Adriano Espaillat

Adriano Espaillat, a member of the Democratic Party representing New York's 13th Congressional District, was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016 and assumed office on January 3, 2017. Born in Santiago, Dominican Republic, he immigrated to the United States with his family at age nine and lived for a period as an undocumented immigrant before obtaining legal residency. He earned a B.S. in political science from Queens College in 1978 and pursued postgraduate studies at New York University and Rutgers University. Prior to entering elective office, Espaillat worked as a coordinator for the New York City Criminal Justice Agency and directed community programs focused on victim services and substance abuse prevention in Washington Heights. Espaillat's legislative career began in 1996 with his election to the New York State Assembly, where he served until 2010. He then served in the New York State Senate from 2011 to 2016, where he was a ranking member of the Housing, Construction, and Community Development Committee. Upon entering Congress, he became the first Dominican-American and the first formerly undocumented person to serve in the U.S. House. In the House, he has served on the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and he has held leadership roles including chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Representative Espaillat's policy positions are focused on immigrant rights, social equity, and economic stability for working-class families. On healthcare, he views access as a fundamental right, supporting the Affordable Care Act while also cosponsoring 'Medicare for All' legislation. His immigration platform includes advocating for comprehensive reform, protecting 'Dreamers,' and opposing aggressive enforcement measures like family separation. Economically, he supports raising the federal minimum wage, increasing investments in affordable housing, and implementing tax policies that target high-income earners and corporations. Regarding the environment, he is a cosponsor of the Green New Deal and has proposed legislation to fund international efforts to limit global warming. In foreign policy, he emphasizes diplomacy and human rights, particularly within the Western Hemisphere and the Caribbean.