Jump to content

Michael McMahon

From Deep Politics Wiki


Full article adapted from Wikipedia revision 1364510061 by Wikipedia contributors. Text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting has been adapted; article text and references are retained. Snapshot imported 2026-09-25.
American politician (born 1957)
For other people named Michael McMahon, see Michael McMahon (disambiguation).

<tbody> </tbody>
Michael McMahon
District Attorney of Richmond County
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2016
Chief AssistantAshleigh J. Owens (2024-present)[1]
Preceded byDaniel Master (acting)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 13th district
In office
January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byVito Fossella
Succeeded byMichael Grimm
Member of the New York City Council
from the 49th district
In office
January 1, 2002 – December 31, 2008
Preceded byJerome X. O'Donovan
Succeeded byKenneth Mitchell
Personal details
Born (1957-09-12) September 12, 1957 (age 69)
New York City, New York, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseJudith Novellino
Children2
EducationNew York University (BA)
New York Law School (JD)
Signature

Michael E. McMahon (born September 12, 1957) is an American politician and attorney serving as the district attorney for Richmond County, which is coextensive with Staten Island. A member of the Democratic Party, McMahon is a former U.S. representative for New York's 13th congressional district, serving from 2009 until 2011, and a former member of the New York City Council.

Early life, education and career

McMahon is a lifelong resident of Staten Island. He is of German and Irish descent. He grew up in the Stapleton neighborhood on the North Shore and attended parochial schools. He graduated from New York University in 1979, later obtaining a J.D. degree from New York Law School. He then worked for Democratic State Assembly members Eric Vitaliano and Elizabeth Connelly. He joined the staff of City Councilman Jerome X. O'Donovan, whom he succeeded in the Council. Prior to being elected to public office, McMahon worked as a partner at O'Leary, McMahon & Spero law firm in Staten Island.[2] Since 1981 he is member of the student Corps Saxo-Borussia Heidelberg.

New York City Council

McMahon served as the Chair of the New York City Council's Sanitation & Solid Waste Management Committee focusing on minimizing the use of trucks to transport garbage and also more evenly distributing the load of waste processing across the five boroughs.

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

Political positions

In November 2009, McMahon voted along with 38 other Democrats against the Affordable Health Care for America Act[3] and against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March 2010.[4] He was the only member of the New York City delegation to do so, and was only one of two New York Democrats, the other being Michael Arcuri, to vote against it.

Political campaigns

2008

See also: 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New York § District 13

On May 28, 2008, the Staten Island Democratic Committee endorsed McMahon to run for the Congressional seat in New York's 13th congressional district being vacated by retiring 12-year incumbent Republican Vito Fossella.[5] On September 9, 2008 McMahon defeated opponent Steve Harrison in the Democratic Party primary with 75% of votes to Harrison's 25%. Earlier, on June 11, 2008, McMahon had been endorsed by the city's 12 Democratic congressmen.[6]

The 13th had long been considered to be the most conservative district of the 13 that divided New York City. It was based in Staten Island, which is the base of the city's Republican Party. Although Democrats have a 17-point edge in registration, its voters are somewhat conservative on social issues and matters regarding "law and order", which kept Republicans in the seat for over a quarter century. However, the Republicans had considerable difficulty finding a replacement for Fossella on the ballot, eventually settling on former state assemblyman Robert Straniere. As a result, nearly all major pundits believed McMahon was almost certain to win the seat.

Congressman McMahon attending a Coast Guard Hearing for the House Transportation Committee on February 4, 2009

In the November election, McMahon won in a landslide, taking 61 percent of the vote to Straniere's 33 percent.[7] With his victory, New York City's congressional delegation became entirely Democratic for the first time in 76 years. This occurred despite the fact that John McCain narrowly carried Staten Island in the presidential election; a Democratic presidential candidate has carried Staten Island only four times since 1936.

