Michael McMahon
Encyclopedia
Michael E. "Mike" McMahon (born September 12, 1957) is the former U.S. Representative
for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was previously a member of the New York City Council
.
The district includes all of Staten Island
, plus all or part of the Gravesend
, Bay Ridge
, Bensonhurst
and Dyker Heights
neighborhoods in Brooklyn
. He was defeated for re-election in 2010.
neighborhood on the North Shore and attended parochial schools. He graduated from New York University
in 1979, later obtaining a law degree from New York Law School
. He then worked for Democratic State Assembly members Eric Vitaliano
and Elizabeth Connelly
. He joined the staff of City Councilman Jerome X. O'Donovan
, whom he succeeded in the Council. Prior to being elected to public office, McMahon worked as a partner at O'Leary, McMahon & Spero in Staten Island.
's Sanitation Committee focusing on minimizing the use of trucks to transport garbage and also more evenly distributing the load of waste processing across the five boroughs.
and against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
in March 2010.
He was the only member of the New York City Delegation to do so, and was only one of two New York Democrats, the other being Michael Arcuri, to vote against it.
being vacated by retiring 12-year incumbent Republican
Vito Fossella
. On September 9, 2008 McMahon defeated opponent Steve Harrison in the Democratic Party primary with 75% of votes to Harrison's 25%. Earlier, on June 11, 2008, McMahon had been endorsed by the city's 12 Democratic congressmen.
The 13th is considered to be the most conservative district of the 13 that divide New York City. It is based in Staten Island, which is the base of the city's Republican Party. However, the Republicans had considerable difficulty finding a replacement for Fossella on the ballot, eventually settling on former state assemblyman Robert Straniere
. As a result, nearly all major pundits believed McMahon was almost certain to win the seat. Although Democrats have a 17-point edge in registration, the 13th is by far the most conservative district in the city. Voters are somewhat conservative on social issues and matters regarding "law and order"
, which kept Republicans in the seat for over a quarter century.
In the November election, McMahon won in a landslide, taking 61 percent of the vote to Straniere's 33 percent. With his victory, New York City's congressional delegation became entirely Democratic for the first time in 76 years. This occurred despite the fact that John McCain
narrowly carried Staten Island in the presidential election; a Democratic presidential candidate has carried Staten Island only three times since 1952.
who lost reelection in the GOP
landslide of 2010.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was previously a member of the New York City Council
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
.
The district includes all of Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, plus all or part of the Gravesend
Gravesend, Brooklyn
Gravesend is a neighborhood in the south-central section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA.The derivation of the name is unclear. Some speculate that it was named after the English seaport of Gravesend, Kent. An alternative explanation suggests that it was named by Willem Kieft for the...
, Bay Ridge
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Bay Ridge is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. It is bounded by Sunset Park on the north, Seventh Avenue and Dyker Heights on the east, The Narrows Strait, which partially houses the Belt Parkway, on the west and 86th Street and Fort Hamilton on...
, Bensonhurst
Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Bensonhurst is a neighborhood located in the southwestern part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn.-Geography:Sometimes erroneously thought to include all or parts of such neighborhoods as Bath Beach, Dyker Heights, and Borough Park, or to be defined by the streets where the concentration of...
and Dyker Heights
Dyker Heights, Brooklyn
Dyker Heights is a residential neighborhood in the southwest corner of the Borough of Brooklyn in New York City, USA. It is sandwiched among Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, and Gravesend Bay. According to the Post Office, Dyker Heights is bounded to the west by Interstate 278, to the north by Bay Ridge...
neighborhoods in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. He was defeated for re-election in 2010.
Early life, education and career
McMahon is a lifelong resident of Staten Island. He is of German and Irish heritage. He grew up in the StapletonStapleton, Staten Island
Stapleton is a neighborhood in northeastern Staten Island in New York City in the United States. It is located along the waterfront of Upper New York Bay, bounded on the north by Tompkinsville at Grant Street, on the south by Clifton at Vanderbilt Avenue, and on the west by St. Paul's Avenue and...
neighborhood on the North Shore and attended parochial schools. He graduated from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1979, later obtaining a law degree from New York Law School
New York Law School
New York Law School is a private law school in the TriBeCa neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. New York Law School is one of the oldest independent law schools in the United States. The school is located within four blocks of all major courts in Manhattan. In 2011, New York Law School...
. He then worked for Democratic State Assembly members Eric Vitaliano
Eric Nicholas Vitaliano
Eric Nicholas Vitaliano is a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York....
and Elizabeth Connelly
Elizabeth Connelly
Elizabeth A. "Betty" Connelly was a Democratic Party politician from Staten Island, New York who represented the North Shore of that community from 1973 to 2000. She was the first woman to win elective office to any district encompassing Staten Island.-Life and career:Mrs...
