Sean Patrick Maloney | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| United States Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development | |
| In office April 2, 2024 – January 20, 2025 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Jack Markell |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Chair of theDemocratic Congressional Campaign Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Cheri Bustos |
| Succeeded by | Suzan DelBene |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's18th district | |
| In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Nan Hayworth (redistricted) |
| Succeeded by | Pat Ryan (redistricted) |
| White House Staff Secretary | |
| In office September 14, 1999 – January 20, 2000 | |
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Phillip Caplan |
| Succeeded by | Lisel Loy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1966-07-30)July 30, 1966 (age 59) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Georgetown University University of Virginia (BA,JD) |
Sean Patrick Maloney (born July 30, 1966) is an American attorney and politician who served as theU.S. ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development from 2024 to 2025. He previously served five terms as theU.S. representative fromNew York's 18th congressional district from 2013 to 2023.
Maloney campaigned as a moderate and was a member of the centristNew Democratic Coalition while serving in Congress.[1][2] He is the first openly gay person elected to Congress fromNew York State. He served as chair of theDemocratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2021 to 2023. In2022, he lost re-election inNew York's 17th congressional district to RepublicanMike Lawler.[3]
Maloney was born on July 30, 1966, inSherbrooke,Quebec, Canada, to American parents.[4] His father's job as alumberjack had temporarily brought them to Canada. Maloney grew up inHanover, New Hampshire. He was raised with his six siblings in what he describes as a "smallIrish Catholic family".[5][6] Maloney graduated fromHanover High School in 1984.[7]
After attendingGeorgetown University for two years, Maloney transferred to theUniversity of Virginia, graduating with aBachelor of Arts ininternational relations in 1988.[6] He then spent a year volunteering withJesuit priests in the slums ofChimbote,Peru,[4][5] after which he returned to the U.S. and attended theUniversity of Virginia School of Law, graduating with aJuris Doctor in 1992.[5]
In 1991, Maloney began working onBill Clinton'sfirst campaign for president as deputy to chief schedulerSusan Thomases. In Clinton's 1996reelection campaign Maloney worked as Director of Surrogate Travel.[6] After Clinton was reelected, Maloney was offered a position in theWhite House staff and served as a senior advisor andWhite House Staff Secretary from 1999 to 2000, among the youngest to serve in that capacity.[8][9]
Following the killing of gayUniversity of Wyoming studentMatthew Shepard, Maloney was one of two representatives Clinton sent to his funeral. In an article about the event, a newspaper noted that Maloney often called himself "the highest-ranking openly homosexual man on the White House staff".[5][8]
Maloney ran for the Democratic nomination forNew York Attorney General in 2006. According toGay City News, his "competitive fundraising and wide travels across the state during the past year have impressed many party professionals with the seriousness of his run."[10][11] During the campaign, Maloney was endorsed by the New-York-state-basedgay rights organizationEmpire State Pride Agenda andKaren Burstein, the first lesbian to run for attorney general, in 1994.[12]
Consistently polling in the single digits, Maloney was offered a chance to run for the office on theLiberal Party ticket but declined, saying he would support whoever won the Democratic nomination.[13] Maloney finished third in the September 12 primary, with 9.4% of the vote. FormerU.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentAndrew Cuomo won. In his concession speech, Maloney said, "[T]his day may not be the outcome we hope, but I make you a promise that there will be another day."[14]
In June 2018, Maloney again sought the Democratic nomination forattorney general of New York. He also sought re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Maloney indicated that, had he won the primary, he would have run for attorney general and ended his House re-election bid.[15]
In the Democratic primary for attorney general, Maloney finished third. New York City Public AdvocateLetitia James, who was endorsed byGovernor Andrew Cuomo, won.[16]Zephyr Teachout, a law professor endorsed bySenator Bernie Sanders[17] andThe New York Times, finished second.[18] Maloney was endorsed byBeto O'Rourke, among other public figures.[19]
