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Paul Tonko

U.S. House · NY-20 · Democrats · since 2025

also

Candidate for U.S. House · NY-20

Target Paul

Biography

Overview

Paul Tonko is a Democrat representing New York's 20th congressional district since 2013 (previously the 21st from 2009–2013). First elected to Congress in 2008 after serving 24 years in the New York State Assembly, Tonko has built a career focused on energy policy and environmental protection. An engineer by training, he previously served as president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

Career

As a state legislator, Tonko chaired the Energy Committee and sponsored Timothy's Law (2006), requiring health insurance coverage for mental health treatment, and the College Tuition Savings Program (1997). In Congress, he secured a Gulf of Mexico spill-prevention provision following the BP disaster, sponsored amendments protecting EPA carbon authority, and was instrumental in passing CHIPS and Science Act provisions in 2022. He introduced the Hudson-Mohawk Basin Act to address flooding and regional water issues.

Prior political experience

Tonko was first elected to Congress in November 2008, defeating Republican James Buhrmaster in the 21st district by a decisive margin. He has won reelection consistently: in 2010 (124,889 to 85,752 votes), 2012 against Bob Dieterich, 2014 against Jim Fischer, 2016 and 2018 against Joe Vitollo, 2020 and 2022 against Liz Joy, and 2024 against Kevin Waltz. After redistricting, his district was renumbered to the 20th in 2012 but remained solidly Democratic.

Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Ideology

Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)

Liberal
Conservative
119th Congress-0.416

Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)

−1
+1
-0.263
Source: Voteview DW-NOMINATE · 341 scored votes

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Officeholding history

TermSeatTerm datesTerminationPredecessorSuccessor
7thU.S. House NY-202025–presentIn progressPaul Tonko—
6thU.S. House NY-202023–2025Term endedPaul TonkoPaul Tonko
5thU.S. House NY-202021–2023Term endedPaul TonkoPaul Tonko
4thU.S. House NY-202019–2021Term endedPaul TonkoPaul Tonko
3rdU.S. House NY-202017–2019Term endedPaul TonkoPaul Tonko
2ndU.S. House NY-202015–2017Term endedPaul TonkoPaul Tonko
1stU.S. House NY-202013–2015Term endedKirsten E. GillibrandPaul Tonko
2ndU.S. House NY-212011–2013Term endedPaul TonkoElise M. Stefanik
1stU.S. House NY-212009–2011Term ended—Paul Tonko

Committee assignments

Current term legislation

Bills sponsored this term10

Bills cosponsored this term10

Elections

YearSeatResultVote shareField
——Pending——