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U.S. House · NY-20 · Democratic candidate · 2026

Paul Tonko

Democratic candidate for New York's 20th Congressional District

An engineer and longtime Capital Region lawmaker, Paul Tonko focuses on clean energy, addiction treatment, affordable health care and infrastructure.

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Portrait of Paul Tonko
DistrictNY-20
OfficeCongress
ElectionNov. 3, 2026

Policy priorities

Where Paul stands.

Official position

Affordable coverage and care

  • Supports strengthening the Affordable Care Act to make health coverage more affordable and accessible

Official position

Addiction treatment and recovery

  • Supports treatment on demand and Medicaid access before release from incarceration to reduce overdose risk

Campaign position

Climate action and jobs

  • Supports climate policy and clean energy investment to reduce environmental harm while creating well-paid jobs

Campaign position

Unions and living wages

  • Supports collective bargaining, the right to form a union, living wages and investment in worker skills

Campaign position

Voting access and participation

  • Supports expanding opportunities to vote legally, including access to early voting, polling places and mail voting

Campaign position

Water and transportation infrastructure

  • Supports upgrading roads, bridges, pipes and water systems to strengthen the Capital Region’s infrastructure

Record and background

Record & experience.

  1. 1976–1983

    Experience

    Montgomery County supervisor

    Served on the county Board of Supervisors.

  2. 1981

    Experience

    County Board of Supervisors chair

    Chaired Montgomery County’s Board of Supervisors.

  3. 1983–2007

    Experience

    New York State assemblymember

    Represented his community in the State Assembly.

  4. Since 2009

    Experience

    U.S. representative

    Represents the Capital Region in Congress.

  • Experience

    Public Service Commission engineer

    Worked as an engineer for New York’s utility regulator.

  • Experience

    Public works engineer

    Worked in public works engineering.

  • Experience

    State transportation agency employee

    Worked for a New York transportation agency.

  • Experience

    Assembly Energy Committee chair

    Led the committee’s work on energy policy.

  • Experience

    NYSERDA president and CEO

    Led the state energy research and development authority.

  • Accomplishment

    Expanded opioid treatment access

    Helped enact the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act, removing prescribing barriers for buprenorphine.

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