Tom Reed
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York
In office
November 18, 2010 – May 10, 2022
Preceded byEric Massa
Succeeded byJoe Sempolinski
Constituency29th district (2010–2013)
23rd district (2013–2022)
Mayor of Corning
In office
2008–2010
Preceded byFrank Coccho
Succeeded byRich Negri
Personal details
Born (1971-11-18) November 18, 1971
Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Jean Reed
​
(m. 1996)​
Children2
EducationAlfred University (BA)
Ohio Northern University (JD)

Thomas Willard Reed II[1] (born November 18, 1971) is an American lobbyist, attorney, and politician from the state of New York. Reed served as the U.S. representative for New York's 23rd congressional district; the district is in New York's Southern Tier.[2][3][4] A Republican, Reed first joined the U.S. House after winning a special election to replace Eric Massa in 2010. He previously served one term as mayor of Corning, New York.

In 2021, after being accused of sexual misconduct, Reed announced that he would not seek reelection to the House of Representatives, or seek any other office in 2022.[5] On May 10, 2022, he resigned from the House about seven months before the end of his final term.[6]

Early life and education

Born in Joliet, Illinois, Reed grew up in Corning, New York,[7] the youngest of 12 children.[8] He received a B.A. degree in political science from Alfred University in 1993 and a Juris Doctor from the Claude W. Pettit College of Law at Ohio Northern University in 1996.[7]

Early career

After graduating from law school, Reed worked as an associate in the law firm of Gallo & Iacovangelo in Rochester from 1996 to 1999.

After Reed's mother died in 1998, he returned to Corning and opened the Law Office of Thomas W. Reed.[9] The firm specialized in debt collection. In 2007, Reed ran for mayor of Corning. On the ballot, he represented the Republican, Conservative, and Independence parties. He defeated incumbent Frank Coccho, 58% to 42%, and served one two-year term.[10]

After his election to Congress in 2010, Reed resisted congressional rules that required him to remove his name from the firm.[11][12] In 2014, the firm changed its name to RR Resource Recovery. At the same time, Reed's campaign stated that he was no longer involved with the firm.[12]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2010

In 2009, Reed announced that he would run against incumbent Democrat Eric Massa in the 29th Congressional District in the 2010 election.[13][14] Midway through his first term in Congress, Massa announced that he would not seek reelection due to health problems. In March 2010, Massa resigned from Congress after it was revealed that he was under investigation by the United States House Committee on Ethics for allegedly sexually harassing a staffer.[15]

In the election to replace Massa, Reed faced Democratic and Working Families Party nominee Matthew Zeller.[16] Reed was endorsed by Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks and every county Republican chairman in the 29th District.[17]

Reed won the election with 56.3% of the vote to Zeller's 43.7%, and immediately took office.[18] In the days after the election, he suffered a pulmonary embolism.[19] After a three-day delay, he was sworn in on his 39th birthday, November 18, 2010, during a special ceremony.

2012

New York lost two seats in the U.S. House due to population change. The 29th Congressional District was eliminated and much of the district became the 23rd Congressional District. The new 23rd District included Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chemung, Ontario, Schuyler, and Steuben counties from the old 29th District, and added Chautauqua, Seneca, Tompkins, and Tioga counties.[20] Three candidates, Leslie Danks Burke, Melissa Dobson and Tompkins County legislator Nate Shinagawa entered the Democratic primary to challenge Reed in the new 23rd District.[21] Shinagawa won the Democratic nomination and also was nominated by the Working Families Party.

During the campaign, Reed said that he accidentally paid one of his tax bills using campaign funds. Reed's campaign voluntarily reported the error in a campaign finance report and Reed reimbursed the campaign.[22][23]

Reed defeated Shinagawa in the general election, 51.9% to 48.1%.[24]

2014

Reed faced the Democratic nominee, Tompkins County Legislative Chair Martha Robertson. Though it was predicted to be a close race,[25] Reed won with 57.7% of the vote to Robertson's 35.9%.

