Paul Tonko

Paul Tonko
Born	Paul David Tonko 18 6, 1949
Birthplace	Amsterdam, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Title	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Known for	U.S. Representative for New York's 20th congressional district
Education	Clarkson University (BS)
Website	[tonko.house.gov Official site]

Paul David Tonko (born June 18, 1949) is an American politician who has served as the U.S. Representative for New York's 20th congressional district since 2013, and previously represented New York's 21st congressional district from 2009 to 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, Tonko has built a lengthy career in New York public service stretching back to the early 1980s, when he first won election to the New York State Assembly. Born and raised in Amsterdam, New York, a small city in the Mohawk Valley, Tonko represented the 105th district in the State Assembly from 1983 to 2007 before briefly serving as president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). He was first elected to Congress in November 2008, succeeding retiring Representative Michael McNulty. In Congress, Tonko has focused on environmental policy, energy issues, and securing federal funding for communities in the Capital Region of New York. He serves as the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, a position he has held since 2013, overseeing and investigating the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Early Life

Paul David Tonko was born on June 18, 1949, in Amsterdam, New York, a city in Montgomery County situated along the Mohawk River in upstate New York. Amsterdam, once a center of the carpet and textile industries, had a significant population of Polish-American and Italian-American residents. Tonko is of Polish descent, a heritage he has acknowledged publicly throughout his career. He has spoken on matters relating to Poland, including delivering remarks in Congress on the 2010 Polish air disaster near Smolensk.

Tonko grew up in Amsterdam and attended local schools. His upbringing in a working-class community in the Mohawk Valley informed his later focus on issues of economic development, infrastructure, and energy policy in the region. Amsterdam's post-industrial economic challenges — including the decline of manufacturing and the attendant loss of jobs — became recurring themes in Tonko's political career as he sought to revitalize communities in his district through state and federal investment.

Education

Tonko attended Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical and industrial engineering. His engineering background distinguished him from many of his legislative colleagues and later informed his work on energy and environmental policy, both in the New York State Assembly and in Congress.

Career

New York State Assembly (1983–2007)

Tonko began his career in elected office in 1983, when he won a special election to represent the 105th district in the New York State Assembly. He succeeded Gail S. Shaffer, who had left the seat. The 105th district encompassed portions of the Capital Region, including Amsterdam and surrounding areas of Montgomery and Schenectady Counties.

Tonko served in the Assembly for nearly a quarter century, from April 1983 until June 2007. During his tenure, he rose to prominence within the Democratic conference and chaired the Assembly's Energy Committee, a role that allowed him to shape New York State's energy policy. His committee work focused on promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy development, and consumer protections related to utility costs. He also advocated for economic development initiatives in the Mohawk Valley and Capital Region, seeking state investment to address the effects of deindustrialization on communities like Amsterdam.

His long tenure in the Assembly provided Tonko with deep institutional knowledge of New York State government and established him as a recognized figure in the Capital Region's political landscape. He was succeeded in the Assembly by George A. Amedore Jr.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (2007–2008)

After leaving the Assembly in 2007, Tonko was appointed to serve as president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), a public-benefit corporation tasked with advancing energy innovation and promoting energy efficiency across New York State. In this role, Tonko oversaw programs related to clean energy research, energy efficiency standards, and the development of renewable energy sources. His engineering background and years of energy policy work in the Assembly informed his leadership at the authority.

Tonko resigned from NYSERDA in April 2008 to pursue a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives following the announced retirement of Congressman Michael McNulty, who had represented the 21st congressional district.

U.S. House of Representatives

2008 Election

Following his departure from NYSERDA, Tonko declared his candidacy for New York's 21st congressional district. The district, anchored by the city of Albany and encompassing much of the Capital Region, had been represented by McNulty, a fellow Democrat, since 1989. Tonko won the Democratic primary and subsequently won the general election in November 2008. He took office on January 3, 2009.

2010 Re-election

Tonko won re-election in 2010, defeating his Republican opponent in the 21st district. The National Journal ranked Tonko among the most liberal members of the House.

Redistricting and the 20th District

Following the 2010 census and subsequent redistricting, Tonko's district was renumbered from the 21st to the 20th congressional district, effective with the 113th Congress in January 2013. The geographic footprint of the district remained largely similar, encompassing the Capital Region. After the 2020 redistricting cycle, effective for the 118th Congress, the 20th district was redrawn to include all of Albany, Saratoga, and Schenectady Counties, as well as part of Rensselaer County.

