Al D'Amato
Alfonse Marcello D'Amato (born August 1, 1937) is an American attorney, lobbyist, and politician who served as a United States senator from New York from 1981 to 1999.
Al D'Amato | |
|---|---|
| Chair of the Senate Banking Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Donald Riegle |
| Succeeded by | Phil Gramm |
| United States Senator from New York | |
| In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Jacob Javits |
| Succeeded by | Chuck Schumer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Alfonse Marcello D'Amato August 1, 1937 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | Penelope D'Amato
(m. 1960; div. 1995)Katuria Smith
(m. 2004; sep. 2017) |
| Children | 6 |
| Education | Syracuse University (BS, LLB) |
In 1980, after 25 years of involvement in the politics and government of Long Island, D'Amato defeated four-term Republican Sen. Jacob Javits in a Republican U.S. Senate primary. D'Amato went on to prevail in the 1980 general election for that office. D'Amato represented the state of New York in the Senate from 1981 to 1999. He was re-elected in 1986 and 1992, but was defeated in 1998 by Democratic Rep. Chuck Schumer.
Following his departure from the Senate, D'Amato founded Park Strategies, a lobbying firm. As of 2024, D'Amato is the last Republican to have represented New York in the U.S. Senate.