Adriano Espaillat

Adriano de Jesús Espaillat Rodríguez (born September 27, 1954) is an American politician who has served as the U.S. representative for since 2017. He is the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, as well as the first Dominican-American and first formerly undocumented immigrant to serve in Congress. Previously, he served in the New York State Senate from 2011 to 2016 and in the New York State Assembly from 1997 to 2010; he is the first Dominican-born American elected to a state house in the United States. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

While a member of the New York State Senate, Espaillat was a ranking member of the Housing, Construction, and Community Development Committee, and chaired the Senate Latino Caucus. He represented the neighborhoods of Washington Heights, Morris Heights, Marble Hill, Inwood, Kingsbridge, and Fort George. He continues to broadly represent these neighborhoods in Congress, as well as Harlem, East Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Morningside Heights, Fordham, and part of the Upper West Side.

Espaillat was first elected to Congress in 2016, after incumbent representative Charles Rangel announced his retirement from Congress. He had previously run for the seat in 2012 and 2014, challenging Rangel in the Democratic primaries. In 2026, Espaillat lost re-nomination in the Democratic primary to democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier.

Early life and education Espaillat was born on September 27, 1954, in Santiago, Dominican Republic, to Melba (née Rodríguez) and Ulises Espaillat. His father ultimately purchased a gas station, where Espaillat assisted. As a state-certified conflict resolution mediator and volunteer with the Washington Heights Inwood Conflict Resolutions and Mediation Center, Espaillat helped resolve hundreds of conflicts.

New York State Assembly (1997–2010)

Elections Espaillat served in the New York State Assembly from 1997 to 2010. He was elected in 1996 in New York State Assembly District 72, defeating 16-year incumbent John Brian Murtaugh in the Democratic primary by 81% to 12%, after The New York Times endorsed him, writing: "Espaillat is an energetic and ambitious district leader who has a background in victim services and drug prevention, as well as an impressive grasp of neighborhood and state issues", and opined that he "holds more promise for the future". Espaillat became the first Dominican-born member of the New York State Legislature, as well as the first Dominican elected to a state house in the United States. He chaired the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus, and committees on small business and children & families.

He won again in 1998, after The New York Times endorsed him writing "Espaillat ... has made a good start in Albany and deserves more time to pursue issues of concern to his district". He won with 65% of the vote in the Democratic primary, and 92% of the vote in the general election. In 2004 he won again, this time with 92% of the vote in the general election.

In 2008, Espaillat was endorsed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who said: "Adriano has been a clear voice for our environments and against entrenched special interests and shortsighted parochial concerns. It is exactly this kind of independent leadership that we need to send back to Albany." He was also endorsed by District Council 37, New York City's largest public sector employee union. Espaillat defeated Miguel Martinez in the Democratic primary, and then Republican Bill Buran in the general election, 94% to 6%.

Tenure In the Assembly, Espaillat advocated for tenants, consumers, veterans, immigrants, and local businesses. He voted for laws encouraging the construction and preservation of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents and giving low-income day care workers the right to organize and obtain health care, and he sponsored measures to improve hospital translation services. He also established a higher education scholarship fund for relatives of the victims of American Airlines Flight 587, which crashed on November 12, 2001; many of those killed had lived in Washington Heights. Espaillat supported efforts in 2007 to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.

After a wave of assaults and murders of livery cab drivers in 2000 that left more than 10 dead, Espaillat supported legislation strengthening penalties for violent crimes against livery drivers and to enable their families to receive New York State Crime Victims Board funding. Livery cabs work in less affluent neighborhoods of New York City that typically lack access to yellow cabs. Espaillat also took legal action against power utility Con Edison after equipment failures led to a two-day blackout in Upper Manhattan in July 1999, which he alleged caused financial damage to restaurants, bodegas, and other small businesses. Con Edison subsequently agreed to invest an additional $100 million in Upper Manhattan electrical infrastructure, at no cost to ratepayers, and was required to refund customers billed for expenses related to the blackout.

New York State Senate (2011–2016)

Elections 2010

Espaillat ran for the New York State Senate District 31, located in Northern Manhattan and the Bronx, in 2010, after incumbent Eric Schneiderman announced that he was stepping down to seek election as New York Attorney General. The New York Times endorsed Espaillat, noting that he was "a 14-year Albany veteran, who has been an outspoken voice for the most crucial reform of all – an independent redistricting commission to create fairer elections in the state. If Mr. Espaillat works hard to represent this diverse district, he could become an important leader in Albany as well as a proud model for Hispanics." He was also endorsed by Mayor Bloomberg and U.S. Representative Charles Rangel.

Espaillat received more than 50% of the vote in a four-way Democratic party primary, defeating Mark Levine among others. He won the general election with more than 84% of the vote.

