James Skoufis

James Skoufis
James Skoufis
Skoufis in 2024
Member of the New York State Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2019
Preceded byWilliam J. Larkin Jr.
Constituency
  • 39th District (2019–2022)
  • 42nd District (2023–Present)
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 99th district
In office
January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2018
Preceded bySteve Katz
Succeeded byColin Schmitt
Personal details
Born (1987-10-18) October 18, 1987 (age 37)
Flushing, Queens, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceCornwall, New York
Alma mater
WebsiteOfficial website

James Skoufis (born October 18, 1987) is an American politician of the Democratic Party currently representing the 42nd District of the New York State Senate since 2023. Skoufis previously represented the 39th District prior to redistricting from 2019 to 2022.

Skoufis began his political career on the Woodbury town board in Orange County. In 2012 he was elected to the New York State Assembly, becoming its youngest member at 25. He was re-elected in 2014 and 2016.[1]

Background

Skoufis was born in Flushing, Queens in 1987, the son of a Greek immigrant. His family moved north to the town of Woodbury in the Hudson Valley in 1995. He graduated from Monroe-Woodbury High School in 2005. He has a bachelor's degree from The George Washington University and a masters from Columbia University.[2] Skoufis worked at an electronic security firm and was on the Woodbury Town Board.[2]

New York State Assembly

After redistricting in 2012 following the decennial census, long-time Republican Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun decided to retire, leaving the seat vacant.[3] Skoufis received the Democratic nomination for the seat, defeating Larry Delarose at the party's county convention.[4] In the November general election, he defeated Republican Goshen Mayor Kyle Roddey with 56% of the vote.[5] At age 24, he became the youngest member of the Assembly.[2]

Skoufis introduced his first two bills within a week of being sworn in; both were inspired by the aftermath of Hurricane Irene in 2011.[6] Both bills passed the Assembly a few months later.[7] Skoufis was an outspoken supporter of increasing the minimum wage.[8][9] Early in 2014, Skoufis introduced Tuition-Free NY, a proposal to make SUNY and CUNY in New York State tuition-free as long as students fulfill community service and residency requirements.[10]

New York State Senate

In 2018, longtime Senator William J. Larkin Jr. retired at age 88. He had served in the seat since 1991. Prior to Larkin's retirement, Skoufis was floated as a potential challenger. After Larkin announced his retirement, Skoufis entered the race. In a good year for Democrats, Skoufis defeated Republican Stony Point Councilman Tom Basile, 54 percent to 46 percent.[11] Democrats also took the majority in the Senate in the same election.[12]

In the Senate, Skoufis was the Chair of the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations.[13]

In 2023, Skoufis opposed plans for congestion pricing in Manhattan, citing the lack of viable transportation alternatives for his constituents. He called the congestion pricing plan "outright theft" and said he would support lawsuits to block the plan.[14]

Personal life

Skoufis has a daughter, born in 2021.[15] He has two sisters.[16]

Electoral history

New York State Assembly

New York's 99th Assembly District 2012 General Election[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James G. Skoufis 26,325 50.22%
Working Families James G. Skoufis 2,705 5.18%
Total James G. Skoufis 29,030 55.57%
Republican Kyle Roddey 19,032 36.43%
Conservative Kyle Roddey 3,265 6.25%
Independence Kyle Roddey 874 1.67%
Total Kyle Roddey 23,171 44.35%
Write-in 44 0.08%
Total votes 52,245 100%
Democratic gain from Republican
New York's 99th Assembly District 2014 General Election[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James G. Skoufis 15,672 46.04%
Working Families James G. Skoufis 2,165 6.36%
Total James G. Skoufis (incumbent) 17,837 52.40%
Republican Richard M. Cocchiara 12,365 36.33%
Conservative Richard M. Cocchiara 3,184 9.35%
Independence Richard M. Cocchiara 637 1.87%
Total Richard M. Cocchiara 16,186 47.55%
Write-in 14 0.04%
Total votes 34,037 100%
Democratic hold
New York's 99th Assembly District 2016 General Election[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James G. Skoufis 26,971 48.04%
Working Families James G. Skoufis 2,082 3.71%
Women's Equality James G. Skoufis 537 0.96%
Total James G. Skoufis (incumbent) 29,590 52.70%
Republican Colin J. Schmitt 22,178 39.50%
Conservative Colin J. Schmitt 3,284 5.85%
Independence Colin J. Schmitt 910 1.62%
Reform Colin J. Schmitt 169 0.30%
Total Colin J. Schmitt 26,541 47.27%
Write-in 16 0.03%
Total votes 56,147 100%
Democratic hold