2010

See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in New York § District 13

McMahon was challenged by Republican and Conservative Party nominee Michael Grimm, a former FBI Special Agent, and Libertarian nominee Tom Vendittelli. Grimm won the election, defeating McMahon.[8] He was one of a number of freshman Democrats who lost reelection in the GOP landslide of 2010. In all, Democrats lost 63 seats in the 2010 Republican landslide.[9]

2015

See also: 2015 New York's 11th congressional district special election

McMahon had publicly expressed a "serious interest" for retaking his old seat, now numbered as the 11th District, in the 2015 special election to replace his successor Michael Grimm.[10] Grimm, who defeated McMahon for reelection in 2010, announced his plans to resign in January after pleading guilty to a felony tax evasion charge on December 23, 2014.[11] McMahon, however, declined to run, deciding to enter the race for Staten Island (Richmond County) District Attorney, and the Democratic nomination went to New York City Councilman Vincent J. Gentile, who was from the Brooklyn portion of the district.[12][13]

Richmond County District Attorney

In November, McMahon defeated Republican candidate Joan Illuzzi for Staten Island District Attorney.[14] In April 2024, following the resignation of former Erie County District Attorney John Flynn, McMahon was sworn in as President of the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York.[15]

Electoral history

2023

<tbody> </tbody>
2023 Richmond County District Attorney election[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael McMahon (incumbent) 20,328 93.5
Write-in 1,417 6.5
Total votes 21,745 100.0
Democratic hold

2019

<tbody> </tbody>
2019 Richmond County District Attorney election[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael McMahon (incumbent) 33,447 78.1
Independence Michael McMahon (incumbent) 8,525 19.9
Total Michael McMahon (incumbent) 41,972 98.0
Write-in 838 2.0
Total votes 42,810 100.0
Democratic hold

2015

<tbody> </tbody>
2015 Richmond County District Attorney Conservative primary[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Joan Illuzzi (write-in) 530 54.9
Conservative Michael McMahon 430 44.6
Write-in 5 0.5
Total votes 965 100.0
<tbody> </tbody>
2015 Richmond County District Attorney election[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael McMahon 20,368 48.6
Independence Michael McMahon 2,579 6.2
Total Michael McMahon 22,947 54.8
Republican Joan Illuzzi 14,181 33.8
Conservative Joan Illuzzi 4,287 10.2
Reform Joan Illuzzi 409 1.0
Total Joan Illuzzi 18,877 45.0
Write-in 83 0.2
Total votes 41,907 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

2010

<tbody> </tbody>
2010 United States House of Representatives election in New York, District 13[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael Grimm 55,822 44.0
Conservative Michael Grimm 9,204 7.3
Total Michael Grimm 65,026 51.3
Democratic Michael McMahon (incumbent) 56,412 44.5
Independence Michael McMahon (incumbent) 4,361 3.4
Total Michael McMahon (incumbent) 60,773 47.9
Libertarian Tom Vendittelli 929 0.7
Write-in 72 0.1
Total votes 126,800 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

2008

<tbody> </tbody>
2008 United States House of Representatives Democratic primary in New York, District 13[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael McMahon 12,805 75.7
Democratic Stephen A. Harrison 3,992 23.6
Write-in 128 0.8
Total votes 16,925 100.0
<tbody> </tbody>
2008 United States House of Representatives election in New York, District 13[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael McMahon 107,640 57.4
Working Families Michael McMahon 6,579 3.5
Total Michael McMahon 114,219 60.9
Republican Robert A. Straniere 62,441 33.3
Conservative Timothy J. Cochrane 5,799 3.1
Independence Carmine A. Morano 4,947 2.6
Write-in 40 0.0
Total votes 187,446 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

2005

<tbody> </tbody>
2005 New York City Council election, District 49[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael McMahon (incumbent) 15,762 62.8
Conservative Michael McMahon (incumbent) 1,248 5.0
Working Families Michael McMahon (incumbent) 751 3.0
Total Michael McMahon (incumbent) 17,761 70.8
Republican Jody Hall 7,333 29.2
Write-in 2 0.0
Total votes 25,096 100.0
Democratic hold

2003

<tbody> </tbody>
2003 New York City Council election, District 49[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael McMahon (incumbent) 10,035 62.2
Conservative Michael McMahon (incumbent) 1,097 6.8
Total Michael McMahon (incumbent) 11,132 69.0
Republican Lisa Giovinazzo 4,607 28.6
Independence John Johnson 390 2.4
Write-in 1 0.0
Total votes 16,130 100.0
Democratic hold

