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Joe Morelle | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Ranking Member of theHouse Administration Committee | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Rodney Davis |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's25th district | |
| Assumed office November 13, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Louise Slaughter |
| Majority Leader of theNew York State Assembly | |
| In office January 1, 2013 – November 13, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Ronald Canestrari |
| Succeeded by | Crystal Peoples-Stokes |
| Speaker of the New York State Assembly Acting | |
| In office February 2, 2015 – February 3, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Sheldon Silver |
| Succeeded by | Carl Heastie |
| Member of theNew York State Assembly from the136th district | |
| In office January 1, 1991 – November 13, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Pinny Cooke |
| Succeeded by | Jamie Romeo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1957-04-29)April 29, 1957 (age 68) Utica, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | State University of New York, Geneseo (BA) |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Joseph D. Morelle (/məˈrɛli/mə-RELL-ee; born April 29, 1957)[1] is an American politician serving as theU.S. representative forNew York's 25th congressional district since 2018. ADemocrat, he was formerly a member of theNew York State Assembly representing the 136th Assembly district, which includes eastern portions of the City ofRochester and theMonroe County suburbs ofIrondequoit andBrighton. SpeakerSheldon Silver appointed him as majority leader of the New York State Assembly in January 2013 and Morelle served as acting speaker in the Speaker's absence.[2] He was elected to theUnited States House of Representatives forNew York's 25th congressional district in November 2018 following the death of longtime RepresentativeLouise Slaughter.
Morelle, who is ofItalian American heritage,[3] was born inUtica, New York, to Gilbert and Juliette Morelle. Gil was a Korean War veteran, a heating and cooling technician and a lifelongPlumbers and Pipefitters Union member. Joe and his three siblings grew up Catholic, on Vayo Street inIrondequoit, where he attendedEastridge High School.[4] He received aBachelor of Arts degree inpolitical science fromState University of New York at Geneseo[4] in 1986.[1]
In his early years, Morelle was a sales manager for adrycleaning and laundry business.[5] He got his political start working for State Senator John D. Perry as a constituent services representative in Rochester and legislative aide in Albany.[6]
Morelle, aDemocrat, made his first foray into elective politics at age 24 when he ran for a seat in the Monroe County legislature.[7] He failed to unseat the incumbent on the first try, but prevailed in the 1983 election.[8] He was reelected once before running for the New York State legislature.[9]
Morelle was first elected to the State Assembly in 1990.[4] He ran uncontested in the November 2008general election[10][11] and won the November 2010 general election with 61% of the vote.[12][13]
During his tenure in the state legislature, Morelle authored more than 200 laws, including major reforms to theworkers compensation system, laws to requirecarbon monoxide detectors in one- and two-family homes, toughen regulations governing charitable organizations, protect the elderly and infirm who live innursing homes or receivehome based health care, and raise senior citizens'real property tax exemption. He sponsored bills to exempt veterans from certain state licensing fees, protect their grave sites, and assist them with the civil service application process.[citation needed]
In January 2001, Morelle was appointed chair of the Assembly Standing Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Sports Development. He worked with area leaders to develop Rochester as a center for tourism and the arts in Western New York.[citation needed]
In addition to the Tourism Committee, Morelle's standing committee assignments included Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry; Higher Education; Local Governments; and Libraries and Education Technology. At his request, the Speaker created the Subcommittee on Manufacturing in order to give New York's manufacturing sector a greater voice in state government.[citation needed]
In 2005, Morelle issued a report, "Creating a State of Innovation: Unleashing The Power of New York's Entrepreneurial Economy", detailing New York's economic decline, particularly upstate, and offering numerous policy recommendations to reverse this years-long trend.[citation needed]
In 2005, Morelle was elected chair of the Monroe County Democratic Committee,[14] and held this position until 2014.
