegal immigration House Committee on Financial Services House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence House Committee on Homeland Secuirty Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017; Ballotpedia, Peter King (R) Votes: 181,506 Percent: 62.1% DuWayne Gregory (D) Votes: 110,938 Percent: 37.9%

6 Congressman Tom Suozzi Tom Suozzi was born in 1962 in Glen Cove, NY. Suozzi attended Chaminade High School before earning his undergraduate degree from Boston College in 1984 and his law degree from Fordham University School of Law in Suozzi was the mayor of Glen Cove from and the Nassau County executive from In 2004, Suozzi spearheaded FixAlbany.com, an initiative that targeted corruption in New York state politics and sought to enact a limit on local Medicaid expenses. He also led a state commission that put forth the first cap on property taxes, which was subsequently passed into law. Currently of counsel at Harris Beach, Suozzi has previously served as a senior advisor at investment banking firm Lazard, a litigator at Shearman & Sterling, a law clerk for the chief judge of the Eastern District and an auditor for Arthur Andersen & Co. Suozzi and his wife Helene have three children. Suozzi defeated his opponent in the race to represent New York s 3rd congressional district, Jack Martins, in November Elected: 2016 Education: Boston Col., B.A., 1984; Fordham U., J.D., 1989 Family: Married (Helene), 3 children Contact: (202) Cannon House Office Supports Hillary Clinton s New College Compact Strongly favors prioritizing green energy Strongly opposes privatized Social Security Favors the use of NY tax money to invest in local infrastructure projects House Committee on Foreign Affairs House Committee on Armed Services Tom Suozzi (D) Votes: 171,775 Percent: 53.0% Jack Martins (R) Votes: 152,304 Percent: 47.0% Sources: Ballotpedia, 2017; National Journal Alamanc, 2017.

7 Congresswoman Kathleen Rice After being represented by one of the House's most vocal gun-control advocates in Carolyn McCarthy, Nassau County in 2014 elected another crime-focused Democrat, Kathleen Rice, a veteran prosecutor who built a reputation for being tough on drunken drivers. Rice, who was the first woman to hold the top law-enforcement job in Nassau, defeated Republican Bruce Blakeman. Her election cemented a Democratic trend in a district that had sent Republicans to the House consistently since 1952, until McCarthy was elected in She began her legal career as an assistant district attorney in Kings County under legendary DA Charles Hynes, prosecuting burglaries, robberies and sexual assaults. In 1999, she was appointed an assistant U.S. attorney in Philadelphia, where she handled white-collar crimes, corporate fraud, gun and drug cases, and public corruption. Rice was elected Nassau County's district attorney in 2005 and quickly developed a reputation for her prosecution of drunken drivers. She worked to pass legislation imposing harsher penalties on drunken drivers who had children in the car or who injured other motorists. Rice also went after cheating on college admission tests, working with SAT and ACT leaders to improve test security. She was a co-chair of the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption during 2013 and 2014, and in 2013 she was named president of the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York. She ran in (and lost) the Democratic primary race for state attorney general in 2010, and in 2013 she was the only countywide Democrat to win reelection in Nassau. 04 Elected: 2014 Education: Catholic U., B.A., 1987; Touro Law Center, J.D., 1991 Family: Single Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Supports gun control Supports educational loan refinancing Supports Pell Grants Supports women s access to health care Supports paid maternity leave House Committee on Homeland Security House Committee on Veterans Affairs Kathleen Rice (D) Votes: 186,423 Percent: 59.6% David Gurfein (R) Votes: 126,438 Percent: 40.4% Sources: National Journal Almanac, Ballotpedia 2016.

8 Congressman Gregory Meeks Democrat Gregory Meeks, first elected in 1998, is a liberal who has more of a pro-business orientation than other New York City Democrats. Meeks grew up in public housing projects in Harlem. After graduating from college and law school, Meeks moved to Far Rockaway. He became an assistant district attorney in 1978 and a workers compensation judge in He was elected to the New York state Assembly in 1992 and became an ally of Democratic Rep. Floyd Flake, a minister whose Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church congregation grew from 1,400 members in 1976 to 12,000 in When Flake retired, Meeks won a majority of Democratic committee members at a January 1998 endorsement meeting and thus became the party s nominee. Meeks has a liberal voting record, but he is a member of the commerce-oriented New Democrat Coalition. In 2008, Meeks became chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus s political action committee. But his personal life has caused him some political problems. The Federal Election Commission in 2006 reprimanded him for using more than $6,000 in 2004 campaign funds for a personal trainer and other expenses. Meeks financial ethics have become fodder for New York s major dailies in recent years. Meeks blamed the negative attention on conservative groups out to undermine Democrats. 05 Elected: 1998 Education: Adelphi U., B.A., 1975; Howard U., J.D., 1978 Religion: African Methodist Episcopal Family: Married (Simone- Marie), 3 children Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Supported the 2005 Central American Free Trade Agreement Supported the construction of a natural gas pipeline in New York s Gateway National Recreation Area Strongly favors expanding Obamacare Strongly opposes stricter punishment to reduce crime Strongly favors prioritizing green energy Opposes privatizing social security House Committee on Financial Services House Committee on Foreign Affairs Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017; Gregory Meeks, Ballotpedia, Gregory Meeks (D) Votes: 199,815 Percent: 85.5% Michael O Reilly (R) Votes: 30,312 Percent: 13.0%

