Thomas Crowley (American politician)

Thomas Crowley (born January 16, 1962) is an American politician who served as a Democratic U.S. Representative from New York from 1999 to 2019. He represented New York's 7th congressional district from 1999 to 2013 and its 14th congressional district from 2013 to 2019.

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Crowley began his political career in the New York State Assembly, serving from 1987 to 1998. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election in 1999, succeeding Thomas J. Manton.

During his time in Congress, Crowley served on the House Ways and Means Committee and held leadership positions within the Democratic caucus, including Chair of the House Democratic Caucus from 2017 to 2019. He was also the chair of the New Democrat Coalition.

Crowley was considered a powerful and influential figure within the New York Democratic party. He was often associated with moderate and establishment viewpoints within the party. His legislative focus areas included tax policy, trade, and foreign affairs.

In 2018, Crowley was unexpectedly defeated in the Democratic primary by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a democratic socialist. This primary loss was considered a major upset and signaled a shift in the Democratic Party towards more progressive candidates. Following his defeat, Crowley worked in the private sector.