Daphne Jordan

Daphne Jordan
Jordan in 2019
Member of the New York State Senate
from the 43rd district
In office
January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2022
Preceded byKathy Marchione
Succeeded byJake Ashby
Personal details
Born (1959-11-28) November 28, 1959 (age 64)
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceHalfmoon, New York
Alma materLehigh University (BA)
Penn State University (JD)
WebsiteOfficial website

Daphne Veras Jordan (born November 28, 1959) is an American politician and attorney who served as a member of the New York State Senate, representing the 43rd district from 2019 to 2022. The district includes northern portions of the Hudson Valley as well as the eastern portions of the Capital Region. Jordan is a Republican. Prior to her Senate tenure, Jordan served as a member of the town board in Halfmoon, New York.

Early life and education

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Daphne Veras was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1][2]

Veras is of Greek descent. Her paternal family came from Mytilene and Evia, while her maternal family came from Skoura and Kastania.[2]

Veras earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and English from Lehigh University in 1981. She earned a Juris Doctor from Penn State Dickinson Law in 1984.[3]

Early career

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Daphne Jordan served on the Halfmoon Planning Board and the Halfmoon Zoning Board of Appeals. In 2014, Jordan was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Halfmoon Town Board.[4] She was elected to a full term in 2015.[5]

Jordan served as a Trustee, Member of the Executive Committee, and Treasurer for the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library.[6]

Jordan worked as a legislative director for her predecessor, Senator Kathy Marchione.[4]

New York State Senate

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Elections

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2018 State Senate election

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In 2018, Republican Senator Kathy Marchione announced that she would not seek reelection in Senate District 43 that fall.[7] The announcement immediately put the seat into play as a competitive district.[8] Following Marchione's retirement, Jordan announced that she would seek to succeed her.[9]

Jordan described herself as pro-life and pro-Second Amendment. Jordan netted many endorsements[10] running on a platform that she said would serve as a check and balance to Governor Andrew Cuomo and the powerful New York City Democrats. Jordan opposed sanctuary cities and free college for undocumented immigrants. Jordan defeated Democrat Aaron Gladd, 67,377 votes to 59,615 votes.[11] Jordan’s election was a positive development for Republicans, especially in the Capital Region.[12]

2020 State Senate election

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Jordan was re-elected to the State Senate in 2020, winning her race over Democratic challenger Patrick Nelson by a margin of 86,146 to 77,425.[13]

2022 State Senate election

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In May 2022, following redistricting,[14] Republican State Sen. Jim Tedisco announced his intent to move into the newly constituted 44th Senate District from his new 46th Senate District to challenge Jordan for the seat. This action caused controversy.[15] On June 14, 2022, Jordan announced that she would not seek re-election to the Senate. Jordan accused Tedisco of "creating a 'circus atmosphere' in the campaign", commenting: "'I want no part of this sideshow. I’m not going to play a political game that would be destructive, divisive, and undermine the principles that I care deeply about'".[16]

Jordan's name remained on the primary ballot, and she received nearly two thousand votes on the Republican line[17]: SD 44 REP  and almost one hundred votes on the Conservative line.[17]: SD 44 CON 

Tenure

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As a senator, Jordan called for repeal of New York's cashless bail law.[18][better source needed]

In 2019, Jordan opposed a proposal to grant driver licenses to undocumented immigrants.[19] Jordan argued that the measure would jeopardize public safety and open the door to identity theft, voter fraud, and non-citizen voting.[20]

In 2021, Jordan opposed allowing a large-scale solar farm to be approved under an expedited state siting process.[21]

Jordan opposed various COVID-19 mandates[22][better source needed] and opposed a COVID-19 eviction moratorium.[23]

On March 18, 2022, the American Red Cross named Jordan a Legislator of The Year.[24]

In September 2022, Jordan called on the Farm Labor Wage Board in Albany to reject a reduction of the farmworker overtime threshold from 60 hours to 40 hours.[25][better source needed]