Maloney joinedGovernorEliot Spitzer's administration in January 2007 as First Deputy Secretary under top adviserRich Baum.[20]
TheEliot Spitzer political surveillance controversy (popularly known as "Troopergate") broke out on July 23, 2007, when Cuomo's office admonished Spitzer's administration for ordering theState Police to create special records ofSenate Majority LeaderJoseph Bruno's whereabouts when he traveled with police escorts in New York City.[21] ANew York Times editorial suggested that Maloney might have been involved by withholding emails during the investigation,[22] and theTimes endorsed Maloney's 2012 election opponent because of its concerns about Maloney's handling of the investigation.[23]The Wall Street Journal wrote in July 2012, "[G]enerally, those involved in the investigation on both sides defend Mr. Maloney's conduct. Mr. Cuomo's chief of staff at the time, Steve Cohen, called the idea that Mr. Maloney got in the way of the Attorney General's inquiry 'misinformed to the point of being laughable.'"[24]
Maloney continued in the same role as a top adviser to GovernorDavid Paterson's administration under his top adviser,Charles O'Byrne.[25] While working for Paterson, Maloney worked on Paterson's effort to increase state aid to education.[26] On December 3, 2008, Maloney announced that he would leave Paterson's office to join the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis.[27]
From 2000 to 2003, Maloney served aschief operating officer ofKiodex, Inc.[28] He was a senior attorney at the law firmWillkie Farr & Gallagher, during which time he represented theMatthew Shepard Foundation.[29] Maloney became apartner in the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in 2009. In March 2011 he joined the law firmOrrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe as a partner.[24] He is currently a Senior Advisor at the MarTech startup, Applecart.[30]
In March 2012, Maloney announced his intention to run for Congress in the 18th district. The district had previously been the19th, represented by freshman RepublicanNan Hayworth. Maloney won the Democratic primary on June 26 with 48% of the vote against four other challengers.[31] In addition to the Democratic Party line, Maloney also ran on theWorking Families Party ticket with New York'sfusion voting.[32]
Maloney drew criticism for buying a house in Cold Spring before the election, never having previously lived in the district.[33]
Maloney was endorsed by Bill Clinton,[34]The New York Times,[35]Planned Parenthood, theAFL–CIO andNew York State United Teachers (NYSUT).[36][37]
During thegeneral election campaign, Maloney campaigned as amoderate.[1][38] One issue in the campaign was whether the candidates would vote to repeal theDefense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Hayworth was considered more progressive on gay rights than most Republicans, but did not explicitly say whether she would vote to repeal; instead, Hayworth opined that New York law allowing same-sex marriage made it a settled issue. Maloney criticized Hayworth for taking this position.[39] On Election Day, Maloney defeated Hayworth, 52–48%. In his victory speech, Maloney said, "I think people want change in Washington. They're tired of the fighting and the bickering."[40] Maloney is the first openly gay person to be elected to Congress from New York.[39]
Maloney ran for reelection in 2014, again facing Hayworth.[41][42] He was a member of theDemocratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Frontline Program, designed to help protect vulnerable Democratic incumbents in the 2014 election.[43] Maloney lost the Independence Party primary to Hayworth, but defeated her in the general election by under 3,000 votes, with 84,415 votes (47.58%) to Hayworth's 81,625 (46.01%).[44]
Maloney ran for reelection in 2016. Fellow Democrat Diana Hird announced her intention to challenge him in the primary election on June 28, 2016, but failed to obtain the necessary number of signatures and file a petition to get on the ballot in time.[45][46][47] Maloney handily defeated Republican Phil Oliva, with 162,060 votes (55.6%) to Oliva's 129,369 (44.4%).[48]
In June 2018, Maloney became the Democratic nominee for reelection to the House. He was also a candidate for the Democratic nomination forattorney general of New York, finishing third.[16] Maloney stated that had he won the primary for attorney general, he would have ended his House re-election bid.[15]
Remaining on the ballot for the House election, Maloney defeated Republican James O'Donnell, an Orange County legislator,[49] with 139,564 votes (55.5%) to O'Donnell's 112,035 (44.5%).[50]
Maloney was reelected in 2020, with 54.8% of the vote to Republican nominee Chele Farley's 43.2%.[51] On the day Maloney began his new term in Congress, January 3, 2021, he became chair of theDemocratic Congressional Campaign Committee.[52]