2016

Reed was unopposed in the Republican primary. He initially endorsed Jeb Bush for president before Bush left the race.[26] He then endorsed Donald Trump on March 16.[27][28] Reed reaffirmed his support for Trump in August.[29]

In the November general election, Reed faced John Plumb, the only Democrat to file for the race.[30] Reed was reelected with 58.1% of the vote to Plumb's 41.9%.[31]

2018

Reed ran unopposed in the Republican primary before facing Democratic nominee Tracy Mitrano in the general election. Reed was reelected with 54.2% of the vote to Mitrano's 45.8%.[32]

2020

In a rematch of the 2018 election, Reed defeated Mitrano by a wide margin.[33][34]

Tenure

Reed has served on the House Judiciary Committee, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,[35] House Committee on Rules[36] and House Ways and Means Committee.[37][38]

In 2012, Reed focused on ending government spending and supported budget amendments that eliminated government funding, such as a sewer system in Tijuana, Mexico.[39] He voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and supported the Budget Control Act of 2011.[40][41]

After his reelection in 2012, Reed drafted the Promoting Assistance with Transitional Help Act. The bill would have modified the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family program by setting a five-year limit on welfare payments to individuals.[42]

With a government shutdown looming in September 2013, Reed introduced the Pay Our Veterans and Seniors First Act. The legislation would ensure that armed services members were paid and that seniors continued receiving benefits during a temporary government shutdown. The bill also proposed that members of Congress and the president forfeit their salaries for the duration of the shutdown.[43][44]

In February 2014, Reed introduced the Clinical Trial Cancer Mission 2020 Act. The bill would have mandated that researchers publish all information from cancer clinical trials, with the goal to get more researchers to work together and bring down the number of duplicative studies. The legislation would have created a national clearinghouse run by the NIH.[45]

In May 2014, Reed introduced a bill that would amend the Internal Revenue Code to permanently extend and expand certain expired provisions that provided an enhanced tax deduction for businesses that donated their food inventory to charitable organizations.[46][47] Reed argued that it made sense to make this a permanent measure because "doing it on a temporary basis ... is part of the problem. We need to make this sound policy permanent in the tax code and I'm optimistic we'll get it to the finish and allow people to take advantage of the tax deduction that would encourage them to use the food rather than put it in a landfill."[48]

On May 4, 2017, Reed voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and passing the American Health Care Act.[49][50]

Reed was ranked as the 32nd most bipartisan member of the House during the 114th United States Congress, and the seventh most bipartisan member of the House from New York, in the Bipartisan Index created by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy.[51] In the 115th United States Congress, Reed voted in line with President Trump's position 96.7% of the time.[52]

Reed sits on the House Way and Means Committee, which is in charge of tax legislation, and was one of only two House members from New York (along with Chris Collins) to support the provision in the 2017 Republican tax overhaul bill that eliminated the federal tax deduction for state income taxes. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called the two lawmakers "the Benedict Arnolds of their time", claiming that the loss of the deduction would cost New York taxpayers nearly $15 billion and do grave damage to the state.[53] Reed voted for the bill.[54][55]

In 2019, Reed became the first House Republican in the new Congress to support a House rules change package authored by Democrats. Becoming the first member to "break ranks for a full rules proposal" in 18 years, he argued, according to his spokesman, that "real reforms were necessary that could actually bring legislation to the floor". The change intends to "lessen the sharp partisan divide in the House, in part by making it easier for rank-and-file members to bring their own bills onto the floor for a vote."[56]

On September 19, 2019, Reed suddenly lost consciousness for approximately 30 seconds while waiting to conduct a television interview. He was revived and hospitalized.[57]

Following the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, Reed wrote in the New York Times that while Trump could and should be held accountable, impeachment was not appropriate.[58]

On May 19, 2021, Reed was one of 35 Republicans to join all Democrats in voting to approve legislation to establish the January 6 commission meant to investigate the storming of the U.S. Capitol.[59]

In June 2021, Reed was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the AUMF against Iraq.[60][61] On November 5, 2021, Reed was one of 13 House Republicans to break with their party and vote with a majority of Democrats in favor of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.[62]

