Chris Jacobs (politician)


Christopher L. Jacobs is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 21 July 2020. A Republican, Jacobs was formerly a member of the New York State Senate for the 60th district and the 62nd Secretary of State of New York. Until December 31, 2016, he was the County Clerk of Erie County, New York. In May 2019, Jacobs announced that he was running for New York's 27th congressional district in the 2020 elections. On June 23, 2020, he won a special election to fill the vacant congressional seat during the 116th United States Congress.

Early life and education

Jacobs was born in Buffalo, New York as one of five siblings. He is a member of the Jacobs family, who have long owned the Delaware North Companies and the Boston Bruins hockey team. Jacobs studied at Boston College, later receiving a master's degree from American University and a Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo Law School.

Career

Prior to holding public office, Jacobs served as Deputy Commissioner of Environment and Planning in the administration of Erie County Executive Joel Giambra. Jacobs also worked at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development under then-HUD Secretary Jack Kemp.
Jacobs co-founded the BISON Scholarship Fund in 1995. The BISON Fund provides scholarships to City of Buffalo residents to attend private grad schools. In 2004, he was elected as an at-large member of the Buffalo Board of Education; he was re-elected in 2009.
Jacobs serves on the Boards of Buffalo Place and the Freedom Station Coalition and was previously a board member at the Catholic Academy of West Buffalo and the Olmsted Parks Conservancy.
On April 19, 2006 Jacobs was appointed as New York Secretary of State by Governor George Pataki. During his time as secretary of state, Jacobs took an active role in the development of the Niagara River Greenway.

Erie County Clerk

In 2011, Jacobs was elected Erie County Clerk. He was re-elected to the post in 2014.

New York Senate

In February 2006, Jacobs was the Republican nominee in a special election for the State Senate for a seat representing Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Jacobs was defeated by Democrat Marc Coppola.
On November 8, 2016, Jacobs defeated Democrat Amber Small for the 60th District State Senate seat. The district was formerly represented by Democrat Marc Panepinto, with Jacobs' victory contributing to the New York State Senate Republican majority.
Jacobs won re-election in 2018. He resigned his seat on July 20, 2020 after being elected to Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives

In May 2019, Jacobs announced that he would run for New York's 27th congressional district in the 2020 elections after the resignation of Chris Collins.
Jacobs defeated Nate McMurray in the special election on June 23, 2020. He is expected to serve for the remainder of Collins' term. Jacobs was sworn in as a member of Congress on July 21, 2020.