Following redistricting, Maloney's residence was located in the 17th district, which was represented by DemocratMondaire Jones.[53] In 2022, Maloney chose to seek election in the 17th district rather than his longtime 18th district. According toCity & State, “Jones was forced to make a choice with no great options. Run a primary against Maloney – powerful, experienced, with tons of money. Run a primary against Rep. Jamaal Bowman – a fellow Blackprogressive lawmaker [in the 16th district into which Jones’ home was now located]. Or not run at all.”[54] Maloney's decision to seek election in the 17th district "angered many within his party" and "was considered controversial given Maloney’s role as the chair of the House Democrats’ campaign arm was to boost incumbents and protect the Democrats’ majority in the lower chamber".[55] According toThe Hill, Maloney's decision "infuriated Jones and his allies, particularly those in the Congressional Black Caucus, who accused Maloney of putting his own political survival over the interests of the party".[56] Jones chose not to challenge Maloney. Instead, on May 20, 2022, Jones announced that he would seek election in the10th district in New York City.[57]
In 2024, sources from the Mondaire Jones campaign reported that Maloney had actually offered to withdraw from the race and hand the district to Mondaire, but the offer was denied by Mondaire Jones, who had polled againstJamaal Bowman inNew York's 16th congressional district.[58]
Displeased with Maloney's decision to seek election in the district represented by Jones, progressive[59] state Sen.Alessandra Biaggi opted to run against Maloney in a Democratic primary.[60] Maloney defeated Biaggi by a wide margin.[61] After the primary, Biaggi endorsed Maloney in the 2022 general election.[62]
During the campaign, Maloney relied heavily on his accomplishments through his time in Congress, including his work on addressing climate change and drinking water infrastructure.[63]
Shortly before the election, Maloney claimed that voters worried about rising costs should save money by eatingChef Boyardee. Lawler and his supporters immediately denounced the remarks, claiming that it showed how elitist and out of touch with ordinary people Maloney is. The remark became a regular Republican talking point.[64]
Leading up to Election Day, Maloney visited various European cities "for gatherings billed as DCCC fundraising events". Maloney also dismissed Republican campaign spending in his district as "'lighting [money] on fire'".[65] While Maloney helped his fellow Democrats with their elections during the 2022 cycle, he eventually rushed back to his own district for last-minute campaigning once he realized that Republican AssemblymanMike Lawler might defeat him.[66]
Lawler narrowly defeated Maloney in the general election in anupset.[67][68] Lawler's victory marked "the first general election defeat for a campaign chair of either party since 1980".[55] Maloney's defeat was "a major upset"[69] and "a humiliating loss for Democrats".[70] Maloney's loss, together with other Republican wins in New York districts, helped Republicans win a majority in the House of Representatives in 2022.[71]
On January 3, 2013, Maloney was sworn into the113th United States Congress. On his second day in office, he spoke on the House floor, criticizing a delay in federalHurricane Sandy aid and urgingHouse SpeakerJohn Boehner and his colleagues to pass an aid package.[72]
After joining the"No Labels" Problem Solvers Caucus, Maloney supported the "No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013".[73] Leading up to the2013 government shutdown, he faced criticism for voting with Republicans to pass a budget that included provisions delaying the implementation of thePatient Protection and Affordable Care Act. His vote drew the ire ofLGBT groups, some accusing him of being a "Democrat in Name Only" ("DINO").[74] He has been an outspoken critic ofsequestration and the harmful effects it would have on theUnited States Military Academy atWest Point, and he sent PresidentBarack Obama andSecretary of DefenseChuck Hagel a letter asking for flexibility in his district.[75] During the shutdown, Maloney requested that his pay be withheld in solidarity with federal workers.[76]
In October 2013, the House passed the Disabled Veterans Red Tape Reduction Act with near unanimous support. The bill would allow disabled veterans to have their medical examinations performed by physicians outside theVeterans Affairs system.[77]
In July 2013, Maloney voted against theFarm Bill. The bill failed in the House due largely to the votes of eight Democratic House members who joined the Republican majority.[78]