In 1990, an acting state Supreme Court justice ruled that Morelle fraudulently obtained several signatures on nominating petitions to qualify him for anindependent line on the 1990 ballot (New York permitscross-filing in some circumstances) during his run for the State Assembly.[6] Morelle remained on the ballot and won the election.[15] He later admitted that he allowed family members to sign the petitions for the individuals whose names appeared on them and did not personally witness the signatures, both of which are illegal.[15] In 1991 he was charged with seven misdemeanor counts of violating state election law.[15] Morelle denied intentionally violating the law, but accepted a plea bargain in which he was found guilty of two counts of disorderly conduct.[15] He was sentenced to 32 hours of community service and a $25 fine.[15] Because disorderly conduct is a violation of the law, rather than a misdemeanor or felony, Morelle's plea enabled him to avoid having a permanent criminal record as a result of the incident.[15]
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After the death of RepresentativeLouise Slaughter, Morelle announced his candidacy forNew York's 25th congressional district; he won the Democratic Party's nomination on June 26, 2018.[16] On November 6, he ran in two elections: a special election for the last two months of Slaughter's 16th term, and a regular election for a full two-year term. He won both, defeating Republican nominee Jim Maxwell.[17]
Morelle ran for reelection to a second full term, winning the Democratic primary against challenger andBrighton town councilwoman Robin Wilt.[18] He defeated the Republican nominee, businessman George Mitris,[19] in the general election.[20][21]
Morelle ran unopposed for reelection in the Democratic primary.[22] He defeated RepublicanLa'Ron Singletary in the general election, winning a third full term with 53.8% of the vote to Singletary's 46.1%.[23]
Morelle ran for a fourth term and defeated Republican Gregg Sadwick in the general election, winning 60.8% of the vote to Sadwick's 39.2%.[24]
Morelle was sworn in on November 13, 2018.
On December 2, 2024, Michael Hopkins, a congressional staffer for Morelle, was arrested after routine x-ray screens discovered 11 rounds of ammunition and several ammunition magazines in his bag. Hopkins was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of ammunition and possession of a high capacity magazine.[25]
Morelle voted withPresidentJoe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the117th Congress, according to aFiveThirtyEight analysis.[32]
In 2025, Morelle was one of 46 House Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for theLaken Riley Act.[33]
On July 7, 2024, it was reported that Morelle had expressed interest in encouraging Biden to end hisbid for re-election. This was during a call thatU.S. House minority leaderHakeem Jeffries held with the committee leaders.[34]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joseph Morelle | 16,245 | 45.63% | |
| Democratic | Rachel Barnhart | 7,003 | 19.67% | |
| Democratic | Robin Wilt | 6,158 | 17.30% | |
| Democratic | Adam McFadden | 6,103 | 17.14% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joseph Morelle | 141,290 | 58.29% | +2.10% | |
| Republican | Jim Maxwell | 101,085 | 41.71% | −2.10% | |
| Total votes | 242,375 | 100.0 | N/A | ||
| Democratichold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joseph Morelle | 147,979 | 54.81% | |
| Independence | Joseph Morelle | 4,585 | 1.70% | |
| Working Families | Joseph Morelle | 4,575 | 1.69% | |
| Women's Equality | Joseph Morelle | 2,105 | 0.78% | |
| Total | Joseph Morelle (incumbent) | 159,244 | 58.98% | |
| Republican | Jim Maxwell | 91,342 | 33.83% | |
| Conservative | Jim Maxwell | 17,781 | 6.59% | |
| Reform | Jim Maxwell | 1,613 | 0.60% | |
| Total | Jim Maxwell | 110,736 | 41.02% | |
| Total votes | 269,980 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joseph Morelle | 187,503 | 53.89% | |
| Working Families | Joseph Morelle | 14,584 | 4.19% | |
| Independence | Joseph Morelle | 4,309 | 1.24% | |
| Total | Joseph Morelle (incumbent) | 206,396 | 59.32% | |
| Republican | George Mitris | 115,940 | 33.32% | |
| Conservative | George Mitris | 20,258 | 5.82% | |
| Total | George Mitris | 136,198 | 39.15% | |
| Libertarian | Kevin Wilson | 5,325 | 1.53% | |
| Total votes | 347,919 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joseph Morelle | 136,788 | 48.88% | |
| Working Families | Joseph Morelle | 11,893 | 4.25% | |
| Total | Joseph Morelle (incumbent) | 148,681 | 53.13% | |
| Republican | La'Ron Singletary | 106,573 | 38.08% | |
| Conservative | La'Ron Singletary | 21,929 | 7.84% | |
| Total | La'Ron Singletary | 128,502 | 45.92% | |
| Total votes | 279,841 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joseph Morelle | 200,507 | 55.64% | |
| Working Families | Joseph Morelle | 18,668 | 5.18% | |
| Total | Joseph Morelle (incumbent) | 219,175 | 60.82% | |
| Republican | Gregg Sadwick | 141,195 | 39.18% | |
| Total votes | 360,370 | 100.0 | ||
Morelle lives in Irondequoit with his wife, Mary Beth.[4] They have three children.[1]
| New York State Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Majority Leader of theNew York Assembly 2013–2018 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Speaker of the New York Assembly Acting 2015 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 25th congressional district 2018–present | Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 188th | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