9 Congresswoman Grace Meng Democrat Grace Meng, the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, became the first Asian-American woman to represent New York City in Congress when she won election to the House in The New York Times described her as a potential political star. She worked as a volunteer on several New York political campaigns in 2006, including Hillary Clinton s senatorial bid. Her father, Jimmy Meng, served one term in the state Assembly in 2005 and She originally sought to take his place, but residency issues forced her out of the race. Two years later, however, she won a bid against Assemblywoman Ellen Young. During her years in Albany, Meng sponsored bills on a variety of issues, including a measure signed into law in 2009 to eliminate the word Oriental a term critics say is outdated and offensive from state documents referring to people of Asian descent. She also worked to protect senior citizens from increasing property taxes. Meng jumped into the race to succeed retiring 14-term Democratic Rep. Gary Ackerman and won the liberal firebrand s endorsement. Meng also received the backing of the Queens Democratic Party and several Asian-American advocacy groups as well as the powerful New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council. She easily won the Democratic primary in June against three other contenders with 53% of the vote. She had little trouble in the 2012 general election against Republican Daniel J. Halloran. 06 Elected: 2012 Education: U. of MI, B.A., 1997; Yeshiva U., J.D., 2002 Religion: Christian Family: Married (Wayne), 2 children Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Supports the Affordable Care Act Supports the Buffet Rule Supports women s access to reproductive health care Supports the Paycheck Fairness Act House Committee on Appropriations Grace Meng (D) Votes: 136,506 Percent: 72.1% Danniel Maio (R) Votes: 50,617 Percent: 26.7% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017; Ballotpedia 2017.

10 Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez Nydia Velázquez, a Democrat elected in 1992, is the ranking Democrat on the Small Business Committee and the first Puerto Rican woman elected to Congress. Her nickname is "La Luchadora" -- "The Fighter. She grew up in Puerto Rico as one of nine children of sugarcane field workers. Although her father never finished elementary school, he was a political leader in her hometown of Yabucoa and inspired her to pursue politics as a career. She studied political science at the University of Puerto Rico and taught there in the 1970s. After graduate school in New York City, she went to work for Rep. Edolphus Towns of New York. In 1983, she became the first Hispanic woman to be elected to the New York City Council. When the 12th District was created in 1992, Velázquez was a major contender in the Democratic primary but had to overcome Rep. Stephen Solarz, who had decided to run in the new district rather than in the Manhattan-dominated 8th or in the 9th District, where incumbent Democrat Charles Schumer had a heavy advantage. Velázquez beat Solarz 34% to 28%. She won in November with 77% of the vote. In the House, Velázquez has a solidly liberal voting record, with occasional pro-business votes on economic issues. As the panel s chairman in March 2009, she praised the Obama administration for requiring the nation s largest banks to report monthly on how much lending they do to small businesses. 07 Elected: 1992 Education: U. of PR, B.A., 1974; NYU, M.A., 1976 Family: Divorced Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office She has been a leading voice on issues related to Puerto Rico, including the debate on changing the commonwealth s status Dedicated to comprehensive immigration reform Committed to helping small businesses recover from the recession House Committee on Small Business House Committee on Financial Services Nydia Velázquez (D) Votes: 172,146 Percent: 90.8% Allan Romaguera (R) Votes: 17,478 Percent: 9.2% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016; Ballotpedia, 2016.

11 Congressman Hakeem Jeffries Democrat Hakeem Jeffries was elected in 2012 to New York s 8th District seat to replace Democrat Edolphus Towns, who retired after 20 years in Congress. During his six years in the New York State Assembly, Jeffries was viewed as a rising star and sometimes called Brooklyn s Barack. In his senior year of college, a widely covered event in the news solidified his commitment to public service: the not-guilty verdict for the two police officers accused in the beating of Los Angeles motorist Rodney King. After a one-year clerkship with a federal judge, he went to work for Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, a law firm known for launching the careers of prominent Democratic New York politicians. Jeffries endured what he called knock-down but not knockout blows when he twice challenged multi-decade Democratic Assemblyman Roger Green in 2000 and Despite losing both races, Jeffries earned a reputation as a strong campaigner and efficient fundraiser. When Green stepped down in 2006 to run for Congress, Jeffries won the seat easily. After Towns announced his retirement, Jeffries faced another African-American politician, New York City Councilman Charles Barron, in the Democratic primary for Towns seat. Many national politicians backed Jeffries, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee even tapped him as a fundraising all-star, asking him to help campaign around the country in other important congressional races. Jeffries won the primary race in a rout, getting 72% of the vote to just 28% for Barron. In the heavily Democratic district, he easily won in the fall with over 90% of the vote. 08 Elected: 2012 Education: Binghamton U., B.A., 1992; Georgetown U., M.P.P., 1994; NYU, J.D., 1997 Religion: Baptist Family: Married (Kennisandra), 2 children Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Supports affordable housing Opposes stop-and-frisk Supports independent congressional redistricting Supports public school systems Supports same-sex marriage House Committee on the Judiciary House Committee on the Budget Sources: National Journal Almanac, Ballotpedia Hakeem Jeffries (D) Votes: 214,595 Percent: 93.3% Daniel Cavanagh (C) Votes: 15,608 Percent: 7.0%

