Michael Capuano

Michael Capuano is an American politician and attorney who served as the U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 8th congressional district from 1999 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the Mayor of Somerville, Massachusetts from 1990 to 1999. Throughout his career, Capuano was known as a staunch progressive and a vocal member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, focusing on issues like housing, transportation, and civil rights.

Early life and education

He was born in Somerville, Massachusetts to a family with deep roots in the community, the son of a Somerville City Council clerk. Capuano attended Somerville High School before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College in 1973. He subsequently received his Juris Doctor from the Boston College Law School in 1977. After law school, he worked as an attorney in private practice and served as an aide to the Massachusetts Senate Committee on Human Services and Elderly Affairs, building a foundation in public policy.

Political career

His political career began with his election to the Somerville Board of Aldermen in 1977, where he served until 1984. In 1990, he was elected Mayor of Somerville, succeeding Eugene C. Brune, and was re-elected four times. As mayor, he focused on development, public schools, and community policing. In 1998, he won a crowded Democratic primary to succeed retiring Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II and was easily elected to the United States House of Representatives. In Congress, he served on the influential House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, championing the Big Dig project and financial reform. He was a founding member of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues and served as a senior Democratic whip. In 2018, he was defeated in the Democratic primary by Ayanna Pressley.

Electoral history

In the 1998 Democratic primary for Massachusetts's 8th congressional district, he defeated several candidates including John F. Kennedy Jr.'s former aide. He won the general election with over 80% of the vote. Capuano was re-elected nine times, typically facing only minor Republican or independent opposition. His most significant electoral challenge came in the 2018 Democratic primary, where he was narrowly defeated by Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley in a historic upset. He also briefly ran in the 2010 special election for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, finishing third in the Democratic primary behind Martha Coakley and Stephen F. Lynch.

Political positions

He was a consistent progressive vote, maintaining a 100% rating from the ACLU and NARAL Pro-Choice America. Capuano was a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and advocated for a single-payer healthcare system. On foreign policy, he voted against the 2002 Iraq War authorization and was critical of military interventions. He was a leading advocate for affordable housing programs and Amtrak funding, and he co-sponsored the Green New Deal resolution. Capuano was also known for his support of organized labor, gun control measures, and robust consumer financial protections through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Personal life

He is married to Barbara Teebagy, a former schoolteacher, and they have two adult sons. The family resides in Somerville, Massachusetts. Since leaving Congress, Capuano has worked as a public policy consultant and serves on several non-profit boards. He remains active in Massachusetts Democratic politics and is a frequent commentator on local issues.

Category:1952 births Category:American city mayors Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts Category:Dartmouth College alumni Category:Boston College Law School alumni Category:People from Somerville, Massachusetts Category:Living people