. He joined the staff of City Councilman Jerome X. O'Donovan
Jerome X. O'Donovan
Jerome X. O'Donovan is a former Democratic Party politician from the New York City borough of Staten Island who served in in the New York City Council representing the North Shore of that borough.-Vietnam Veteran:...
, whom he succeeded in the Council. Prior to being elected to public office, McMahon worked as a partner at O'Leary, McMahon & Spero in Staten Island.
New York City Council
McMahon served as the Chair of the New York City CouncilNew York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
's Sanitation Committee focusing on minimizing the use of trucks to transport garbage and also more evenly distributing the load of waste processing across the five boroughs.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Foreign Affairs
- Subcommittee on Europe
- Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and TradeUnited States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and TradeThe U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade is a standing subcommittee within the House Foreign Affairs Committee.-Jurisdiction:...
- Subcommittee on the Middle East and South AsiaUnited States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South AsiaThe U.S. House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia is a subcommittee within the House Foreign Affairs Committee.-Jurisdiction:The subcommittee is one of five with what the committees calls "regional jurisdiction" over a specific area of the globe...
- Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureUnited States House Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureThe U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. John Mica currently chairs the committee.-History:...
- Subcommittee on AviationUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on AviationThe Subcommittee on Aviation is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over civil aviation, including most aspects of the Federal Aviation Administration , the Transportation Security Administration, and the National...
- Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime TransportationUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime TransportationThe Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over maritime safety, security, law enforcement, and defense. Additionally, the Subcommittee exercises jurisdiction over...
- Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous MaterialsUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous MaterialsThe Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee...
- Subcommittee on Aviation
Political positions
In November 2009, McMahon voted along with 38 other Democrats against the Affordable Health Care for America ActAffordable Health Care for America Act
The Affordable Health Care for America Act was a bill that was crafted by the United States House of Representatives in November 2009. At the encouragement of the Obama administration, the 111th Congress devoted much of its time to enacting reform of the United States' health care system...
and against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
in March 2010.
He was the only member of the New York City Delegation to do so, and was only one of two New York Democrats, the other being Michael Arcuri, to vote against it.
2008
On May 28, 2008, the Staten Island Democratic Committee endorsed McMahon to run for the Congressional seat in New York's 13th Congressional DistrictNew York's 13th congressional district
New York's 13th Congressional District is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives located in New York City. It includes all of Staten Island and the neighborhoods of Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, and Gravesend in Brooklyn.A swing district, it is represented...
being vacated by retiring 12-year incumbent Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Vito Fossella
Vito Fossella
Vito John Fossella, Jr. is a U.S. Republican politician from the state of New York who formerly represented the state's 13th Congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives for six terms, from 1997 to 2009 serving as the lone Republican from New York City. Fossella, a Staten Island...
. On September 9, 2008 McMahon defeated opponent Steve Harrison in the Democratic Party primary with 75% of votes to Harrison's 25%. Earlier, on June 11, 2008, McMahon had been endorsed by the city's 12 Democratic congressmen.
The 13th is considered to be the most conservative district of the 13 that divide New York City. It is based in Staten Island, which is the base of the city's Republican Party. However, the Republicans had considerable difficulty finding a replacement for Fossella on the ballot, eventually settling on former state assemblyman Robert Straniere
Robert Straniere
Robert Alan Straniere is a Republican politician from New York City. He represented a district in Staten Island in the New York State Assembly from 1981 until 2004, serving as the Assistant Minority Leader from 1995 until 2004...
. As a result, nearly all major pundits believed McMahon was almost certain to win the seat. Although Democrats have a 17-point edge in registration, the 13th is by far the most conservative district in the city. Voters are somewhat conservative on social issues and matters regarding "law and order"
Law and order (politics)
In politics, law and order refers to demands for a strict criminal justice system, especially in relation to violent and property crime, through harsher criminal penalties...
, which kept Republicans in the seat for over a quarter century.
In the November election, McMahon won in a landslide, taking 61 percent of the vote to Straniere's 33 percent. With his victory, New York City's congressional delegation became entirely Democratic for the first time in 76 years. This occurred despite the fact that John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
narrowly carried Staten Island in the presidential election; a Democratic presidential candidate has carried Staten Island only three times since 1952.
2010
McMahon was challenged by Republican and Conservative Party nominee Michael Grimm, a former FBI Special Agent, and Libertarian nominee Tom Vendittelli. Grimm won the election, defeating McMahon. He was one of a number of freshman DemocratsDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
who lost reelection in the GOP
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
landslide of 2010.
External links
- Michael McMahon for U.S. Congress official campaign site