Political Career
He first ran for the legislature in 1998, making an unsuccessful bid for the New York State Senate in the 30th district, losing the Democratic primary to Eric Schneiderman. When Assemblyman Edward C. Sullivan announced his retirement in 2002, O'Donnell was one of eight Democrats who entered the race to succeed him. In the crowded primary election held on September 10, 2002, O'Donnell won 34 percent of the vote, twice as much as his nearest competitor. In the general election that followed, he prevailed with 82 percent of the vote.
O'Donnell was the first openly gay man elected to the New York State Assembly and currently serves as one of six LGBT members of the New York Legislature, alongside Assemblymembers Deborah Glick, Micah Kellner, Matthew Titone and Harry Bronson, as well as Senator Thomas Duane. His campaigns have frequently won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.
He ran uncontested in the 2008 and 2010 general elections.
Read more about this topic: Daniel J. O'Donnell
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