In 2022, Reed was one of six Republicans to vote for the Global Respect Act, which imposes sanctions on foreign persons responsible for violations of the internationally recognized human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) people, and for other purposes.[63][64]

Sexual misconduct allegation and resignation

On March 19, 2021, Nicolette Davis alleged in The Washington Post that Reed had rubbed her back, unhooked her bra, and inched his hand up her thigh at an Irish pub in Minnesota in 2017 when she worked as a junior insurance company lobbyist. Reed denied the allegation.[65][66][67] Two days later, on March 21, 2021, he apologized to Davis, saying he still did not recall the incident in question but considered her story possible, since he had been battling alcoholism at the time. In the same statement, he said would not seek reelection in 2022.[68] Reed later noted that he had briefly considered running for further office anyway and felt pressured by political consultants who had advised him to admit nothing and deny everything; he still said he did not remember assaulting Davis on the night in question.[69]

On May 10, 2022, Reed resigned from Congress, leaving office more than seven months before the end of his term.[70][71] He has accepted a position with Prime Policy Group, the lobbying arm of Burson Cohn & Wolfe.

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

2022 New York gubernatorial election

Reed had been mentioned as a potential candidate for governor of New York in 2022. In a February 4, 2021, conference call with reporters, he said, "Governor Cuomo, Your days are numbered. There's leadership coming to Albany very soon".[79] On March 21, 2021, after allegations of sexual misconduct by a lobbyist, he announced that he would not seek elected office in 2022.[68][80]

Electoral history

Mayor of Corning, 2007
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Reed 1,866 58
Democratic Frank Coccho (Inc.) 1,317 42
Total votes 3,220 100
New York's 23rd congressional district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Reed 101,209 56.3
Democratic Matt Zeller 78,578 43.7
Total votes 179,787 100
New York's 23rd congressional district election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Reed 126,519 51.9
Democratic Nate Shinagawa 117,055 48.1
Total votes 243,571 100
New York's 23rd congressional district election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Reed 113,130[25] 57.7
Democratic Martha Robertson 70,242[25] 35.9
N/A Blank/Void/Scattering 12,502[25] 6.4
Total votes 195,874 100
New York's 23rd congressional district election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Reed 149,779[81] 58.1
Democratic John Plumb 107,822[81] 41.9
Total votes 257,601 100
New York's 23rd congressional district election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Reed 130,323[82] 54.2
Democratic Tracy Mitrano 109,932[82] 45.8
Total votes 240,255 100
New York's 23rd congressional district election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Reed 181,060[83] 57.7
Democratic Tracy Mitrano 129,014[83] 41.1
Total votes 313,842 100