12 Congresswoman Yvette Clarke Democrat Yvette Clarke, elected in 2006, is a liberal who concentrates on immigration and other issues important to her diverse constituency. She is active in the Congressional Black Caucus and is now one of its senior leaders. As a young girl, she tagged along to political meetings and events with her mother, Una Clarke, who in 1991 became the first Jamaican elected to the New York City Council. Prior to her political career she helped train child care workers, worked as a state legislative aide and served as business development director for the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp. In 2001, Clarke defeated four other candidates for a spot on the city council. From its creation in 1968 until 2006, the 11th District was represented by just two people, both Democrats trailblazer Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress and a 1972 presidential candidate, and Major Owens, who succeeded her in Owens announced in 2004 that he would serve just one more term, and Clarke ran unsuccessfully for the seat. Clarke ran again in 2006, but she first had to navigate a competitive primary field. Clarke s status as the only woman in the contest and her support among Caribbean-Americans were helpful. She picked up the endorsement of the Service Employees International Union s powerful Local 1199, which worked to turn out votes. In the September primary, the only election that mattered in the heavily Democratic district, Clarke won with 31% of the vote. In the House, Clarke has had a solidly liberal voting record and tied for most-liberal member in National Journal s 2012 rankings. 09 Elected: 2006 Education: Oberlin Col., Attended Religion: African Methodist Episcopal Family: Single Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Supports the DREAM Act and immigration reform Supports abortion rights Supports alternative sources of energy Supports gun safety laws House Committee on Energy and Commerce House Committee on Ethics House Committee on Small Business Yvette Clarke (D) Votes: 214,189 Percent: 92.4% Sources: National Journal Almanac, Ballotpedia 2016; plaskett.house.gov, 2017.

13 Congressman Jerry Nadler Democrat Jerrold Nadler, first elected in 1992, is among the House s most outspoken liberals, with a strong civil libertarian bent. Nadler was born in Brooklyn and moved around with his family as a child. Interested in politics from a young age, Nadler campaigned for Democrat Eugene McCarthy for president while at Columbia University, where he roomed with Dick Morris, who would later become a top adviser to President Bill Clinton. After getting his law degree from Fordham University, Nadler ran for the New York Assembly in 1976, at age 29. In the House s Nadler s leftward leanings are evident in his open fondness for the New Deal. He said Republicans have been misguided in cutting social programs and in letting large corporations such as Exxon Mobil pay little or nothing in taxes. He considers the periodic vote to raise the debt ceiling a form of GOP blackmail, and in January 2013 embraced the trillion-dollar coin idea, which had bubbled up from economic blogs. As the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee s Constitution Subcommittee, Nadler has been a counterweight to lawmakers of both parties seeking expanded police powers to crack down on terrorism. For more than a decade now, Nadler has been involved in post-september 11 issues. In late 2010, he helped steer into law a long-delayed measure providing more than $4 billion in compensation to first responders suffering health problems. Right after the attacks, he helped provide $20 billion for rebuilding, and he spearheaded numerous actions on behalf of affected families and small businesses. 10 Elected: 1992 Education: Columbia U., B.A., 1970; Fordham U., J.D., 1978 Religion: Jewish Family: Married (Joyce), 1 child Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Strongly supports a rail-freight tunnel under the Hudson to mean cheaper freight to New York and lower consumer prices Strongly supports a high-speed passenger rail Strongly opposed the USA PATRIOT Act Strongly favors expanded Obamacare Strongly opposes military expansion Opposes expanded free trade House Committee on the Judiciary Jerry Nadler (D) Votes: 192,371 Percent: 78.1% Philip Rosenthal (R) Votes: 53,857 Percent: 21.9% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017; Jerrold Nadler, Ballotpedia, 2017.

14 Congressman Daniel Donovan Republican Daniel Donovan represents Staten Island and parts of South Brooklyn in the 11th Congressional District of New York. Donovan was elected on May 5, 2015 during a special election against Democrat Vincent Gentile, where he won 58.9% of the vote. He grew up on Staten Island, the only son of two working class parents. True to his modest upbringing, he worked his way through school. Donovan earned his bachelor s degree in criminal justice from St. John s University and his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law as an evening student. He began his career as a prosecutor under Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau. After leaving the DA s office, Donovan began serving his native Staten Island as chief of staff to former Borough President Guy Molinari, then as deputy borough president to former Borough President James Molinaro. In 2003, he was elected Richmond County district attorney, beginning 12 years of service in that office. During his tenure, he earned the Diversity Champion Award from the New York City Bar Association and was elected president of the New York State District Attorney s Association. He won the special election held in 2015 to fill the seat that became vacant after the resignation of Republican Michael Grimm, and won re-election in Elected: 2015 Education: St. John s U., B.S., 1978; Fordham U., J.D., 1988 Family: Single Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Opposes government shutdown Supports funding the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control Opposes spending cuts to national defense Supports private enterprise and tax cuts House Committee on Foreign Affairs House Committee on Homeland Security Daniel Donovan (R) Votes: 142,934 Percent: 61.6% Richard Reichard (D) Votes: 85,257 Percent: 36.7% Sources: National Journal Almanac, Ballotpedia 2016; Donovan.house.gov, 2017.