In 2012, Espaillat won again, defeating then-Assemblyman Guillermo Linares 62%-38% in the Democratic primary.

2014 After losing to 21-term incumbent Charles Rangel in the Democratic primary for U.S. Congress, Espaillat announced his candidacy for reelection to his New York State Senate seat, facing former city councilman Robert Jackson. He was reelected with 50.3% of the vote to Jackson's 42.7%.

Tenure

In 2011, according to the Daily News, Espaillat led the fight to safeguard and strengthen rent regulation for over 1 million affordable housing apartments that was set to expire that year.

Espaillat also helped pass legislation increasing enforcement against businesses that sell alcohol to minors. Further, he authored the Notary Public Advertising Act, to crack down on public notaries who prey on vulnerable immigrants by offering fraudulent legal services.

He voted in favor of marriage equality legislation in 2011. That same year, Espaillat sponsored a bill requiring employment agencies to prominently post information about the rights of applicants for employment, saying that many immigrants did not know to whom to turn for assistance.

In 2014, The New York Times noted about his political career: Espaillat has spent his 18 years in the State legislature mostly fighting for tenants, day-care staff and farmworkers. He has pushed for in-state tuition at public universities for undocumented children, called for a repeal of exorbitant tax breaks for expensive apartment buildings, and has strongly supported immigrants' rights. Environmental Conservation Higher Education Codes Rules Judiciary Finance Insurance

U.S. House of Representatives (2017–present) Elections 2012

In 2012, Espaillat ran in the Democratic primary for New York's 13th congressional district, in a field that included 42-year incumbent veteran Charles Rangel. The seat had long been a majority-black district, but redistricting after the 2010 census made it a 55% Hispanic-majority district. Espaillat received endorsements from among others former Bronx borough presidents Fernando Ferrer and Adolfo Carrión Jr., former congressman Herman Badillo, and New York State Senator from the Bronx Gustavo Rivera.

Rangel narrowly defeated Espaillat, receiving 44% of the vote to Espaillat's 42%. The margin of victory was fewer than 1,000 votes. Espaillat carried the Bronx portion of the district and several areas in Upper Manhattan. The election was marked by accusations that Spanish-speaking voters were either turned away at the polls or required to use affidavit ballots. The New York City Board of Elections was criticized for poor handling of the election and subsequent legal proceedings.

2014

In 2014, Espaillat ran against Rangel again. He was endorsed by The New York Times. He was also endorsed by (among others) Bronx borough president Ruben Diaz Jr., Bronx Democratic chairman Assemblyman Carl Heastie, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, former New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson, and Speaker of the New York City Council Melissa Mark-Viverito. He lost to Rangel again in the primary, this time 47.7% to 43.1%.

2016

In November 2015, Espaillat announced that he would give up his New York State Senate seat to run for Congress again. He was running for an open seat; Rangel had announced that he would not seek a 22nd term in 2016. In the Democratic primary, Espaillat narrowly defeated his nearest challenger, state assemblyman Keith L. T. Wright, with 36% of the vote. Espaillat won the general election with 89% of the vote.

When Espaillat took office on January 3, 2017, he became the first formerly undocumented immigrant ever elected to the United States Congress, and the first Dominican-American to be elected to Congress.

2018

Espaillat ran for a second term and defeated Republican Jineea Butler in the general election, winning 95% of the vote.

2020

Espaillat ran for a third term and defeated Republican Lovelynn Gwinn in the general election, winning 91% of the vote.

2022

Espaillat ran for a fourth term and was unopposed in the general election.

2024

Espaillat ran for a fifth term and defeated Republican Ruben Vargas in the general election, winning 84% of the vote.

2026

Espaillat ran for his sixth term in Congress in the 2026 United States House of Representatives elections for New York's 13th congressional district. For the Democratic nomination, he was successfully challenged by Democratic Socialist newcomer Darializa Avila Chevalier.

He was endorsed by U.S. representatives Greg Casar (TX-35), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07); New York State legislators George Alvarez, Manny De Los Santos, and Yudelka Tapia; and New York City Council members Shaun Abreu, Carmen De La Rosa, Elsie Encarnacion, Oswald Feliz, Christopher Marte, and Julie Menin (speaker of the Council).

Labor unions that endorsed Espaillat included the Communication Workers of America District 1, District Council 37, New York City Central Labor Council, New York State AFL-CIO, New York State Nurses Association, New York State United Teachers, and NYC District Council of Carpenters. Other organizations that endorsed him included AIPAC, Congressional Black Caucus PAC, Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Population Connection, and Stonewall Democratic Club of New York.

Espaillat was also supported by AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobby group that has long endorsed him, and which spent $145,000 in support of Espaillat. AIPAC-associated donors spent significantly more to oppose Avila Chevalier, although the exact amount will not be known until after the election.

