George Latimer

George Latimer
Born	, 1953
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Title	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 16th congressional district
Known for	U.S. Representative for New York's 16th congressional district, former Westchester County Executive

George Latimer (born 1953) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for New York's 16th congressional district. Before entering Congress, he served as the County Executive of Westchester County, New York, where he signed budgets prioritizing fiscal responsibility and vital county services. Latimer's career in public office spans more than three decades, during which he has held positions at the local, county, and state levels of New York government. A member of the Democratic Party, Latimer has built a reputation as a legislator and executive focused on infrastructure, social services, and constituent engagement across the suburban communities of the lower Hudson Valley and southern Westchester County. His transition from county government to the U.S. House of Representatives brought extensive experience in local governance to federal policymaking, where he has engaged on issues including transportation funding, food assistance programs, and foreign policy. Described by Westchester Magazine as bringing "more than 30 years of experience in public service" to his role in Washington, D.C., Latimer has remained an active and visible figure in his district, frequently appearing at community events, press conferences, and local institutions throughout the region he represents.

Career

Westchester County Executive

Prior to serving in Congress, George Latimer served as the County Executive of Westchester County, one of the most populous and affluent suburban counties in New York State. In this role, Latimer oversaw county government operations, managed budgets, and set policy priorities for a county with a diverse population spread across cities, towns, and villages in the lower Hudson Valley.

In December 2024, in one of his final acts as County Executive, Latimer signed the 2025 county budget proposal. According to an official press release from Westchester County, the budget prioritized "vital services and fiscal responsibility," reflecting Latimer's approach to county governance throughout his tenure. The signing was accompanied by a public news conference.

Latimer's transition from county executive to congressional representative was noted in regional media. Westchester Magazine profiled Latimer's move from Westchester to Washington, observing that he brought more than three decades of public service experience to his new federal role. The profile highlighted the adjustment from the hands-on, constituent-facing nature of county governance to the broader legislative responsibilities of serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Upon Latimer's departure from the County Executive office, Ken Jenkins succeeded him in the position and has continued to work alongside Latimer on shared policy concerns affecting Westchester County and the broader region.

U.S. House of Representatives

George Latimer serves as the U.S. Representative for New York's 16th congressional district, a seat he assumed after his tenure as Westchester County Executive. In Congress, Latimer has been active on a range of domestic and international issues, frequently returning to his district for public events, press conferences, and community engagement.

Transportation and Infrastructure

Transportation infrastructure has been a significant focus of Latimer's congressional work, reflecting the importance of rail and commuter transit to his suburban and urban constituents. In June 2025, Latimer joined Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins at the New Rochelle Train Station for a press conference opposing proposed cuts to Amtrak corridor funding. The two officials stood together to voice their opposition to reductions in federal funding that they argued would negatively impact commuter rail service in the Northeast Corridor, a vital transportation link for residents of Westchester County and the broader New York metropolitan area.

The joint appearance underscored the collaborative relationship between Latimer's congressional office and county-level government on issues of shared concern, particularly those affecting the daily lives of commuters who rely on rail service for employment, healthcare, and other needs.

Food Assistance and Social Services

Latimer has been vocal on issues related to food security and social services, particularly in the context of proposed federal budget changes. In August 2025, Latimer joined New York State Senator Shelley B. Mayer, representatives from Feeding Westchester, and the Carver Center in Port Chester to raise concerns about the impact of proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) contained in what they described as the "Trump Budget Bill." The coalition warned of "immediate harm" to SNAP recipients in Westchester County, highlighting the potential consequences for vulnerable populations who depend on food assistance programs.

The event, held in Port Chester, illustrated Latimer's practice of partnering with state and local officials and nonprofit organizations to draw attention to federal policy proposals that would affect his constituents. By appearing alongside Feeding Westchester, a regional food bank, and the Carver Center, a community services organization, Latimer sought to put a local face on national policy debates about the federal safety net.