15 Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney Democrat Carolyn Maloney, first elected in 1992, is known for her forceful efforts on behalf of women and consumers and is one of the most prolific legislators on Capitol Hill. Maloney has a mostly liberal voting record. She is a senior member of the Financial Services Committee, where she has been a leading voice on banking issues. She had a hand in crafting Dodd-Frank in 2010, working with Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., to achieve a compromise on interchange fees charged on consumers debit cards. A leader of the Women s Caucus, Maloney drew national attention in February 2012 for walking out of an Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on contraception and religious protection after pointing out its all-male witness list. What I want to know is, where are the women? she asked. She also blasted GOP efforts to bar funding for Planned Parenthood and prenatal care. When conservatives that year removed expanded protections for lesbians and Native Americans in a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, Maloney called it as chilling and callous as anything I have seen come before this Congress in modern times. Earlier, she demanded that the Food and Drug Administration permit over-the-counter sales of morning-after birth-control pills, and she opposed separating men and women in basic training in the military. 12 Elected: 1992 Education: Greensboro Col., A.B., 1968 Religion: Presbyterian Family: Widow, 2 children Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Supports LGBT rights Supports stricter gun control measures Supports abortion rights Supporter of Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform bill Supporter of campaign finance reform House Committee on Financial Services House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Carolyn Maloney (D) Votes: 244,358 Percent: 83.2% Robert Ardini (R) Votes: 49,399 Percent: 16.8% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017; Ballotpedia, 2017.

16 Congressman Adriano Espaillat Adriano Espaillat was born on September 27, 1954 in Santiago, Dominican Republic. He graduated from Bishop Dubois High School in New York City in 1974 and graduated Queens College with a B.S. in political science in Shortly after graduating, Adriano Espaillat completed postgraduate courses in public administration at New York University and the Rutgers University Leadership for Urban Executives Institute. Early on in his career in public service, Espaillat was involved in legal affairs, serving as a court services coordinator at the NYC Criminal Justice Agency and later on becoming a certified resolution mediator for the Washington Heights Inwood Conflict Resolutions and Medication Center. In the 1990s, he served on Community Planning Board 12, as director of the Washington Heights Victims Services Community Office, and as the director of Project Right Start, a national initiative designed to combat substance abuse by educating parents of pre-k students. In 1996, Espaillat ran for New York State Assembly and defeated 16-year incumbent John Murtaugh making him the first Dominican-American elected to a state legislature. In 2002, he was elected chair of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus. In 2010, Espaillat ran for New York State Senate and defeated Assemblyman Guillermo Linares. After incumbent Charles Rangel decided not to run for reelection, Espaillat filed to run for Congress where he beat eight Democratic challengers with 36% of the vote. He later went on to win the general election, beating Republican nominee Tony Evans with a vote of 89% to 7%. 13 Elected: 2016 Education: Queens U., B.S., 1978 Family: Married (Marthera), 2 children Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Favors expanding Obamacare Strongly favors prioritizing green energy Strongly opposes vouchers for school choice Strongly opposes privatized Social Security Favors strong regulation of the fracking industry at the federal level House Committee on Small Business House Committee on Education and the Workforce House Committee on Foreign Affairs Adriano Espaillat (D) Votes: 207,194 Percent: 88.8% Tony Evans (R) Votes: 16,089 Percent: 6.9% Sources: Adriano Espaillat, Adriano Espaillat, 2016; New York Senate, About Adriano Espaillat, 2016; Ballotpedia, Adriano Espaillat, 2017; National Journal Almanac, 2017.

17 Congressman Joseph Crowley Joseph Crowley, an ambitious and garrulous Democrat first elected in 1998, grew up in Woodside, where his family was involved in politics. Tom Manton was the 7th District incumbent and he filed for reelection by the July 16 deadline. At 11 a.m. on July 21, he convened a meeting of Queens Democratic committeemen, announced that he was retiring, and got them to vote in Crowley as the Democratic nominee. Once elected, Crowley voted as a centrist Democrat. He was the freshman Democrats class president that year. Over time, he changed his position from opposing abortion rights to favoring them, a stance in line with the party. Since Republicans reclaimed control of the House, he has been much more of a loyalist; he was the 55th most liberal House member in 2012, according to National Journal rankings. Fundraising is one Crowley's chief duties. By August 2014, his political action committee had raised nearly $1 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. He concentrated his attention on freshmen lawmakers in tough reelection races. For a time, he also held sway as the head of the New Democrat Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats. Crowley sought to work more closely with the leadership than the often-confrontational Blue Dog Coalition. He has not faced serious opposition at election time. 14 Elected: 1998 Education: CUNY Queens Col., B.A., 1985 Family: Married (Kasey), 3 children Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Has been an active proponent for immigration Has worked with Republicans to gain approval of bilateral free trade agreements Has evolved from pro-life to pro-choice in recent years in respect to abortion House Committee on Ways and Means Joseph Crowley (D) Votes: 147,587 Percent: 82.9% Frank Spotorno (R) Votes: 30,545 Percent: 17.1% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017; Ballotpedia, 2017.