Jordan introduced bipartisan legislation to honor philanthropist Marylou Whitney[26] by designating a portion of the state highway system in the city of Saratoga Springs as "Marylou Whitney Way". Jordan's bill was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul.[27]

In 2019, Jordan launched an effort to honor the courage of Purple Heart recipients by establishing local Purple Heart Communities across the 43rd Senate District[28] Within the 43rd District, all 60 towns, villages, and cities are Purple Heart Communities, and all four counties (Saratoga, Rensselaer, Washington, and Columbia) passed local resolutions to become Purple Heart Counties.[29]

Personal life

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Jordan is married to Phil Jordan.[30] The Jordans reside in Halfmoon, New York and have two sons.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Nothing Is Impossible To Her Who Will". MainStreetMag.com. August 28, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "SENATE DEPUTY LEADER GIANARIS AND NY'S GREEK-AMERICAN LEGISLATORS INTRODUCE RESOLUTION MARKING 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE". Queens Gazette. March 24, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Daphne Jordan". www.nysenate.gov.
  4. ^ a b "Halfmoon Councilwoman announces run for full term". CNWeekly.com. May 8, 2014.
  5. ^ "Saratoga County 2015 General Election Results" (PDF). SaratogaCountyNY.gov. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  6. ^ "BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE" (PDF). townofhalfmoon-ny.gov. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  7. ^ "State Sen. Kathy Marchione abruptly announces retirement". timesunion.com. April 26, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  8. ^ "Options emerge in race to replace Kathy Marchione". timesunion.com. July 29, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  9. ^ "Republican Daphne Jordan Officially Kicks Off Campaign For 43rd Senate District". wamc.org. July 26, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  10. ^ Lyons, Brendan J. (October 8, 2018). "Jordan, Gladd net key endorsements". Times Union. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  11. ^ "Certified Results from the November 6, 2018 General Election for NYS Senate" (PDF). elections.ny.gov. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  12. ^ "Jordan wins 43rd state Senate District". poststar.com. November 6, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  13. ^ "2020 New York State Senate Election Results". Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  14. ^ "Court releases NY redistricting maps after public review". Yahoo News. May 23, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  15. ^ "Sen. Tedisco barreling ahead in new district over protests from Sen. Jordan, leadership". wamc.org. May 26, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  16. ^ "Sen. Daphne Jordan halts primary campaign for re-nomination". spectrumlocalnews.com. June 14, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  17. ^ a b "NYS BOE, 2022 Primary Election Results". elections.ny.gov. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  18. ^ Daphne Jordan - Bail Reform on YouTube
  19. ^ New York State Senate Session - 6/17/19 on YouTube
  20. ^ "Reader's View: Hit the brakes on licenses for ILLEGAL immigrants". saratogian.com. April 6, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  21. ^ Sheridan, Johan (April 29, 2021). "Solar farm siting process pits residents against renewables". News 10. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  22. ^ Senator Daphne Jordan: End the Mandate on YouTube, NY Senate Republicans
  23. ^ NYS Senator Daphne Jordan Advocating for Landlords on YouTube
  24. ^ "Senator Daphne Jordan honored by the American Red Cross". hudsonvalley360.com. March 24, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  25. ^ Senator Serino, Senator Jordan, Assemblymembers Ashby & Tague: Reject Reduction of Farm OT Threshold on YouTube, NY Senate Republicans
  26. ^ "Marylou Whitney, Social Queen of the Racing World, Dies at 93". The New York Times. July 19, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  27. ^ "New Saratoga street sign honors late-philanthropist Marylou Whitney". wnyt.com. August 27, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  28. ^ "Hoosick declared a Purple Heart community". benningtonbanner.com. July 28, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  29. ^ "'Rensselaer County Purple Heart Highway' legislation passes State Senate". troyrecord.com. May 27, 2022.
  30. ^ "Snapshot: Daphne Jordan begins term in state Senate". TroyRecord.com. January 11, 2019.
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