2017–19 In August 2017, after the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, Espaillat and Pennsylvania Representative Dwight E. Evans introduced legislation banning Confederate monuments on federal property.

Prior to 2017, no one had attempted to be in both the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and the CHC. In the 2016 House elections, after Espaillat defeated Rangel in the Democratic primary. Espaillat, an Afro-Latino, signaled that he wanted to join the CBC as well as the CHC, but it was reported that he was rebuffed.

In March 2019, Espaillat and 29 other Democratic lawmakers wrote U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo a letter that read in part, "Since the election of far-right [Brazilian] candidate Jair Bolsonaro as president, we have been particularly alarmed by the threat Bolsonaro's agenda poses to the LGBTQ+ community and other minority communities, women, labor activists, and political dissidents in Brazil."

In December 2019, he voted for the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

2020–24

In July 2020, two Revel rideshare electric moped riders died in accidents in New York City. Espaillat wrote to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, asking New York City and New York State officials to stop Revel from operating. Revel suspended its operations in New York City. In August 2021, he called for New York City to require movie theaters, bars, and gyms to require proof of a Covid vaccination for a patron to enter, or else proof that the person had received a negative Covid-19 test result within the prior 72 hours, saying: "New Yorkers deserve to have the assurance that somebody that is next to them, in a confined area, has vaccinated themselves or has tested negative."

That same month, he again voted for the impeachment of President Donald Trump. The medal was awarded to the regiment in August 2021, in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service during World War I.

In January 2023, Espaillat introduced a resolution (H.Res.28) condemning the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, as well as committing to advancing reproductive justice and judicial reform. On February 1, 2023, Espaillat was named Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. The same month, Espaillat introduced a bill (H.R 1124) which would abolish the death penalty under Federal law.

In 2023, Espaillat introduced a bill in Congress to authorize a coin commemorating former baseball Hall of Fame player Roberto Clemente. In 2025, Espaillat co-sponsored reintroduction of the bill. The legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, and is awaiting a vote to head back to the House floor.

2025–present Since being elected to Congress, Espaillat has sought to build a network of Dominican elected officials in and around his district, frequently dubbed "The Squadriano" (a portmanteau of "Adriano" and "the Squad"). It includes among others New York City Council member Oswald Feliz. Espaillat is a member of the Vote Blue Coalition, a federal PAC created to support Democrats in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania through voter outreach and mobilization efforts.

Following his being elected to a fifth term, Espaillat was elected as the first Black chair of the CHC in November 2024. He is also Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Subsequently, Espaillat was allowed to visit the facility, and said that it was clean, but that he thought that it had been cleaned up in anticipation of his visit.

Committee assignments Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch (Ranking member) Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Committee on the Budget

Caucus leadership Congressional Hispanic Caucus, chair Latino-Jewish Caucus, co-chair Congressional Progressive Caucus Medicare for All Caucus Expand Social Security Caucus LGBT Equality Caucus Congressional Ukraine Caucus Black Maternal Health Caucus Steel Caucus

Political positions

Affordable housing Espaillat is an advocate of affordable housing. The New York City Council approved the plan in October 2025.

Guns In March 2021, Espaillat and Representative Brad Schneider proposed legislation to regulate ghost guns. This was pitched as an effort to curb gun violence.

Immigration Espaillat is an advocate for immigrant rights. The first former undocumented immigrant in Congress, Espaillat supported the American Dream and Promise Act.

He visited an immigration detention facility in Carrizo Springs, Texas, in 2021. Espaillat said that the U.S. needs to do a better job of connecting migrant children detained at the Mexico–United States border with their families.

Israel In 2019, Espaillat supported the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, which called for criminal penalties of up to $1 million for companies that support the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions Movement against Israel. In August 2019, he condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to deny Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar entry into Israel. In 2023, he voted to provide Israel with support following the October 7 attacks.

Espaillat has called for a two-state solution, and has been critical of settlement expansion. His stance on Israel and receipt of support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has received criticism from his opponent and some of her supporters during the 2026 United States House of Representatives elections.

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 Espaillat was among the 46 Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.

Personal life Espaillat lives in Inwood, Manhattan. He has two children and is a grandfather. He is a Yankees fan.

Espaillat is a Catholic but disagrees with the Church on certain issues.

Heritage Former Dominican president Ulises Francisco Espaillat was his great-grandfather.

Adriano Espaillat is second-great-grandson of military hero Pedro Ignacio Espaillat. He is – via his mother – the great-grandson of former Dominican Senate President Mario Fermín Cabral y Báez through an illegitimate daughter, which makes him a descendant of 19th-century Dominican President Buenaventura Báez.

New York State Assembly

U.S. House of Representatives