18 Congressman José Serrano Democrat José Serrano, who won his seat in a 1990 special election, is known for his jesting about everything from Republicans to his thick mustache. But he gets serious in going against his party when he considers it important for his district among the country s poorest or his native Puerto Rico. A native of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, he grew up in the Mill Brook project in Mott Haven. After serving in the Army, he worked at a bank and as a school administrator. Serrano moved up while other Bronx politicians fell by the wayside because of corruption. He was elected to the New York Assembly in 1974 and chaired its Education Committee. In 1985, he ran for Bronx borough president, bucking the Democratic organization, and nearly won. Then in January 1990, U.S. Rep. Robert García of the South Bronx resigned and paved the way for Serrano s election to the House. Serrano once described himself as being to the left of the left, and he has one of the most liberal voting records in the House. He has long championed legislation to repeal the 22nd Amendment to allow presidents to serve more than two terms in office. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, he focuses on bringing as much federal money as he can to his economically struggling district. He chaired its Financial Services Subcommittee when the Democrats controlled Congress and is now its ranking Democrat. 15 Elected: 1990 Education: Lehman Col., B.A., 1961 Family: Divorced, 5 children Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Opposed the bailout for the financial industry Supported cleaning up the Bronx River Supports a two-step process on Puerto Rico s status, and applauded the territory s vote to become a state Supports Latino immigrants House Committee on Appropriations José Serrano (D) Votes: 165,688 Percent: 95.3% Alejandro Vega (R) Votes: 6,129 Percent: 3.5% Sources: National Journal Almanac, Ballotpedia 2016.

19 Congressman Eliot Engel Democrat Eliot Engel, elected in 1988, has remained popular at home by relentlessly staying on top of constituent service and working on issues of interest to his district s foreign-born and low-income residents. In 2013, he became the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, where he made his name as the backer of downtrodden ethnic groups. Engel s once strongly liberal voting record has become more moderate in recent years, especially on foreign policy. On Foreign Affairs, he took over the top Democratic slot from California s Howard Berman, who was unseated in Engel is limited in what he can accomplish in the minority on the panel, which has a far lower profile than its Senate counterpart. But he has forged a good working relationship with California Republican Ed Royce, the committee's chairman and another staunch supporter of Israel. They issued numerous joint news releases and appeared on CNN together in September 2014 to call for greater action against the Islamic State after the group released a video depicting the beheading of an American hostage. On the Energy and Commerce Committee, Engel has worked on a wide range of subjects, from climate change to cell phone theft. He was among a bipartisan group of lawmakers who sponsored a 2009 measure requiring half of all new cars sold in U.S. by 2012 to be flex-fuel vehicles capable of burning any combination of ethanol, methanol, and gasoline. 16 Elected: 1988 Education: Hunter-Lehman Col., B.A., 1969; CUNY Lehman Col., M.A., 1973; NY Law School, J.D., 1987 Religion: Jewish Family: Married (Patricia), 3 children Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Supported the Economic Stimulus Act and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act under Obama Opposes cuts to Social Security Supports gun control legislation Supports abortion rights House Committee on Energy and Commerce House Committee on Foreign Affairs Sources: Ballotpedia, 2017; National Journal Almanac, Eliot Engel (D) Votes: 209,857 Percent: 94.7% Derickson Lawrence (PCC) Votes: 11,825 Percent: 5.3%

20 Congresswoman Nita Lowey Democrat Nita Lowey is a formidable insider among House Democrats. She is a close and persuasive ally of Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and in December 2012 became the first woman to serve as the Appropriations Committee s ranking Democrat. Lowey was born in the Bronx, and after graduating from Mount Holyoke College with a degree in marketing, she moved to Queens, where she became a homemaker raising three children. She first got involved in politics when her neighbor, Mario Cuomo, got Lowey to help out in his campaign for lieutenant governor. He lost that race but was appointed New York secretary of state and hired Lowey as his assistant in In the House, Lowey s voting record is liberal, although she is moderate on foreign policy. She has been a strong advocate of aid to Israel and voted for the 2002 Iraq war resolution. Her ties to Pelosi were evident when she beat out Marcy Kaptur of Ohio for the ranking Democratic slot on Appropriations, despite Kaptur s seniority. Lowey also has clout with the Obama administration. Her former staff director on Appropriations, Rob Nabors, served as White House director of legislative affairs and later became President Obama s deputy chief of staff. Lowey thought about a Senate bid in 2000, but deferred to first lady Hillary Clinton. Her party loyalty and avid fundraising led to her appointment to chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for the 2002 election. That year, the GOP s six-seat gain was a disappointment to Lowey, who bowed out of the chairmanship. In 2008, she was mentioned as a possible successor to Clinton, but the plum went to Democratic Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand. 17 Elected: 1988 Education: Mt. Holyoke Col., B.A., 1959 Religion: Jewish Family: Married (Stephen), 3 children, 8 grandchildren Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Avid supporter of the National Endowment for the Arts Advocate for biomedical research and increase spending on cancer research at the NIH Supports increased funding for international family planning Supports regulations on Wall Street and helped pass Dodd-Frank House Committee on Appropriations Nita Lowey (D) Votes: 214,530 Percent: 100% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017; Ballotpedia, 2017.