Foreign Policy

Latimer has also engaged on foreign policy matters during his time in Congress. In early 2026, Latimer and fellow New York-area Representative Mike Lawler publicly clashed over the Trump administration's capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. According to reporting by Lohud, the two representatives offered "clashing views in a partisan divide" over the administration's actions. The disagreement reflected broader political divisions in the region and in Congress over U.S. policy toward Venezuela.

Community Engagement

Throughout his congressional tenure, Latimer has maintained a highly visible presence in his district, earning a description as the "peripatetic 16th District Congressman" from The Hudson Independent. In one notable appearance, Latimer visited EF Education First at its campus in Tarrytown, where he spoke to international students. According to the publication's account, Latimer told the students that "Tarrytown, not Trump, is America," offering a vision of American identity rooted in the diverse, welcoming communities of his district rather than in national political rhetoric.

This type of engagement reflects Latimer's approach to constituent relations, which draws on his long experience in local and county government. His frequent appearances at schools, community centers, transit hubs, and nonprofit organizations throughout the district demonstrate a commitment to direct, in-person interaction with the communities he represents.

Distinction from Other Notable George Latimers

The name George Latimer is shared by several notable figures in American history and politics, and care should be taken to distinguish among them.

George Latimer (escaped slave)

George Latimer (1819–c. 1896) was an enslaved man who, along with his wife Rebecca, escaped slavery in Virginia and fled to Boston in 1842. Their arrival and George's subsequent arrest by authorities ignited a major political controversy in Massachusetts that became one of the most significant fugitive slave cases of the antebellum era. According to the National Park Service, the case provoked "a storm" of public reaction and became a focal point in the national debate over slavery and the rights of freedom seekers.

The Latimer case galvanized abolitionists in Massachusetts and contributed to the passage of state laws designed to protect freedom seekers from being returned to enslavement. The political and legal ramifications of the case extended well beyond Boston, influencing the broader antislavery movement in the years leading up to the American Civil War.

George Latimer (Minnesota politician)

George Latimer (1935–2024) was an American politician and legal educator who served as the mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota, and subsequently as the dean of Hamline University School of Law (now part of Mitchell Hamline School of Law). According to Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Latimer was the longest-serving mayor in St. Paul history before stepping down from that office to lead the law school. He died in August 2024 at the age of 89.

Latimer's dual career in municipal governance and legal education made him a prominent figure in Minnesota public life. His tenure as mayor of St. Paul and subsequent leadership of Hamline University School of Law reflected a commitment to both civic administration and the preparation of future legal professionals.

George Latimer (Pennsylvania politician)

George Latimer (1750–1825) was an American politician who served as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives during the early years of the United States. His career placed him among the political leaders of Pennsylvania during the formative period of American government.

George W. Latimer

George W. Latimer (1900–1990) was a justice of the Utah Supreme Court, serving on the state's highest court during the mid-twentieth century.

Personal Life

George Latimer (the New York politician) has maintained a long personal connection to Westchester County, where he built his career in public service before transitioning to federal office. His move from Westchester to Washington, D.C., upon assuming his congressional seat was profiled by Westchester Magazine, which noted the significance of the geographic and professional shift for someone so closely identified with the county and its communities.

Latimer's public statements and community appearances suggest a deep personal identification with the suburban and urban communities of the lower Hudson Valley. His remark to international students in Tarrytown that "Tarrytown, not Trump, is America" reflected not only a political position but also a personal attachment to the character and values of his home region.

Legacy

While George Latimer (New York) continues to serve in Congress and his legacy remains in formation, his career arc from local government through county executive to the U.S. House of Representatives represents a model of progressive advancement through the levels of American government that is relatively uncommon in contemporary politics. His more than thirty years of public service, as noted by Westchester Magazine, have made him one of the most experienced public officials to represent the Westchester County area in recent decades.

The name George Latimer carries historical weight beyond the current congressman. The case of George and Rebecca Latimer, the freedom seekers who escaped slavery in 1842, remains a significant episode in the history of the abolitionist movement and is commemorated by the National Park Service as part of the broader story of American freedom and resistance to slavery. In Minnesota, George Latimer's legacy as the longest-serving mayor of St. Paul and as a legal educator continues to be honored by Mitchell Hamline School of Law and the civic community of the Twin Cities.