New York State Senate

New York's 39th Senatorial District 2018 Reform Party Primary[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Reform James G. Skoufis 931 99.68%
Write-in 3 0.32%
Total votes 934 100%
New York's 39th Senatorial District 2018 General Election[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James G. Skoufis 48,267 50.50%
Working Families James G. Skoufis 1,862 1.92%
Reform James G. Skoufis 712 0.74%
Women's Equality James G. Skoufis 707 0.74%
Total James G. Skoufis 51,548 53.94%
Republican Tom Basile 34,195 35.78%
Conservative Tom Basile 5,080 5.32%
Independence Tom Basile 4,713 4.93%
Total Tom Basile 43,988 46.03%
Write-in 36 0.04%
Total votes 95,572 100%
Democratic gain from Republican
New York's 39th Senatorial District 2020 General Election[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James G. Skoufis 66,758 52.48%
Working Families James G. Skoufis 5,356 4.21%
SAM James G. Skoufis 404 0.32%
Total James G. Skoufis 72,518 57.01%
Republican Steve Brescia 48,635 38.23%
Conservative Steve Brescia 5,963 4.69%
Total Steve Brescia 54,598 42.92%
Write-in 85 0.07%
Total votes 127,201 100%
Democratic hold
New York's 42nd Senatorial District 2022 General Election[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James G. Skoufis 46,686 47.61
Working Families James G. Skoufis 3,042 3.10
Total James G. Skoufis 49,728 50.71%
Republican Dorey Houle 43,292 44.15%
Conservative Dorey Houle 5,004 5.10%
Total Dorey Houle 48,296 49.25%
Write-in 35 0.04%
Total votes 98,059 100%
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

References

  1. ^ "Election results: Skoufis wins Assembly race, Monroe Library budget approved". Photo News. November 7, 2012. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Biography". New York State Assembly. Archived from the original on November 28, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  3. ^ "NY Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun retiring". Daily Freeman. Kingston, New York. May 27, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  4. ^ Sullivan, John (March 23, 2012). "Goshen's Roddey joins list of Calhoun's opponents". Times Herald-Record. Archived from the original on November 25, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  5. ^ "Election 2012 – New York State Legislature". The New York Times. November 7, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  6. ^ "Skoufis introduces first legislation". Mid-Hudson News Network. January 5, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  7. ^ "Assembly Passes Comprehensive Sandy Insurance Reform Package to Protect Homeowners and Businesses in the Event of a Natural Disaster" (Press release). Albany, New York: New York State Assembly. June 4, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  8. ^ Gross, Hank (March 29, 2013). "State budget increases minimum wage". WAMC. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  9. ^ "New York State's Minimum Wage". New York State. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  10. ^ "The Journal News, "Editorial: Tuition-Free NY aids students and state"". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  11. ^ "Our Campaigns - NY State Senate 39 Race - Nov 06, 2018". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  12. ^ Kirby, Paul. "39th NY Senate District: Democratic Assemblyman Skoufis beats Republican Basile to take Larkin's seat". Daily Freeman. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  13. ^ "About James Skoufis". NY State Senate. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  14. ^ Bellamy, Lana (December 7, 2023). "Congestion pricing closer to reality after MTA vote". Times Union.
  15. ^ "Ava Rose Skoufis, meet the world". Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  16. ^ "James Skoufis". MIC. June 20, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  17. ^ "NYS Board of Elections Assembly Election Returns Nov. 6, 2012" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 9, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  18. ^ "NYS Board of Elections Assembly Election Returns November 4, 2014" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  19. ^ "NYS Board of Elections Assembly Election Returns Nov. 8, 2016" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 8, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  20. ^ "2018 Election Results | New York State Board of Elections". www.elections.ny.gov. Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  21. ^ "Certified Results from the November 6, 2018 General Election for NYS Senate" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  22. ^ "2020 Election Results | New York State Board of Elections". www.elections.ny.gov. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  23. ^ "2022 Election Results | New York State Board of Elections". www.elections.ny.gov. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
New York State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the New York Assembly
from the 99th district
2013–2018 		Succeeded by
New York State Senate
Preceded by Member of the New York Senate
from the 39th district
2019–2022 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the New York Senate
from the 42nd district
2023–Present 		Incumbent