2001

<tbody> </tbody>
2001 New York City Council Democratic primary, District 49[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael McMahon 4,937 38.9
Democratic Debi Rose 4,767 37.6
Democratic Jon R. Del Giorno 2,987 23.5
Write-in 1 0.0
Total votes 12,692 100.0
<tbody> </tbody>
2001 New York City Council election, District 49[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael McMahon 14,877 46.9
Working Families Michael McMahon 1,005 3.2
Total Michael McMahon 15,882 50.1
Republican Joseph F. Cammarata 9,607 30.3
Conservative Joseph F. Cammarata 875 2.8
Right to Life Joseph F. Cammarata 408 1.3
Total Joseph F. Cammarata 10,890 34.4
Liberal Debi Rose 4,798 15.1
Green Susan K. Roecker 123 0.4
Total votes 31,693 100.0
Democratic hold

References

  1. ^ "Chief Assistant District Attorney ASHLEIGH OWENS". Richmond County District Attorney's Office. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  2. ^ "The Law Firm of John O'Leary | Staten Island, NY 10310". www.sinyclaw.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  3. ^ "Final vote results for roll call 887". clerk.house.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  4. ^ "Voting History: Rep. Michael McMahon [D, NY-13] - U.S. Congress". OpenCongress. Retrieved July 12, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ^ "the albany project:: NY-13: Staten Island Dems Nominate McMahon". Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2008.
  6. ^ Katz, Celeste (June 11, 2008). "City Congressional Dems Unite Behind McMahon". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on June 12, 2008.
  7. ^ Election Results 2008: New York The New York Times, December 9, 2008
  8. ^ "Defeated Michael McMahon thanks supporters, says he 'respects' will of voters". Staten Island Advance. November 3, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  9. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010" (PDF). U.S. House of Reps, Office of the Clerk. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  10. ^ Barkan, Ross; Jorgensen, Jillian (December 30, 2014). "Michael Grimm's Predecessor 'Seriously Thinking' About Running for Congress". The New York Observer. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  11. ^ Jorgensen, Jillian (December 23, 2014). "Michael Grimm Pleads Guilty to Felony Charge But Won't Resign". The New York Observer. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  12. ^ Colby Hamilton (February 13, 2015). "Sources: Seddio backs Colton for special election". Capital New York. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  13. ^ Rachel Shapiro (February 27, 2015). "Staten Island Democrats select Vincent Gentile as candidate for Congress". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  14. ^ Jillian Jorgensen (November 3, 2015). "Democrat Michael McMahon Wins Staten Island District Attorney Race". Observer. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  15. ^ Robert Abruzzese (April 2, 2024). "Staten Island District Attorney Installed as President of NYS District Attorneys Association". Brooklyn Eagle.
  16. ^ "00501200014Richmond District Attorney Richmond Recap.pdf" (PDF). Vote NYC. New York City Board of Elections. December 5, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  17. ^ "00501900014Richmond District Attorney Richmond Recap.pdf" (PDF). Vote NYC. New York City Board of Elections. December 3, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  18. ^ "03501900014Richmond Conservative District Attorney Richmond Recap.pdf" (PDF). Vote NYC. New York City Board of Elections. September 30, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  19. ^ "00501900014Richmond District Attorney Richmond Recap.pdf" (PDF). Vote NYC. New York City Board of Elections. November 25, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  20. ^ "10.9.1Crossover13CongressRecap.pdf" (PDF). Vote NYC. New York City Board of Elections. September 4, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  21. ^ "3.2 CrossoverDem13CongressRecap.pdf" (PDF). Vote NYC. New York City Board of Elections. September 23, 2008. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  22. ^ "0.06CrossoverCongress13 Recap.pdf" (PDF). Vote NYC. New York City Board of Elections. February 11, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  23. ^ "Richmond City Council District 49 Re-Cap.pdf" (PDF). Vote NYC. New York City Board of Elections. November 28, 2005. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  24. ^ "g2003recaps.pdf" (PDF). Vote NYC. New York City Board of Elections. December 5, 2003. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  25. ^ "F0202 2001 PRIMARY ELECTION October 11, 2001" (PDF). Vote NYC. New York City Board of Elections. October 11, 2001. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  26. ^ "2001 GENERAL ELECTION November 28, 2001" (PDF). Vote NYC. New York City Board of Elections. November 28, 2001. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
<tbody> </tbody>
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 13th congressional district
2009–2011 		Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by
Daniel Master
Acting
 District Attorney of Richmond County
2016–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by as Former U.S. Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former U.S. Representative 		Succeeded by as Former U.S. Representative
Retrieved from "https://deeppolitics.org/index.php?title=Michael_McMahon&oldid=48549"