Adriano Espaillat Bio
Adriano de Jesús Espaillat Rodríguez, born on September 27, 1954, is a Dominican-American politician who has served as the U.S. representative for New York’s 13th congressional district since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Adriano Espaillat is the first Dominican American and the first formerly undocumented immigrant to serve in the United States Congress. He is recognized for his long career in New York State politics and his leadership on issues such as immigration, affordable housing, tenants’ rights, and social justice.
Before his election to Congress, Adriano Espaillat served in both the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate, where he built a reputation as a strong advocate for working-class families in Upper Manhattan. He represents one of the most Democratic districts in the country and is a leading voice in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Early Life and Background
Adriano Espaillat was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic, the son of Ulises Espaillat and Melba Rodríguez. His father was named after 19th-century Dominican President Ulises Espaillat, and the family has deep roots in Dominican history, including connections to military and political figures of the country’s past. After moving to the United States with his family in 1964, Adriano Espaillat grew up in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan.
The Espaillat family initially overstayed a tourist visa, and later became lawful permanent residents in 1965. He attended Bishop Dubois High School in New York City, graduating in 1974, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Queens College, City University of New York, in 1978. His upbringing in a vibrant immigrant community helped shape his lifelong interest in public service and the challenges facing working families.
Path to US Politics
Adriano Espaillat’s entry into public life began at the community level. He served as Manhattan Court Services Coordinator for the New York City Criminal Justice Agency, a nonprofit that provides legal services to those in need. He also volunteered as a state-certified conflict resolution mediator with the Washington Heights Inwood Conflict Resolutions and Mediation Center, helping to resolve hundreds of local disputes.
In the early 1990s, he worked as director of the Washington Heights Victims Services Community Office, supporting families affected by violent crime. From 1994 to 1996, Adriano Espaillat served as director of Project Right Start, a national initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that focused on preventing substance abuse among preschool children. These roles strengthened his reputation as a committed community advocate and prepared him for elected office.
Adriano Espaillat Career
Early Career (1996–2010)
Adriano Espaillat was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1996, defeating 16-year incumbent John Brian Murtaugh in the Democratic primary. During his time in the Assembly, he chaired the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, and led committees on small business and children and families. He passed laws encouraging the construction and preservation of affordable housing, supported day care workers’ rights to organize, and established a higher education scholarship fund for relatives of the victims of American Airlines Flight 587.
He also championed legislation to strengthen penalties for violent crimes against livery cab drivers, and pushed Con Edison to invest $100 million in Upper Manhattan electrical infrastructure following a major blackout. Adriano Espaillat’s Assembly tenure established him as a strong voice for tenants, immigrants, and small businesses across northern Manhattan.
State Senate Breakthrough (2010–2016)
In 2010, Adriano Espaillat won a seat in the New York State Senate after incumbent Eric Schneiderman launched a campaign for state attorney general. He went on to chair the Senate Latino Caucus and served as a ranking member of the Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee. His work focused on strengthening rent protections for more than one million affordable housing apartments in 2011 and cracking down on fraudulent notaries preying on vulnerable immigrants.
He also voted in favor of marriage equality legislation in 2011 and supported efforts to regulate alcohol sales to minors. While serving in the State Senate, Adriano Espaillat launched his first campaign for Congress in 2012, challenging long-serving Representative Charles Rangel in the Democratic primary. He lost that race by fewer than 1,000 votes and ran again unsuccessfully in 2014, gaining national attention for his close contests in the heavily Dominican district.
U.S. House of Representatives Era (2017–Present)
When Charles Rangel announced his retirement in late 2014, Adriano Espaillat gave up his State Senate seat and ran for Congress once more. In the 2016 Democratic primary, he narrowly defeated state assemblyman Keith L. T. Wright with 36 percent of the vote and went on to win the general election with 89 percent of the vote. He took office on January 3, 2017, becoming the first Dominican American and the first formerly undocumented immigrant to serve in the U.S. Congress.
In the House, Adriano Espaillat serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the Committee on Small Business. He has been an active member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and was appointed chair of the CHC Task Force for Transportation, Infrastructure and Housing. Following his win for a fifth term, he was elected as the first Black chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in November 2024, marking a significant milestone in his leadership career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Adriano Espaillat’s career includes several signature moments, including his 2016 primary victory that made history in American politics, his work to safeguard rent regulations for over a million New Yorkers, and his introduction of legislation banning Confederate monuments on federal property after the 2017 Charlottesville rally. He has also led efforts to support immigrant families at the southern border and has championed progressive causes such as reproductive rights, abolition of the federal death penalty, and criminal justice reform.
Adriano Espaillat Career Wins
Adriano Espaillat has won multiple elections across state and federal office, building a strong record of support in northern Manhattan and the Bronx. His electoral history reflects steady gains in a heavily Democratic district and the trust of voters who value his advocacy for immigrants and working families.
Congressional Wins
Adriano Espaillat has won five consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2017. He first won his seat with 89 percent of the vote, then defeated Republican Jineea Butler with 94.6 percent in 2018, Republican Lovelynn Gwinn with 90.8 percent in 2020, ran unopposed in 2022, and defeated Republican Ruben Vargas with 83.5 percent of the vote in 2024. His consistent victories highlight his deep support in the 13th congressional district.
Other Wins and Achievements
Before his time in Congress, Adriano Espaillat won election to the New York State Assembly in 1996 and to the New York State Senate in 2010. He was reelected to the Senate in 2012 with 50.3 percent of the vote, defeating former city councilman Robert Jackson. These state-level victories paved the way for his historic run for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Adriano Espaillat Family
Family Background and Political Lineage
Adriano Espaillat is the son of Ulises Espaillat and Melba Rodríguez. His father was named after 19th-century Dominican President Ulises Espaillat, and the family has documented ties to several important political and military figures in Dominican history, including former President Antonio Guzmán and President Danilo Medina. He is a second-great-grandson of military hero Pedro Ignacio Espaillat, and is also a descendant of former Dominican President Buenaventura Báez through his maternal line.
Personal Life
Adriano Espaillat married Martha Madera in 1979, and the couple has two children. He is also a grandfather. He lives in Inwood, Manhattan, is a practicing Catholic, and is a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. Adriano Espaillat is well known in his community as a devoted family man and a lifelong New York Yankees fan.