21 Congressman Sean Maloney First elected in 2012, Sean Patrick Maloney describes himself as a Bill Clinton Democrat. He worked as a staffer on both of Clinton s presidential campaigns, served as a top West Wing aide, and is now his former boss s representative in Congress. Clinton s brand of centrism and his endorsement helped the 46-year-old lawyer win his first bid for elected office. He attended Georgetown University for two years and then transferred to the University of Virginia, where he studied international relations and stayed on to earn a law degree. Maloney delayed taking the bar exam to work on Clinton s 1992 campaign as a deputy to Susan Thomases, then the chief scheduler. In 1996, he joined the reelection campaign, this time as director of surrogate travel. When Clinton won a second term, Maloney became the No. 3 official under Chief of Staff John Podesta. Maloney later ascended to the job of staff secretary, responsible for coordinating the flow of information to the president. In 2006 he ran, and lost badly, to Andrew Cuomo in the primary race for New York attorney general. In 2007, Maloney was tapped to serve in a senior role as first deputy secretary in the administration of New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer and, later, that of his successor, David Paterson. Maloney worked to raise revenues by leasing state assets to private companies. In 2012, Maloney challenged former Rep. Hayworth (NY) and got the attention of the national party. The DCCC and independent super PACs put money behind his campaign. Hayworth outraised Maloney, but Maloney eked out a win, 52% to 48%. Maloney has three adopted children with his longtime partner, Randy Florke. 18 Elected: 1998 Education: U. of VA, B.A., 1988, J.D., 1992 Family: Married (Randy), 3 children Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Supports pro-choice legislation Supports gun-control legislation Favors a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants Favors government funding for the development of renewable energy House Committee on Agriculture House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Sean Maloney (D) Votes: 162,077 Percent: 56.0% Phil Oliva (R) Votes: 129,383 Percent: 44.0% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016; Ballotpedia, 2016.

22 Congressman John Faso John Faso was born on August 25, 1952 in Massapequa, New York. Attending high school in Queens, Faso graduated in 1970 and went on to study at the State University of New York at Brockport. Following graduation, Faso worked as a Nassau County grants officer, before attending Georgetown University Law Center from 1976 to Faso then worked as a congressional staffer for Representative John Wydler (R- NY) from 1978 until 1981, in the New York State Senate Office in Washington from 1981 to 1983, and then as a commissioner for the New York State Legislature Bill Drafting Commission for three years. Faso also worked as counsel at Rapport, Meyers, Whitbeck, Shaw and Rodenhausen, and ran successfully for New York State Assembly in 1986, representing the 102nd district, a seat he would hold until In 1998, Faso became minority leader, and in 2002 he gave up his seat to run for state comptroller, but lost to Democrat Alan Hevisi. In 2003, he became a member of the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority and partner at Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, also lobbying the federal government in Washington, D.C. In 2006, Faso won the Republican nomination for New York governor, but lost in the general election to Elliot Spitzer. He also ran in the 2009 special election to fill Sen. Kristen Gillibrand s seat for representative of the 20th district of New York, but withdrew before the Republican primary. Faso won the Republican nomination for the 19th district congressional race in New York against Andrew Heaney, receiving incumbent Rep. Chris Gibson s endorsement. 19 Elected: 2016 Education: SUNY Brockport, B.A., 1974; Georgetown U., J.D., 1979 Family: Married (Mary), 2 children Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Opposes a federal assault weapons ban Supports repealing and replacing Obamacare Supports lowering taxes Opposes the use of US ground troops in Syria Opposed a measure enabling safe access to abortion clinics House Committee on the Budget House Committee on Agriculture House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure John Faso (R) Votes: 166,180 Percent: 54.0% Zephyr Teachout (D) Votes: 141,231 Percent: 46.0% Sources: Brian Tumulty, Marijuana legalization among issues in Teachout-Faso debate, Poughkeepsie Journal, October 14, 2016; Ballotpedia, 2017; Vote Smart, 2016; National Journal Almanac, 2017.

23 Congressman Paul Tonko Democrat Paul Tonko, first elected in 2008, came to Congress with an extensive background in energy issues and parlayed his expertise into a seat on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee. The grandson of Polish immigrants, Tonko was born in the old mill town of Amsterdam, N.Y., where he still lives. His working-class background gave him an appreciation for the underdog that remains the underpinning of his political beliefs. In 1974, at age 26, he became the youngest person ever elected to the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors. He became board chairman in Tonko won a seat in the New York Assembly in a 1983 special election and served for nearly a quarter century. When Democratic Rep. Michael McNulty decided against seeking an 11th term in 2008, Tonko got into the contest to succeed him. Tonko won the general election easily against Republican challenger Jim Burhmaster. He has focused on the issue he knows best: energy policy. Shortly after joining the Energy and Commerce Committee in late 2012, he was appointed as ranking Democrat on the panel s Environment and the Economy Subcommittee, where he is at the vanguard of defending against frequent GOP attacks on the Environmental Protection Agency. In 2011, he sponsored an amendment to a spending bill seeking to protect the EPA s authority to regulate carbon emissions. On other issues, Tonko worked to expand low-income children s access to healthy meals and to improve engineering education in schools. His efforts to rein in pay for government contractors have won him some attention. 20 Elected: 2008 Education: Clarkson U., B.S., 1981 Family: Single Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Strong supporter of investments in renewable energy Supports EPA carbon and methane emission regulations in order to combat climate change Seeks to rein in government contract pay Supports the Affordable Care Act Opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership House Committee on Energy and Commerce Paul Tonko (D) Votes: 213,021 Percent: 67.9% Francis Vitollo (R) Votes: 100,738 Percent: 32.1% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016; Ballotpedia, 2016.

