Adriano Espaillat

Adriano Espaillat
Born	Adriano de Jesús Espaillat Rodríguez 27 9, 1954
Birthplace	Santiago, Dominican Republic
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Title	Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Known for	First Dominican American elected to the United States Congress
Education	Queens College (BS)
Children	2
Website	[https://espaillat.house.gov/ Official site]

Adriano de Jesús Espaillat Rodríguez (born September 27, 1954) is a Dominican-American politician serving as the U.S. representative for New York's 13th congressional district since January 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Espaillat holds the distinction of being the first Dominican American and the first formerly undocumented immigrant to serve in the United States Congress. Before his election to Congress, Espaillat served in the New York State Assembly representing the 72nd district from 1997 to 2010, and in the New York State Senate representing the 31st district from 2011 to 2016. His congressional district encompasses the neighborhoods of Marble Hill, Inwood, Washington Heights, Hamilton Heights, Manhattanville, Morningside Heights, East Harlem, and the Upper West Side in Manhattan. Since January 2025, Espaillat has served as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, a role through which he has advocated on immigration policy and Latino representation in government.

Early Life

Adriano Espaillat was born on September 27, 1954, in Santiago, the second-largest city in the Dominican Republic. He immigrated to the United States as a young man and initially lived in the country as an undocumented immigrant before later obtaining legal status and eventually becoming a U.S. citizen. His personal immigration experience would go on to shape much of his political career and advocacy on behalf of immigrant communities.

Espaillat settled in New York City, where he became part of the growing Dominican diaspora community concentrated in the neighborhoods of northern Manhattan, particularly Washington Heights and Inwood. These neighborhoods, which would later form the core of his political constituency, became home to one of the largest Dominican populations outside of the Dominican Republic itself. Espaillat's trajectory from undocumented immigrant to elected official has been cited as emblematic of the immigrant experience in American political life.

Education

Espaillat pursued higher education in New York City, earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Queens College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. His connection to the CUNY system has remained a feature of his political career; in 2026, Espaillat, along with U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, secured $5.1 million in federal funding for The City College of New York, another CUNY institution, for infrastructure and environmental research purposes.

Career

New York State Assembly (1997–2010)

Espaillat began his career in elected office in 1997 when he won a seat in the New York State Assembly, representing the 72nd district. He succeeded John Brian Murtaugh in the seat and served seven terms in the Assembly, spanning from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2010. During his tenure in the Assembly, Espaillat focused on issues affecting immigrant communities and worked on housing, education, and labor legislation.

As an Assemblyman, Espaillat was involved in the work of the Assembly's Committee on New Americans, reflecting his interest in immigration policy and the integration of immigrant populations into New York civic life. His years in the Assembly established him as a prominent figure in Dominican-American politics and in the broader political landscape of northern Manhattan.

New York State Senate (2011–2016)

In 2010, Espaillat successfully ran for the New York State Senate seat in the 31st district, succeeding Eric Schneiderman, who had been elected New York Attorney General. He assumed office on January 1, 2011.

In the State Senate, Espaillat served as a ranking member of the Senate Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee, a role that allowed him to advocate for tenants' rights and affordable housing in New York City. He also chaired the Senate Latino Caucus, serving as a key voice for Latino legislators in Albany.

One of Espaillat's early legislative priorities in the Senate was tenant protection and rent regulation. As a freshman senator, he advocated for strengthened rent regulation laws to protect tenants from rent increases, an issue of central importance to his constituents in northern Manhattan, where housing affordability was a persistent concern.

In June 2011, Espaillat was among a group of Latino politicians who called on the New York State Legislature in Albany to pass marriage equality legislation, aligning himself with the push to legalize same-sex marriage in New York State.

In September 2012, Espaillat faced a primary challenge from Guillermo Linares for his State Senate seat and won reelection. He won reelection again in 2014, defeating challenger Robert Jackson by a slight majority.

Espaillat served in the State Senate until December 31, 2016, when he resigned to take his seat in Congress. He was succeeded in the 31st Senate district by Marisol Alcantara.

Congressional Campaigns Against Charles Rangel

Before winning his congressional seat, Espaillat twice challenged longtime incumbent Charles Rangel in the Democratic primary for New York's 13th congressional district.

2012 Primary

In 2012, Espaillat mounted his first challenge against Rangel, who had represented the district since 1971. The race attracted national attention as Rangel was seen as more vulnerable than in previous cycles due to a congressional censure he had received in 2010 for ethics violations. The primary was closely contested, and the final results were subject to scrutiny and questions about the performance of the New York City Board of Elections. Rangel ultimately prevailed, and Espaillat conceded defeat.