Committee Assignments and Legislative Focus

Tonko serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, one of the most influential committees in the House of Representatives. Since 2013, he has been the highest-ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on Environment, which has jurisdiction over the authorization, oversight, and investigation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In the 119th Congress, he holds the title of ranking member of this subcommittee.

His legislative work has focused on environmental protection, energy policy, water infrastructure, and public health. In 2012, the Times Union reported on legislation introduced by Tonko aimed at expanding protections for river systems and waterways in the region.

Tonko is a member of several congressional caucuses. He has been affiliated with the Congressional Baltic Caucus, which focuses on issues related to the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. He has also been a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus, which advocates for federal support for the arts.

Environmental and Energy Advocacy

Throughout his congressional career, Tonko has been a prominent voice on environmental and climate policy within the Democratic caucus. His position on the Energy and Commerce Committee's environment subcommittee has placed him at the center of debates over EPA regulation, air and water quality standards, and climate change policy.

In February 2026, Tonko released a statement criticizing the repeal of the EPA's "endangerment finding," which had served as the legal foundation for regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. In his statement, Tonko opposed the repeal and argued for the continued regulation of emissions.

His engineering background has informed his approach to energy policy. As a former chairman of the New York State Assembly's Energy Committee and former president of NYSERDA, Tonko brought technical expertise to congressional debates over energy efficiency standards, renewable energy development, and the modernization of the electric grid.

Federal Funding and Constituent Services

Tonko has been active in securing federal funding for projects in the Capital Region. In February 2026, his office announced that he had secured more than $14 million in federal funding for local community projects in the fiscal year 2026 federal budget. The projects included infrastructure improvements, community development initiatives, and public safety investments across the 20th district.

Among the specific allocations, $2.5 million in federal funding was directed to community development and improvement projects in Schenectady County.

Trade Policy

Tonko has been involved in debates over U.S. trade policy. In 2015, the Times Union reported on Tonko's engagement with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a proposed trade agreement. A trade official made the case for the TPP in a meeting that included discussion of Tonko's views on the matter.

Immigration Policy

In January 2026, Tonko called for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), citing what he described as deadly shootings, economic damage, and violations of constitutional rights associated with the agency's enforcement actions.

In February 2026, Tonko invited an Albany immigration law expert to attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union address as his guest, drawing attention to immigration law and enforcement issues.

Foreign Policy

Tonko has weighed in on U.S. foreign policy matters. In January 2026, he released a statement opposing what he characterized as President Trump's military actions in Venezuela, calling them illegal.

Sports Betting Legislation

In October 2025, Tonko sent communications to major sports leagues urging them to support federal gambling safety standards. His office stated that the action followed recent sports betting scandals resulting from the expansion of legal sports betting across the country, and Tonko warned that a failure to act would compromise the interests of fans, players, and the integrity of sport.

Town Halls and Constituent Engagement

Tonko has maintained a practice of holding town hall meetings in his district. In February 2026, the race for New York's 20th congressional district was raised at one of Tonko's town hall events, as reported by WAMC.

Personal Life

Tonko resides in Amsterdam, New York, his hometown. He is of Polish descent. Tonko is unmarried and has maintained a relatively private personal life throughout his decades-long career in public service. He has been described as deeply connected to the communities of the Capital Region and the Mohawk Valley, maintaining his primary residence in Amsterdam rather than relocating to the Washington, D.C., area.

Political Positions

The National Journal has identified Tonko as one of the most liberal members of the U.S. House of Representatives. His policy positions have included support for environmental regulation, clean energy development, expanded infrastructure investment, federal gambling safety standards, immigration reform, and opposition to certain trade agreements. In the 119th Congress, his role as ranking member of the Environment Subcommittee positions him as a leading Democratic voice on EPA oversight and environmental policy.

Electoral History

Tonko first won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2008, representing the 21st congressional district. He was re-elected in 2010 in the same district. Following redistricting, he has represented the 20th congressional district since January 2013. Campaign finance records filed with the Federal Election Commission document his electoral campaigns dating back to his initial 2008 run.