24 Congresswoman Elise Stefanik Republican Elise Stefanik defeated Democrat Aaron Woolf in the 2014 open contest to succeed retiring Democratic Rep. Bill Owens. Not only was the race a top GOP pickup opportunity; it also elevated Stefanik -- the youngest woman ever elected to Congress -- as a rising young Republican star. Born and raised in Albany, Stefanik grew up among entrepreneurs, with both parents running a wholesale plywood business. She became politically engaged during her college years at Harvard, and upon graduating in 2006, she landed a job with the Bush administration's Domestic Policy Council. She then went on to work in the White House chief of staff's office, and later joined Tim Pawlenty's 2012 presidential campaign. After Pawlenty withdrew, she stayed involved in the 2012 contest, working for Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin after Mitt Romney named him his running mate. After Owens announced his retirement in 2013, she proclaimed her House bid and secured the backing of the National Republican Congressional Committee's "Young Guns" initiative, which supports new talent. In September, she posted a 13-point lead in a nonpartisan poll, with Green Party candidate Matt Funicello draining some support from Woolf. That split between liberal and centrist voters persisted through October, and Stefanik was able to pull away on Election Day. 21 Elected: 2014 Education: Harvard U., B.A., 2006 Family: Married (Matthew) Contact: (202) Cannon House Office Voted in favor of the Iran nuclear deal Voted in favor of Export-Import bank reform Voted in favor of prohibiting abortions after 20 weeks Voted in favor of the American Health Care Act to repeal the Affordable Care Act House Committee on Education and the Workforce House Committee on Armed Services House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Elise Stefanik (R) Votes: 177,886 Percent: 65.3% Mike Derrick (D) Votes: 82,161 Percent: 30.2% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017, Ballotpedia, 2017.

25 Congresswoman Claudia Tenney Claudia Tenney was born February 4, 1961 in New Harford, New York. Her father, John Tenney, was a New York State Supreme Court justice. She received her undergraduate degree from Colgate University before pursuing a law degree at the University of Cincinnati. She began her career with the Consulate General of Yugoslavia, where she served as an intermediary between ABC Sports and the Yugoslavian government leading up to the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. In 1996, she started the Tenney Media Group and served as its publisher and corporate counsel. Tenney is also the moderator of a radio television show called Common Cents. In 2010, she began her career in politics after winning election to the 115th Assembly District, which covers parts of Oswego and Oneida Counties. She won reelection in 2012 to the newly formed 101st District. In 2014, she ran for Congress in New York s 22nd District and was narrowly defeated by the incumbent. 22 Elected: 2016 Education: Colgate U., B.A., 1983; U. of Cincinnati, J.D., 1987 Religion: Presbyterian Family: Divorced, 1 child Contact: (202) Cannon House Office Supports the second amendment Opposes Obamacare Opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership Supports pro-life legislation Opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants Supports lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth House Committee on Financial Services Claudia Tenney (R) Votes: 129,444 Percent: 46.5% Kim Myers (D) Votes: 114,266 Percent: 41.1% Sources: Ballotpedia, 2017; National Journal Almanac, 2017.

26 Congressman Tom Reed Republican Tom Reed was elected in 2010 to fill the unexpired term of Democrat Eric Massa, who resigned amid allegations of inappropriate sexual contact with his staff. Reed was born in Joliet, IL, the youngest of 12 children. Reed ran successfully in 2007 for mayor of Corning. In July 2009, Reed announced that he would challenge Massa, believing that the Democrat was vulnerable in the Republican-leaning district. The race was turned on its head in March 2010, when Massa abruptly resigned the seat amid allegations from male staff members that he had inappropriately touched them during social events. Potential top-tier candidates such as former Rep. Randy Kuhl, who had been ousted by Massa in 2008, opted not to run, leaving Reed unchallenged for the Republican nomination. Because there were a few weeks remaining of Massa s term, Reed was sworn in in November for the remainder of the 111th Congress ( Despite his centrist tendencies, he stuck with his party on major legislation and impressed House leaders by getting colleagues to sign a letter supporting free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. In June 2011, Reed got a prized seat on Ways and Means, rare for a freshman, and later that year was one of the six GOP members chosen to be a conferee in the payroll tax cut negotiations. On local issues, Reed added an amendment to the House-passed fiscal 2013 energy and water spending bill to increase money for cleanups at sites such as his district s West Valley Demonstration Project, a former nuclear fuel reprocessing facility. 23 Elected: 2010 Education: Alfred U., B.A., 1993; OH Northern U., J.D., 1996 Family: Married (Jean), 2 children Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Strongly opposes expanding Obamacare Favors vouchers for school choice Favors expansion of the military Voted in favor of the export-import bank reauthorization Voted in favor of the Protecting Cyber Networks Act House Committee on Ways and Means Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017; Tom Reed, Ballotpedia, Tom Reed (R) Votes: 161,050 Percent: 57.6% John Plumb (D) Votes: 118,584 Percent: 42.4%

