Steve Israel Bio
Steven Jay Israel (born May 30, 1958) is an American political commentator, lobbyist, author, bookseller, and former politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a U.S. Representative from New York from 2001 to 2017, representing the 2nd Congressional District until 2013 and the 3rd District from 2013 until his retirement.
Israel chaired the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2011 to 2015 and the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee from 2015 to 2017. After leaving Congress, he joined CNN as a political commentator, was appointed the inaugural director of Cornell University’s Institute of Politics and Global Affairs in 2019, and opened a bookstore in Oyster Bay, New York, in November 2021. He is also the author of two novels of political satire.
Early Life and Background
Steven Jay Israel was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Levittown on Long Island. His early years on Long Island shaped the local political interests that would later define his career in public service. He grew up in a region with a strong tradition of civic engagement, which influenced his later decision to enter politics.
Israel attended Nassau Community College and Syracuse University for one year before transferring to George Washington University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1982. His college years, split between Long Island community college, a flagship New York institution, and a major university in the nation’s capital, gave him exposure to both regional concerns and the workings of the federal government.
Path to US Politics
After earning his bachelor’s degree, Israel became a staff member for U.S. Representative Richard Ottinger, gaining firsthand experience in legislative work and constituent services. This early role in a congressional office helped him build relationships within the Democratic Party and develop a practical understanding of federal policymaking.
In 1993, Israel was elected to the town council in Huntington, New York, beginning more than two decades of service in elected office. His time on the Huntington Town Board allowed him to address local issues on Long Island and establish a track record that would support a future run for Congress. By the late 1990s, he had built the kind of regional profile and party credentials needed to compete for a federal seat.
Steve Israel Career
Early Career (1993–2000)
Israel’s political career began in earnest on the Huntington Town Board in 1993, where he served as a local council member representing a portion of Long Island. He spent the next several years working on municipal issues, building a network of supporters, and laying the foundation for a state-wide campaign.
When Representative Rick Lazio left his House seat to run for the United States Senate in 2000, Israel seized the opportunity. He was elected to succeed Lazio, receiving 48 percent of the vote and defeating Republican Joan Johnson, who received 34 percent, along with four independent candidates. The victory launched his career in the U.S. House of Representatives.
House of Representatives Breakthrough (2001–2010)
Israel took office in 2001 and was reelected seven times with relatively little difficulty, even as his district was considered a swing seat on paper. During his early terms, he was appointed Assistant Whip and later chaired the House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Defense and Military, a group of 15 Democratic House members who advised party leadership on military policy. He also voted to authorize George W. Bush to use military force in Iraq, even though more than 60 percent of his Democratic colleagues in the House voted against the resolution.
He built a reputation through fundraising and recruiting candidates for the campaign committee, and he was one of the few Democrats who ran campaign ads in defense of his vote on health care. In his second and third terms, Israel continued to expand his influence, including vocal support for a study on the feasibility of switching from Tuesday to weekend voting.
DCCC Chairman Era (2011–2015)
As an ally of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Israel was chosen in 2010 to chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, a role he held from 2011 to 2015. Pelosi’s selection was influenced by the district he represented, where Democrats held a modest registration edge but where independents often decided elections. Israel had earned respect for his fundraising and candidate-recruitment work.
Following his tenure at the DCCC, he was named chairman of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee from 2015 to 2017, helping to coordinate the party’s messaging strategy during his final years in Congress. On January 5, 2016, Israel announced that he would not seek reelection in November 2016, bringing his House career to a close at the end of the 114th Congress.
Post-Congress Era (2017–Present)
After leaving Congress in 2017, Israel joined CNN as a political commentator, offering regular analysis of national political developments. In 2019, he was appointed the inaugural director of the Institute of Politics and Global Affairs at Cornell University, where he worked with students and faculty on issues related to governance and international affairs. He has also served on the Board of Advisors for the lobbying firm Michael Best Strategies.
In November 2021, Israel opened a bookstore in Oyster Bay, New York, named after former president and town resident Theodore Roosevelt. He has also joined the Council for Responsible Social Media project launched by Issue One in October 2022, co-chaired by former House Democratic Caucus leader Dick Gephardt and former Massachusetts lieutenant governor Kerry Healey.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Israel’s career was his election to Congress in 2000 to succeed Rick Lazio, his role in steering Democratic campaign strategy as DCCC chairman from 2011 to 2015, and his decision not to seek reelection in 2016 after more than two decades in public office. He also drew national attention for authoring two novels of political satire, The Global War on Morris in 2014 and Big Guns in 2018.
Steve Israel Career Wins
Steve Israel compiled a lengthy record of electoral success, winning eight consecutive U.S. House races between 2000 and 2014, in addition to his earlier service on the Huntington Town Board beginning in 1993. He retired undefeated in his chosen races, having voluntarily stepped aside in 2016.
Congressional Election Highlights
Israel first won his House seat in 2000 with 48 percent of the vote against Republican Joan Johnson. He was then reelected seven times with relative ease, even as his district shifted from the 2nd to the 3rd Congressional District in 2013. Beginning in 2002, he also appeared on the ballot as the candidate of the Independence Party and the Working Families Party, taking advantage of New York’s fusion voting rules.
His most recent congressional victory came in 2014, after which he announced his retirement ahead of the 2016 cycle. Over the course of his tenure, Israel represented portions of northern Nassau County, Suffolk County on Long Island, and a small part of Queens in New York City.
Other Wins & Achievements
Beyond elections, Israel’s most prominent leadership wins include his selection as DCCC chairman from 2011 to 2015 and as chairman of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee from 2015 to 2017. He was also recognized with 100 percent ratings from pro-choice groups such as NARAL and Planned Parenthood, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and the Human Rights Campaign, reflecting his alignment with those organizations’ policy priorities.
Steve Israel Family
Family Background and Political Lineage
Steven Jay Israel was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in the Long Island community of Levittown. He comes from a family rooted in New York’s suburban political culture, and he has cited his own Jewish heritage when responding to criticism related to Israel. His daughters are both adults, and he has built his later career in the same Long Island region where he grew up.
Personal Life
Israel married Marlene Budd in 2003, and the couple later divorced in 2014 amid a controversial short sale of their marital home that drew media attention. In 2018, he married Cara Longworth. He is the author of two novels of political satire, The Global War on Morris (2014) and Big Guns (2018), and in November 2021 he opened a bookstore in Oyster Bay, New York, named after former president Theodore Roosevelt.