Democrat · New York's 26th District · 2026
Tim Kennedy
Kennedy spent 11 years as an occupational therapist, working with children and older adults to help them recover and manage daily activities.
Biography
Tim Kennedy spent 11 years as an occupational therapist, working with children and older adults recovering from injuries.1 He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in occupational therapy at D'Youville College, now D'Youville University.1 He grew up in Buffalo with four siblings and now lives there with his wife, Katie, and their three children.1
Kennedy served in the Erie County Legislature from 2004 through 2010 and the state Senate from 2011 through 2024.2 In Albany, he chaired the Transportation Committee.1 He won the April 2024 special election to succeed Brian Higgins in Congress.2 He serves on Homeland Security and Veterans' Affairs and is the top Democrat on Emergency Management and Technology.3
In December 2024, Kennedy unveiled the SNOW Act, proposing changes to federal disaster assistance for severe winter storms.4 It would assess damage, wind speed, wind chill and household income alongside snowfall, expand access to snow removal equipment and broaden assistance for damaged public infrastructure.4
Kennedy faces Republican Dennis Hannon in November.5 His published priorities include strengthening Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, protecting reproductive rights and supporting organized labor.6 He also supports restrictions on assault weapons and military grade body armor, while opposing tariffs he argues would raise local costs and threaten jobs.6