27 Congressman John Katko Katko retired from the Justice Department in January to challenge Maffei, a former congressman who briefly lost his seat in the 2010 GOP wave and earned it back in 2012 albeit with just 49 percent of the vote (President Obama received 57 percent in the district. Katko drew substantial media attention when he noted that Maffei and his wife had their baby in a D.C. hospital, a question that the congressman said was "out of bounds. As in past campaigns, Maffei emphasized his moderate stripes and nonideological pragmatism. He also criticized Obama's handling of the Ebola situation in the United States and declared his unhappiness with the administration over its handling of the conflict in Syria. Maffei and Democrats tried to poke holes in Katko's record as a prosecutor, criticizing him for his handling of a local mayor's sexoffender case as well as for an incident involving a gun that was stolen from Katko in 2000 and used in a robbery that left two people dead. Katko complained that such campaign attacks "destroyed my character. But he overtook his opponent in polls in the race s final week and snared the endorsement of local digital paper Syracuse.com, which said Maffei's performance in office has been "steady but uninspiring... It's time to give someone else a chance." 24 Elected: 2014 Education: Niagara U., B.A., 1984; Syracuse U., J.D., 1988 Family: Married (Robin), 3 children Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Wants to replace Obamacare Opposes amnesty and in-state tuition for illegal aliens Supports Israel in the Israel-Palestine conflict Supports a ban on late-term abortions House Committee on Homeland Security House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure John Katko (R) Votes: 182,761 Percent: 60.6% Colleen Deacon (D) Votes: 119,040 Percent: 39.4% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016.

28 Congressman Brian Higgins Democrat Brian Higgins, elected in 2004, devotes his energies to reviving the Buffalo area s economy, from working to get money for a new federal courthouse to securing grants to help the local wine industry. A political junkie, he launched his career in government with staff jobs in the Erie County sheriff s office, the state Assembly and the county legislature. In 1993, after six years on the Buffalo City Council, he ran for county comptroller and lost. In 1998, he was elected to the Assembly and served three terms. In a district crowded with unionized workers, Higgins often reminded voters that his father and uncle were bricklayers and stressed his Irish immigrant heritage. A House seat unexpectedly opened up in 2004, when Republican Rep. Jack Quinn announced he was retiring after 12 years. Higgins was the favorite in the primary and won with 44% of the vote. Higgins won the general election against Republican Nancy Naples 51%-49%, about a 3,800-vote victory. In the House, Higgins established a centrist voting record with a liberal bent on economic issues, helped set up a national cancer trust fund and pushed for money for Buffalo s Roswell Park Cancer Institute. He helped to broker an agreement with the New York Power Authority for local financial aid, including waterfront improvements, in exchange for its long-term right to operate the Niagara Power Project. 26 Elected: 2004 Education: SUNY Buffalo, B.A., 1984, M.A., 1985; Harvard U., M.P.A., 2002 Religion: Catholic Family: Married (Mary Jane), 2 children Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Supports infrastructure investment Opposes tax cuts for the wealthy Opposed federal efforts to demand reports from gun dealers on sales of multiple semi-automatic rifles, but after the Newton massacre he supports the reform of gun control laws House Committee on the Budget House Committee on Ways and Means Sources: National Journal Almanac, Ballotpedia Brian Higgins (D) Votes: 215,289 Percent: 74.6% Shelly Shratz (R) Votes: 73,377 Percent: 25.4%

29 Congressman Chris Collins Republican Chris Collins, a self-made multimillionaire, won election to the House in 2012 by defeating Democratic Rep. Kathy Hochul in a closely contested battle. Democrats attacked Collins as a cold-hearted tycoon, but his promises to bring business sensibilities to Washington ultimately carried the day. He graduated from high school in Hendersonville, N.C., then went on to earn a bachelor s degree in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State and a master s in business administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He got a job with Westinghouse in Buffalo, and when Westinghouse approached Collins about taking over its plant, where he already was the general manager of the industrial gear division, he agreed. He ran the Nuttall Gear Corp. from 1983 to 1997, when he sold it. Former Rep. Bill Paxon of New York, a Republican House leader in the 1990s, persuaded Collins to get into politics. Collins lost a race in 1998, but 10 years later, in 2007, New York Republicans again tapped Collins, this time to run as Erie County executive. He ran as an independent on a platform of business know-how and won with 64% of the vote. He lost the position in 2011, when Democrats ran a challenger against him in the heavily Democratic county. Collins said his experience at the county level inspired him to head to Washington, where he said he hoped to apply his budget experience. As the 2012 election approached, Republicans were eager to unseat Hochul, and Collins jumped into the race. He beat Hochul, 51% to 49%. 27 Elected: 2012 Education: NC St. U., B.S., 1972; U. of AL, M.B.A., 1975 Family: Married (Mary Sue), 3 children, 3 grandchildren Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Opposes expansion of the Affordable Care Act Supports absolute right to gun ownership Opposes abortion rights Opposes higher taxes on the wealthy Opposes green energy initiatives Opposes pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens Favors privatized social security House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chris Collins (R) Votes: 220,885 Percent: 67.2% Diana Kastenbaum (D) Votes: 107,832 Percent: 32.8% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016; Ballotpedia, 2016.