Eugene P. Connolly

{{Short description|American labor leader and politician}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Eugene P. Connolly

| image = Eugene P. Connolly, American Labor Party Candidate at Work, New York District 17 Special Election. Mar 1941 Slide 2 Crop Edit.jpg

| caption = Connolly in 1941

| office = Member of the New York City Council
from Manhattan At-Large

| term_start = January 1, 1946

| term_end = December 7, 1949

| predecessor = Multi-member district

| successor = Constituency abolished

| birth_date = {{birth date|1901|11|09}}

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1971|12|01|1901|11|09}}

| death_place = New York City, U.S.

| nationality =

| party = Democratic {{small|(before 1936)}}
American Labor {{small|(after 1936)}}

| spouse = {{marriage|Frances Seley|1925|1951|end=died}}
{{marriage|Marian Tuthill|1964}}

| children = 2

| education =

| occupation = Labor leader, politician

}}

Eugene P. Connolly (November 9, 1901 – December 1, 1971) was an American labor leader and politician who served on the New York City Council from 1946{{cite web |title=Connolly, Eugene P. |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=46176 |website=ourcampaigns.com |access-date=16 February 2025}} until his resignation in 1949.{{cite news |title=Councilman Quits Over Davis Ouster |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/975917071/?match=1&terms=%22eugene%20p%20connolly%22 |access-date=16 February 2025 |work=Buffalo Courier-Express |date=8 December 1949 |location=Buffalo}}

Connolly was active in the labor movement throughout his life, co-founding the National Maritime Union and serving as a lieutenant to John L. Lewis in the organization of the Congress of Industrial Organizations.{{cite news |title=Eugene P. Connolly Dead at 70; Labor Figure Sat on City Council |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/12/02/archives/eugene-p-connolly-dead-at-70-labor-fgure-sat-on-city-council.html |access-date=16 February 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=2 December 1971 |location=New York}}

Originally a member of the Democratic Party, Connolly became fed up with the corruption of Tammany Hall and supported Republican Fiorello La Guardia in his successful campaign for mayor of New York City in 1933. Connolly then joined the American Labor Party, serving as executive secretary of the party in Manhattan.{{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=Max |title=Veteran of Labor Political Struggle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1146015087/?match=1&terms=%22eugene%20p%20connolly%22 |access-date=16 February 2025 |work=Daily World |date=16 September 1945 |location=New York}}

Connolly ran unsuccessfully for State Assembly in 1937, Congress in 1938 and 1941, and City Council in 1943 before finally winning a seat on the Council in 1945. He ran twice more for Congress unsuccessfully in 1946 and 1948, as well as for Manhattan Borough President in 1949.

Connolly died on December 1, 1971 at St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan.