Dan Maffei

Dan Maffei
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 24th district
In office
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015
Preceded by Richard Hanna
Succeeded by John Katko
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 25th district
In office
January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by James Walsh
Succeeded by Ann Marie Buerkle
Personal details
Born (1968-07-04) July 4, 1968
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Abby Davidson
Alma mater Brown University
Columbia University
Harvard University
Religion Roman Catholicism
Website House website

Daniel Benjamin "Dan" Maffei (/mʌˈfeɪ/, muf-FAY; born July 4, 1968) is an American politician who was the United States Representative for New York's 24th congressional district from 2013 to 2015.[1] Maffei previously served as the U.S. Representative for New York's 25th congressional district from 2009 to 2011. He has also worked as a senior adviser[2] at law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips.

On November 6, 2012, Maffei defeated incumbent 25th District Republican Ann Marie Buerkle in the race for the redistricted 24th, avenging his 2010 loss.[1] Maffei lost his 2014 reelection campaign to Republican nominee John Katko.[3]

Early life, education, and early career

Maffei was born in Syracuse and currently resides in Syracuse. He graduated from Nottingham Senior High School in 1986, and continued on to receive a B.A. in history from Brown University in 1990, an M.S. in journalism from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1991, and an M.P.P. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1995.[4][5]

Upon graduating from Columbia, Maffei went to work as a reporter and producer for Syracuse's ABC affiliate WSYR-TV from 1991 to 1993, and part-time reporter for WWNY-TV in Watertown from then until 1995.

Maffei was the Senior Vice President for Corporate Development at consulting firm Pinnacle Capital Management,.[6]

Early political career

Dan's career on Capitol Hill started with an unpaid internship in 1996 with New York Congressman Eliot Engel. He was hired as a press secretary for U.S. Senator Bill Bradley in 1996, then served in the same post for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan from 1997 to 1998. After working on Senator Bradley's presidential campaign from 1998 to 1999, Maffei went to work for U.S. Representative Charlie Rangel from 1999 to 2005, serving as a senior staff member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

In 2005, Maffei returned to Syracuse to coordinate the successful 2005 re-election campaign of Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll. Following his successful return, Maffei decided to make his first bid for public office, challenging popular nine-term Republican Congressman Jim Walsh. He earned the Democratic nomination and mounted the first serious challenge to Walsh in years, coming within two percentage points of defeating the incumbent. Maffei won in the City of Syracuse and the rest of Onondaga County, Walsh's home turf, as well as Monroe County.

U.S. House of Representatives (2009-2011; 2013-2015)

Elections

2008

On January 24, 2008, after Maffei had already mounted a strong opposition campaign, Walsh announced that he would not be running for an 11th term. In March, 2008, Mayor Driscoll announced he would not be running for the seat, effectively handing the nomination to Maffei. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on September 9, 2008. After it appeared he might run unopposed in the general election, on April 3, 2008, Onondaga County legislator Dale Sweetland, coming off a narrowly unsuccessful 2007 bid for Onondaga County Executive, announced that he would oppose Maffei.

Maffei was heavily favored to win the seat. In addition to rating the district as 'Leans Democratic', RealClearPolitics ranked this as the third most likely Congressional district to switch parties.[7] Going into the election, other pundits from CQ Politics, The Cook Report, and the Rothenberg Report are also ranking it as 'Lean Democrat' to 'Democrat Favored'.[8]

In May 2008, and again on June 20, 2008, the Washington Post's Chris Cillizza, author of "The Fix", ranked the race in the 25th as a near-certainty to result in a Democratic takeover.[9][10] Although Walsh had held the seat without serious difficulty until his near-defeat in 2006, the 25th had swung heavily to the Democrats at most other levels since the 1990s. Even though Republicans have a small plurality of registered voters, it hadn't supported a Republican for president since George H.W. Bush carried it in 1988. Walsh had been able to hold onto the seat due to his long tenure on the House Appropriations Committee, which made Maffei's near-victory in 2006 all the more remarkable. It is normally considered very difficult to unseat an Appropriations Committee member.

On November 4, 2008, Maffei defeated Sweetland, 55% to 42%.[11] He became the first Democrat to represent the area since 1981 (when it was the 32nd District).

2010

Republican Ann Marie Buerkle defeated Maffei on November 2, 2010 following weeks of absentee ballot counting and precinct recanvassing, in which Buerkle emerged with a 567-vote majority of over 200,000 ballots cast. Maffei conceded the race on November 23, 2010, when it became clear that challenged votes would not change the outcome of the race.[12]

Maffei had been favored to hold the seat. RealClearPolitics rated the district as 'Leans Democratic,' and other pundits from CQ Politics, The Cook Report, and the Rothenberg Report ranked it as 'Lean Democrat' to 'Democrat Favored'.[8]

Committee assignments

Past

Academic career (2011-2012)

He has been a frequent guest lecturer at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. In fall 2011 and spring 2012, he was a visiting professor of environmental studies at SUNY-ESF, where he taught a graduate seminar on the "Politics of Science and Environmental Policy".[13] Maffei is on the Board of Advisors of the Global Panel Foundation, a prominent non-partisan NGO which works behind the scenes in conflict areas around the world.

