Joseph Morelle

Joseph D. Morelle is a Democratic politician serving as the U.S. Representative for New York's 25th congressional district. A lifelong resident of Upstate New York, he was born in Utica and raised in Irondequoit. Morelle earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 1986. Before entering public office, he worked as a sales manager for a dry-cleaning business and later served as the president and CEO of MMI Technologies, a small business he founded. Morelle's political career began in the Monroe County Legislature, where he served from 1984 to 1990. He was subsequently elected to the New York State Assembly, representing the 136th district for 28 years. In 2013, he was appointed Majority Leader of the Assembly, a position he held until his transition to federal office. Morelle was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election on November 6, 2018, following the death of longtime Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. He currently serves as the Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration and is a member of the Committee on Appropriations.

Morelle's policy positions focus on expanding healthcare access, environmental protection, and social equity. He is a staunch supporter of the Affordable Care Act and advocates for lowering healthcare costs while increasing accessibility. On environmental issues, he characterizes climate change as an existential threat and supports legislation to reduce carbon emissions and invest in sustainable energy. His immigration platform includes support for comprehensive reform, such as pathways to citizenship for undocumented individuals and major reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), while opposing the construction of a border wall. Additionally, Morelle is an advocate for gun control, specifically supporting bans on assault weapons and the implementation of universal background checks. He has also been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, having helped pass the Marriage Equality Act during his tenure in the New York State Assembly.