On banking issues, Maloney voted in 2014 to repeal the section of Dodd-Frank that would prevent bank bailouts by the public.[79] He voted for the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act in 2018;[80]Elizabeth Warren nicknamed this bill the "Bank Lobbyist Act".[81] Maloney called one opponent's characterization of the latter vote "unhinged", which earned him a rebuke for making remarks that could be considered sexist.[82]
After theSupreme Courtstruck down provisions of the Defense of Marriage Act, Maloney said at a press conference that he was "no longer seen as less-than in the eyes of my country",[83] having previously faced discrimination in the House, with his partner not eligible for benefits while members' opposite-sex partners were.[84]
On April 10, 2014, Maloney introduced theHuman Trafficking Prevention Act (H.R. 4449; 113th Congress), a bill that would require regular training and briefings for some federal government personnel to raise awareness of human trafficking and help employees spot cases of it.[85][86] The bill passed the House on July 23, 2014.[87]
In July 2014, the FAA began an investigation into whether unmanned aircraft used for Maloney's wedding violated the agency's ban on drone flights. A spokesman for Maloney, who was a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's aviation subcommittee, which oversees the FAA, acknowledged that drones were hired.[88][89][90]
Maloney positioned himself as an opponent of PresidentDonald Trump and his agenda; however, he had voted in support of that agenda 23.3% of the time as of December 2019.[91] According toCity & State New York, Maloney had voted with Trump 35% of the time as of August 2018; at that time, Maloney referred to the statistic as a "bullshit metric".[92]
As of June 2022, Maloney had voted in line withJoe Biden's stated position 100% of the time.[93]
In 2021, Maloney became the first openly gay person to be elected chair of theDemocratic Congressional Campaign Committee.[94]
In March 2021, Maloney called for New York GovernorAndrew Cuomo's resignation following allegations of sexual harassment and underreporting of COVID-19 nursing home deaths.[95]
Maloney's Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act enabled the reauthorization and update of the original 2004 legislation. Hudson Valley Press wrote: "The legislation reauthorizes the Highlands Conservation Act through 2029, ensuring important work continues to preserve local lands, promote tourism, and protect wildlife and clean water sources across the region."[96] The bill included approval for $10 million a year for the next six years to protect land in the 3.5-million-acre swath of the Highlands-Appalachian Mountains running through Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and northwestern Connecticut.[97]
In June 2016, theU.S. Coast Guard released a plan to establish 10 additional anchorages betweenYonkers, New York andKingston, New York that would allow commercial vessels to anchor on theHudson River.[98] Proponents of this plan were seeking to formally codify industry practices which were already in place. Environmentalists, particularlyRiverkeeper, argued against the expansion in anchorages; arguing that the plan would lead to ships and barges using the anchorages as "long-term parking lots".[99] Residents were also concerned with increased noise and light pollution from anchored units. In 2021, Maloney-sponsored legislation banning current and future anchorage-site proposals on the Hudson was included in the Elijah E. Cumming Coast Guard Authorization Act and signed into law by President Joe Biden. Notably, Republican Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus praised Maloney, saying "This is 100 percent Sean. The congressman got this done fighting for us in Washington".[100]
On May 12, 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Maloney to becomeU.S. ambassador to theOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.[109] With bipartisan support, he was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on March 12, 2024, by a vote of 63 to 31.[110] He arrived in Paris on April 2, 2024,[111] and presented his credentials to Secretary-GeneralMathias Cormann on the same day.[112]
Maloney has been with his husband,Randy Florke, since 1992; they met in New York City, where Maloney was helping plan theDemocratic National Convention. Florke is aninterior decorator who has been featured inO, The Oprah Magazine.[113]
Maloney and Florke became engaged on December 25, 2013.[114] They married inCold Spring, New York, on June 21, 2014.[115] Maloney became the second member of Congress to legally marry his same-sex partner while in office, the first being former Massachusetts CongressmanBarney Frank in 2012.[116]
Maloney and Florke have adopted three children;[5] the family lives in Cold Spring.