References

  1. ↑ 04 May 1974, 13 - Quad-City Times at Newspapers.com Obituary of Thomas Willard Reed, father of Thomas Willard Reed II
  2. ↑ "Tenney declares bid for Southern Tier congressional seat following redistricting". wskg.org. January 31, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Who will represent the Southern Tier in Congress after Tom Reed retires?". MyTwinTiers.com. March 23, 2021.
  4. ↑ Miller, Rick (January 4, 2022). "Southern Tier congressional district essentially maintained in NY redistricting maps". Olean Times Herald.
  5. ↑ "Rep. Tom Reed accused of sexual misconduct by ex-lobbyist Nicolette Davis". The Washington Post. March 19, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Congressman Tom Reed resigns, effective immediately, following sexual misconduct accusation". WXBW. May 10, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Ray Finger, Where does Tom Reed stand on the issues?, Star Gazette (November 1, 2014).
  8. ↑ John Christensen, Mitrano, Reed in 'dead heat', Chronicle-Express (October 31, 2018).
  9. ↑ "Biography | Congressman Tom Reed". Reed.house.gov. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Reed ousts Coccho" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Reed answers ethics question". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  12. 1 2 Fang, Lee (October 31, 2018). "GOP Rep. Tom Reed Founded Medical Debt Collection Firm That Harasses His Own Constituents". The Intercept. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Mayor Reed announces challenge to Massa". Briefingroom.thehill.com. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  14. ↑ Reed announces candidacy for Congress, Jeffery Smith, Corning Leader, July 2, 2009
  15. ↑ "Rep. Eric Massa to resign – John Bresnahan and Glenn Thrush". PoliticoPolitico. March 5, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Republicans zeroing in on Massa's seat in 2010". Stargazette.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2009. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  17. ↑ "National Parties Pick Recruits To Topple Freshmen". Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Reed wins twice in NY's 29th". The Evening Tribune. November 3, 2010. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Congressman-elect Tom Reed "Resting Comfortably"". ABC News WHAM. November 16, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Redistricting will give Ithaca a new Congressional representative — Tom Reed or Nate Shinagawa". Ithaca Times. Ithaca.com. October 29, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  21. ↑ Ed Sutherland (June 17, 2012). "Shinagawa Leads Primary Democrats in Contributions". The Ithaca Independent. Archived from the original on July 4, 2013.
  22. ↑ Zremski, Jerry (September 3, 2013). "Reed admits error in using campaign funds to pay Steuben County tax bill". Buffalo News. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  23. ↑ Seligman, Lara (August 29, 2013). "Lawmaker paid property taxes with campaign funds". The Hill. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Reed edges Shinagawa in 23rd District race". The Leader. November 7, 2012. Archived from the original on March 11, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "New York's 23rd Congressional District elections, 2014". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  26. ↑ Miller, Rick (August 30, 2016). "Reed not concerned with fallout from Trump endorsement". Olean Times Herald. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  27. ↑ Phoebe Keller (March 16, 2016). "Congressman Tom Reed Endorses Donald Trump for President | The Cornell Daily Sun". Cornellsun.com. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Congressman Tom Reed Criticized For Endorsing Donald Trump", Cornell Sun, March 17, 2016, Accessed August 16, 2016]
  29. ↑ "Reed maintains Trump support", The Leader (Corning, NY), August 8, 2016; accessed August 16, 2016.
  30. ↑ Simpson, Amy (April 21, 2016). "No Primary Opponent For Tom Reed". My Twin Tiers. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  31. ↑ Roby, John (November 9, 2016). "US CONGRESS: Reed wins re-election". Star Gazette. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  32. ↑ "New York's 23rd Congressional District election, 2018". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  33. ↑ "November 3, 2020 General Election Certification" (PDF). September 17, 2020.
  34. ↑ "2020 Election Results". New York State Board of Elections.
  35. ↑ "Congressman Tom Reed Appointed To Judiciary Subcommittees". Reed.house.gov. January 20, 2011. Archived from the original on June 21, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  36. ↑ "News Items | House Committee on Rules". Rules.house.gov. June 13, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Rep. Reed to be next Ways and Means Committee member". The Hill. June 9, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  38. ↑ "CONGRESSMAN TOM REED NAMED TO COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS; Becomes only New York Republican on tax policy and trade committee". Reed.house.gov. June 14, 2011. Archived from the original on June 30, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  39. ↑ Zremski, Jerry (June 18, 2012). Reed leads campaign against waste. The Buffalo News; retrieved June 18, 2012.
  40. ↑ Reed Votes For Extending Tax Breaks. WLEA (2010-12-17); retrieved 2010-12-17.
