Timothy Martin Kennedy (born October 20, 1976) is an American politician who is the U.S. representative for New York's 26th congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected in the April 2024 special election to finish the remainder of Brian Higgins' term in the 118th United States Congress. Prior to his congressional tenure, Kennedy served in the New York State Senate from 2011 to 2024.
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Early life and education
Kennedy was raised in South Buffalo, one of five children of Martin F. and Mary Kennedy. His father worked as Buffalo's commissioner of assessment and taxation, and his mother is a retired nurse who taught nursing at D'Youville University. He received his early education at St. Martin's Elementary School, and attended St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute. He earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in occupational therapy from D'Youville University.
Early career
From 1999 to 2010, Kennedy worked as a licensed occupational therapist at Catholic Health.
Erie County Legislature
In late 2004, at the age of 28, Kennedy was appointed to the Erie County Legislature, representing the 2nd district, after Mark J. F. Schroeder was elected to the State Assembly.
In 2005, Kennedy defeated Democratic primary opponent Paul Sullivan by a vote of 65% to 35%. He won 72% of the vote in the general election against his Republican opponent, Julieanne Mazurkiewicz.
In 2007, Kennedy ran unopposed for a second full term to the Erie County Legislature.
New York State Senate
In 2010, Kennedy challenged incumbent William Stachowski for the Democratic nomination for the 58th district in the New York State Senate. Kennedy also earned the endorsement of the Conservative Party, which had previously supported Stachowski. Stachowski was one of eight Democratic state senators who had voted against a bill allowing same-sex marriage in New York, while Kennedy supported it, earning him the backing of gay rights organizations in the primary. Kennedy ultimately defeated Stachowski by a margin of 63% to 26%. amid a wave of anti-incumbent voter sentiment. Stachowski remained on the ballot on the Independence Party and Working Families Party lines.
In the 2010 general election, Kennedy defeated Republican Assemblyman Jack Quinn III, gaining 47% of the vote to Quinn's 45%. The remaining votes went to Stachowski.
Seeking reelection in 2012, Kennedy won a primary challenge from Democrat Betty Jean Grant, prevailing by 156 votes. The closeness of the election prompted a protracted court battle heard by Justice Joseph R. Glownia of the State Supreme Court. Kennedy ran uncontested in the November 2012 general election and was re-elected.
In 2014, Kennedy defeated Grant in a Democratic primary rematch, receiving 16,660 votes (60.2%) to Grant's 10,997 votes (39.8%). The race received much attention, with campaign spending by the candidates and outside groups surpassing $1 million. Kennedy received the backing of the New York State United Teachers and realtors, while Grant received the Erie County Democratic Committee endorsement and help from the Independent Democratic Conference, a breakaway group of state Senate Democrats who sided with Republicans in the Senate. Kennedy's base of support was South Buffalo, Lackawanna, and Cheektowaga, while Grant's base of support was Buffalo's East Side.
In the November 2014 general election, Kennedy (who ran on the Democratic, Working Families, and Independence ballot lines) defeated Ricky T. Donovan, Sr. (who ran on the Republican and Conservative ballot lines). Out of 59,094 total votes, Kennedy received 42,278 (71.5%), while Donovan received 11,973 (20.3%).
In the 2016 general election, Kennedy ran unopposed on the Democratic, Working Families, Independence, and Women's Equality ballot lines and received 89,650 votes.
U.S. House of Representatives
2024 special election
On November 14, 2023, Kennedy announced that he would run for the soon-to-be vacated congressional seat held at the time by Brian Higgins. He won the election on April 30, 2024, defeating Republican nominee Gary Dickson. Kennedy received 68.6% of the vote to Dickson's 31.3%.
2024
Kennedy was sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives on May 6, 2024.
The first bill Kennedy cosponsored was H.R. 2530, the Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act. In his first floor speech, he highlighted the need for safe staffing nurse-to-patient ratios.
On the second anniversary of the racist shooting at Tops grocery store in Buffalo, Kennedy honored the victims in a 30-minute special order proceeding where he was joined by Rep. Jim Clyburn. He also introduced legislation with Rep. Grace Meng to ban the sale of enhanced body armor, which was used by the shooter in Buffalo.
2025
Kennedy voted to table the articles of impeachment introduced by Rep. Al Green against president Donald Trump on June 24, 2025.
Committee assignments
For the 119th Congress:
Committee on Homeland Security
Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology (Ranking Member)
Committee on Veterans Affairs
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Caucus memberships
Congressional Equality Caucus
Future Forum
New Democrat Coalition
Congressional Ukraine Caucus
Labor Caucus
House Baltic Caucus
Personal life
Kennedy lives in Buffalo with his wife Katie and their three children.
He is Roman Catholic and has Irish heritage.