2012 congressional election

On August 24, 2011, Maffei announced his intentions to rematch Buerkle for what would become New York's 24th congressional district in the 113th Congress.[14][15] Maffei defeated Buerkle on November 6, 2012, 48% to 44% with 99% of precincts reporting.[1] Despite the race being called in Maffei's favor before midnight on Election Day, Buerkle released a statement the following morning, November 7, saying she would not concede until all ballots were counted.[16] Buerkle conceded the race on November 9, 2012.[17]

Electoral history

US House election, 2014: New York District 24, 99.67% reporting
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John Katko 112,469 59.9 +16.6
Democratic Dan Maffei 75,286 40.1 -7.6
Majority 37,183 19.8 +14.4
Turnout 187,755 100 -30.2
US House election, 2012: New York District 24, 99% reporting
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Dan Maffei 131,242 48.7 -1.1
Republican Ann Marie Buerkle 116,641 43.3 -6.9
Green Ursula Rozum 21,413 8.0 +8.0
Majority 14,601 5.4 +5.0
Turnout 269,296 100 +29.4
US House election, 2010: New York District 25
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ann Marie Buerkle 104,374 50.2 +8.0
Democratic Dan Maffei 103,807 49.8 -4.7
Majority 567 0.4 -10.4
Turnout 208,181 100 +23.4
US House election, 2008: New York District 25
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Dan Maffei 146,411 54.5 +5.3
Republican Dale Sweetland 113,358 42.2 -7.0
Green Howie Hawkins 8,855 3.3 +3.3
Majority 33,053 12.3 +10.7
Turnout 268,624 100 -22.5
US House election, 2006: New York District 25
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican James T. Walsh (incumbent) 110,525 50.8 -39.6
Democratic Dan Maffei 107,108 49.2 +49.2
Majority 3,417 1.6 -79.2
Turnout 217,633 100 +4.0

References

  1. 1 2 3 Breidenbach, Michelle (6 November 2012). "AP calls 24th Congressional District for Democrat Dan Maffei". The Post-Standard. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  2. ↑ Ho, Catherine. 2011. "Former Congressman Joins Manatt", Washington Post, July 3.
  3. ↑ "John Katko declared winner over Rep. Dan Maffei in race for Congress". syracuse.com. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  4. ↑ Maffei For Congress - About Dan
  5. ↑ "Campaign as Classroom: Dan Maffei (MPP 1995) on lessons learned" - John F. Kennedy School of Government - News
  6. ↑ Pinnacle Capital Management People
  7. ↑ Election '08: Senate, House & Governor Races
  8. 1 2 CQ Politics Projected Landscape, New York's Delegation to the U.S. House
  9. ↑ Chris Cillizza. "Friday House Line: Dems Could Gain 20 Seats", "The Fix", The Washington Post, June 6, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-06-28.
  10. ↑ Chris Cillizza. "Generic Ballot Distress for House GOP", "The Fix", The Washington Post, June 20, 2008. Retrieved on June 28, 2008
  11. ↑ http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/individual/#mapHNY/H/25 US House - New York 25 Results
  12. ↑ Goodin, Emily (2010-11-23). "Rep. Maffei concedes, GOP gains 63rd seat". The Hill. Retrieved 2010-11-23. Rep. Dan Maffei (D-N.Y.) conceded to his GOP challenger Tuesday afternoon, giving Republicans their 63rd pickup in the House.
  13. ↑ Weiner, Mark. 2011. "Former Rep. Dan Maffei accepts two new jobs," Syracuse Post-Standard, June 29. Accessed: June 24, 2012.
  14. ↑ Harding, Robert. "Green Party candidate challenging Buerkle, Maffei in 24th District". The Auburn Citizen.
  15. ↑ Weiner, Mark (August 24, 2011). "Former Rep. Dan Maffei says he's ready for rematch with Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle". Syracuse Post Standard. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  16. ↑ Breidenbach, Michelle (7 November 2012). "Rep. Buerkle released statement, has not conceded 24th Congressional District to Maffei". The Post-Standard. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  17. ↑

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
James Walsh		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 25th congressional district
2009–2011 		Succeeded by
Ann Marie Buerkle
Preceded by
Richard Hanna		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 24th congressional district
2013–2015 		Succeeded by
John Katko
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