  41. ↑ Sherwood, Julie. Reed tells why he voted to repeal health care law, Messenger-Post Newspapers; retrieved 2011-01-20.
  42. ↑ "Reed to introduce bill to support welfare recipients", The Ripon Advance, 08-26-2013; retrieved 09-03-2013.
  43. ↑ Harrison, Julie (September 25, 2013). "Reed introduces the Pay Our Veterans and Seniors First Act". The Ripon Advance. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  44. ↑ "REP. REED WANTS VETERANS, SENIORS PROTECTED IF SHUTDOWN OCCURS (press release)". Office of U.S. Congressman Tom Reed. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  45. ↑ “Bill aims to enhance cancer research, end cancer by 2020”. Ripon Advance. 2014-02-17 (Retrieved 2014-02-24)
  46. ↑ "H.R.4719 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  47. ↑ "CBO – H.R. 4719". Congressional Budget Office. June 5, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  48. ↑ Meyer, Kellie (May 27, 2014). "Reed Fighting Hunger Incentive Act". WENY. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  49. ↑ "How the House voted to pass the GOP health-care bill". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  50. ↑ CNN Staff Source: Clerk of the House (May 4, 2017). "How every member voted on health care bill". CNN. Retrieved May 4, 2017. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  51. ↑ The Lugar Center - McCourt School Bipartisan Index (PDF), The Lugar Center, March 7, 2016, retrieved April 30, 2017
  52. ↑ Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump: Tom Reed, FiveThirtyEight (last retrieved November 2, 2018).
  53. ↑ Jerry Zremski “Reed and Collins revel in tax compromise that Cuomo and Schumer abhor”, Buffalo News, November 1, 2017, Retrieved November 4, 2017
  54. ↑ "H.R. 1: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act -- Senate Vote #303 -- Dec 2, 2017". GovTrack.us. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  55. ↑ Jagoda, Naomi (September 6, 2018). "House Republicans huddle on 'tax cuts 2.0'". The Hill. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  56. ↑ Ferris, Sarah (January 2, 2019). "GOP lawmaker blesses Democratic rules package". Politico. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  57. ↑ "Reed collapses in capital building". WNY News Now. September 19, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  58. ↑ Reed, Tom (January 12, 2021). "Opinion | I Want Trump to Face Justice. But the House Shouldn't Impeach Him". The New York Times.
  59. ↑ LeBlanc, Paul (May 19, 2021). "Here are the 35 House Republicans who voted for the January 6 commission". CNN. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  60. ↑ "House votes to repeal 2002 Iraq War authorization". NBC News. June 17, 2021.
  61. ↑ "Final vote results for roll call 172". clerk.house.gov. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  62. ↑ Annie Grayer (November 6, 2021). "These 6 House Democrats voted against the infrastructure bill. These 13 Republicans voted for it". CNN. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  63. ↑ "Final vote results for roll call 43". clerk.house.gov. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  64. ↑ "Global Respect Act (H.R. 3485)". GovTrack.us.
  65. ↑ Niedzwiadek, Nick (March 19, 2021). "Rep. Tom Reed, who is eyeing a Cuomo challenge, accused of sexual misconduct on 2017 trip". Politico. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  66. ↑ Swanson, Ian (March 19, 2021). "GOP Rep. Tom Reed accused of sexual misconduct". The Hill. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  67. ↑ Reinhard, Beth (March 19, 2021). "Former lobbyist accuses Rep. Tom Reed, a potential Cuomo challenger, of sexual misconduct". The Washington Post.
  68. 1 2 Stockburger, George (March 21, 2021). "Rep. Tom Reed apologizes after sexual harassment allegations, won't run for Governor, re-election". LocalSYR. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  69. ↑ Hummel, Matthew (July 16, 2021). "Congressman Reed Reflects On Misconduct Accusation, Aftermath". WNY News Now. Lilly Broadcasting. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  70. ↑ Schnell, Mychael (May 10, 2022). "Republican lawmaker announces resignation from Congress following sexual misconduct claims". The Hill. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  71. ↑ Aaron Navarro (May 11, 2022). "Republican Tom Reed Resigns from Congress". CBS News.
  72. ↑ Marcos, Cristina (February 3, 2017). "Lawmakers set up bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus for new Congress". The Hill. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
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  75. ↑ "90 Current Climate Solutions Caucus Members". Citizen´s Climate Lobby. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  76. ↑ "Meet the House Republicans Who Want to Rein In Trump On War". Defense One. January 14, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  77. ↑ "Members". Congressional Constitution Caucus. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  78. ↑ "Members". Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  79. ↑ Chief, Jerry Zremski News Washington Bureau (February 4, 2021). "Reed hints again at challenge to Cuomo: 'Your days are numbered'". The Buffalo News.
  80. ↑ Mahoney, Bill (March 21, 2021). "Reed apologizes and says he won't challenge Cuomo in 2022". Politico PRO. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
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