Steve Israel

Steve Israel, born on May 30, 1958, is an American political commentator, lobbyist, author, bookseller, and former politician. He served as a U.S. representative from New York from 2001 to 2017, representing NY's 2nd congressional district until 2013 and NY's 3rd congressional district until his retirement. Israel chaired the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2011 to 2015 and the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee from 2015 to 2017. Prior to his political career, he served on the Huntington Town Board starting in 1993. After leaving Congress, Israel joined CNN as a political commentator and in 2019, he became the inaugural director of the Institute of Politics and Global Affairs at Cornell University.