2014 Primary

Espaillat challenged Rangel again in the 2014 Democratic primary. Once again, Rangel defeated Espaillat, though the margin remained competitive. Following his second primary loss, Espaillat indicated that he would focus on his reelection to the State Senate in Albany.

U.S. House of Representatives (2017–present)

2016 Election

In 2015, Rangel announced that he would not seek reelection, opening the seat for the first time in over four decades. Espaillat entered the 2016 Democratic primary and won the nomination. Given that the district has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+32, making it one of the most Democratic districts in the country, winning the Democratic primary was tantamount to winning the general election. Espaillat won the general election and was sworn in as a member of the 115th United States Congress on January 3, 2017, becoming the first Dominican American to serve in Congress.

Congressional Tenure

In Congress, Espaillat has represented his district on issues including immigration reform, affordable housing, infrastructure investment, and healthcare access. His congressional record reflects the priorities of his diverse, predominantly Latino constituency in upper Manhattan.

Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus

On January 3, 2025, Espaillat assumed the role of Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), succeeding Representative Nanette Barragán of California. In this capacity, Espaillat has taken a prominent role in advocating for Latino communities on immigration, civil rights, and government oversight matters.

In November 2025, Espaillat released a 10-point immigration oversight and protection plan through the CHC, providing guidance for nonprofits, grassroots organizations, and local governments in response to what the caucus described as violations of sensitive locations policies during immigration enforcement operations.

In February 2026, as CHC Chair, Espaillat hosted Fernando Hernández García as his guest at the State of the Union address. Hernández García was the brother of a 10-year-old U.S. citizen who had been deported while undergoing treatment for a rare form of brain cancer, a case that drew national attention to immigration enforcement policies affecting families with medical emergencies.

Federal Funding and Appropriations

Espaillat has worked to secure federal funding for institutions and infrastructure projects in his district and the broader New York area. In 2026, he and U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer secured $5.1 million in funding for The City College of New York, directed toward infrastructure fundamentals and Environmental Protection Agency-related research.

Diplomatic Engagement

In November 2025, Espaillat accompanied New York Governor Kathy Hochul on a diplomatic trip to the Dominican Republic. The delegation, which included government and community leaders, traveled to Santiago and Santo Domingo to strengthen economic, climate resilience, and diplomatic relations between New York and the Dominican Republic. During the trip, they met with Dominican President Luis Abinader and other government officials. The visit underscored Espaillat's continued role as a liaison between the Dominican diaspora in New York and the government of his country of birth.

Political Endorsements

Espaillat has been active in endorsing candidates in elections both within and outside his own district. In May 2025, he endorsed former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral race through the Coalition for Community Concerns. In January 2026, as CHC Chair, he endorsed Analilia Mejia in the race for New Jersey's 11th congressional district.

2026 Primary Challenge

In November 2025, community organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier, who had been involved in the Columbia University encampment protests, launched a primary challenge against Espaillat for the 2026 Democratic primary. Her candidacy was backed by Justice Democrats, the progressive political organization that had previously supported Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's successful 2018 primary challenge against incumbent Joe Crowley.

Personal Life

Espaillat was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic, and immigrated to the United States, where he initially lived as an undocumented immigrant before obtaining legal status and citizenship. He settled in New York City and has been a longstanding resident of the northern Manhattan neighborhoods he represents. He has two children.

Espaillat has maintained close ties to the Dominican Republic throughout his political career. His November 2025 trip with Governor Hochul to Santiago and Santo Domingo reflected his ongoing engagement with the Dominican diaspora and his role as a bridge between the Dominican-American community in New York and the Dominican government.

Legacy

Espaillat's election to Congress in 2016 marked a historic milestone in American politics as the first Dominican American and first formerly undocumented immigrant to serve in the United States Congress. His career trajectory—from undocumented immigrant to state legislator to member of Congress—has been viewed as representative of the political maturation of the Dominican-American community, particularly in New York City, where Dominicans constitute one of the largest immigrant groups.

Over the course of his political career spanning nearly three decades in elected office, Espaillat has served as a leading political figure in northern Manhattan's Dominican-American community. His tenure in the New York State Assembly, the New York State Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives has been characterized by advocacy for affordable housing, tenants' rights, immigration reform, and the interests of Latino and immigrant communities.

As Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus beginning in 2025, Espaillat has assumed a national leadership role in Latino politics at a time of heightened debate over immigration enforcement in the United States. His 10-point immigration oversight and protection plan and his use of the CHC platform to highlight individual deportation cases reflect his continued focus on immigration policy as a central element of his public service.