Maloney isRoman Catholic.[117]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sean Patrick Maloney | 7,493 | 48.22% | |
| Democratic | Richard H. Becker | 5,036 | 32.44% | |
| Democratic | Matthew C. Alexander | 1,857 | 11.96% | |
| Democratic | Duane Jackson | 780 | 5.03% | |
| Democratic | Thomas Wilson | 356 | 2.29% | |
| Total votes | 15,522 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sean Patrick Maloney | 132,456 | 47.84% | |
| Working Families | Sean Patrick Maloney | 11,389 | 4.11% | |
| Total | Sean Patrick Maloney | 143,845 | 51.95% | |
| Republican | Nan Hayworth | 113,386 | 40.95% | |
| Conservative | Nan Hayworth | 19,663 | 7.10% | |
| Total | Nan Hayworth (incumbent) | 133,049 | 48.05% | |
| Total votes | 276,894 | 100.0% | ||
| Democraticgain fromRepublican | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | Nan Hayworth | 780 | 53.35% | |
| Independence | Sean Patrick Maloney (incumbent) | 682 | 46.65% | |
| Total votes | 1,462 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sean Patrick Maloney | 76,235 | 42.60% | |
| Working Families | Sean Patrick Maloney | 12,758 | 7.13% | |
| Total | Sean Patrick Maloney (incumbent) | 88,993 | 49.73% | |
| Republican | Nan Hayworth | 66,523 | 37.17% | |
| Conservative | Nan Hayworth | 15,714 | 8.78% | |
| Independence | Nan Hayworth | 3,423 | 1.91% | |
| Total | Nan Hayworth | 85,660 | 47.87% | |
| Independent | Scott A. Smith | 4,294 | 2.40% | |
| Total votes | 178,947 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sean Patrick Maloney | 140,951 | 48.37% | |
| Independence | Sean Patrick Maloney | 10,356 | 3.55% | |
| Working Families | Sean Patrick Maloney | 8,771 | 3.01% | |
| Women's Equality | Sean Patrick Maloney | 1,982 | 0.68% | |
| Total | Sean Patrick Maloney (incumbent) | 162,060 | 55.61% | |
| Republican | Phil Oliva | 111,117 | 38.13% | |
| Conservative | Phil Oliva | 16,968 | 5.82% | |
| Reform | Phil Oliva | 1,284 | 0.44% | |
| Total | Phil Oliva | 129,369 | 44.39% | |
| Total votes | 291,429 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sean Patrick Maloney | 126,368 | 50.23% | |
| Independence | Sean Patrick Maloney | 7,726 | 3.07% | |
| Working Families | Sean Patrick Maloney | 3,929 | 1.56% | |
| Women's Equality | Sean Patrick Maloney | 1,541 | 0.61% | |
| Total | Sean Patrick Maloney (incumbent) | 139,564 | 55.47% | |
| Republican | James O'Donnell | 96,345 | 38.29% | |
| Conservative | James O'Donnell | 14,484 | 5.76% | |
| Reform | James O'Donnell | 1,206 | 0.48% | |
| Total | James O'Donnell | 112,035 | 44.53% | |
| Total votes | 251,599 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sean Patrick Maloney | 170,899 | 50.95% | |
| Working Families | Sean Patrick Maloney | 12,914 | 3.85% | |
| Independence | Sean Patrick Maloney | 3,356 | 1.00% | |
| Total | Sean Patrick Maloney (incumbent) | 187,169 | 55.80% | |
| Republican | Chele Farley | 128,568 | 38.33% | |
| Conservative | Chele Farley | 16,530 | 4.93% | |
| Total | Chele Farley | 145,098 | 43.26% | |
| Libertarian | Scott Smith | 2,686 | 0.80% | |
| SAM | Scott Smith | 476 | 0.14% | |
| Total | Scott Smith | 3,162 | 0.94% | |
| Total votes | 335,429 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sean Patrick Maloney | 130,999 | 45.6 | |
| Working Families | Sean Patrick Maloney | 8,083 | 2.8 | |
| Total | Sean Patrick Maloney (Incumbent) | 139,082 | 48.5 | |
| Republican | Mike Lawler | 124,148 | 43.3 | |
| Conservative | Mike Lawler | 17,573 | 6.1 | |
| Total | Mike Lawler | 141,721 | 49.4 | |
| Write-in | 5,885 | 2.0 | ||
| Total votes | 286,688 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicangain fromDemocratic | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Andrew Cuomo | 404,086 | 53.52% | |
| Democratic | Mark Green | 244,554 | 32.39% | |
| Democratic | Sean Patrick Maloney | 70,106 | 9.29% | |
| Democratic | Charlie King | 36,262 | 4.80% | |
| Total votes | 755,008 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Letitia James | 608,308 | 38.53% | |
| Democratic | Zephyr Teachout | 468,083 | 29.65% | |
| Democratic | Sean Patrick Maloney | 379,099 | 24.02% | |
| Democratic | Leecia Eve | 52,367 | 3.32% | |
| Total votes | 1,578,588 | 100% | ||
{{cite web}}:Missing or empty|url= (help)
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Phillip Caplan | White House Staff Secretary 1999–2000 | Succeeded by Lisel Loy |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 18th congressional district 2013–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chair of theDemocratic Congressional Campaign Committee 2021–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 2024–2025 | Vacant |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
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| People | |
|---|---|
| Other | |