Sue Kelly

Sue Kelly was born in Lima, Ohio, on September 26, 1936. She was raised Presbyterian and graduated from Denison University in 1958.{{cite news|url=https://alumni.denison.edu/citations/susan-weisenbarger-kelly/|title=Susan Weisenbarger Kelly - Denison University Alumni|newspaper=Denison University Alumni |access-date=22 May 2018}} She also holds a Master's degree from Sarah Lawrence College.

She held jobs as a small business owner, patient advocate, rape counselor, and educator. She first became involved in politics by working as an advisor and campaign manager for Hamilton Fish IV, who represented Kelly's home area in New York's Hudson Valley.{{cite web |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/GPO-CDOC-108hdoc223-3-1.pdf |title=Women in Congress }}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

When Congressman Hamilton Fish IV, a Republican, decided not to seek re-election in 1994, Kelly sought and won the nomination for the congressional seat, defeating Joseph J. DioGuardi, Guy Parisi, and Paul Bucha.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/14/nyregion/the-1994-campaign-congress-in-house-races-incumbents-defeat-challengers-handily-233528.html|title=THE 1994 CAMPAIGN: CONGRESS; In House Races, Incumbents Defeat Challengers Handily|first=James|last=Feron|publisher=New York Times|date=September 14, 1994|accessdate=August 2, 2024}} Kelly defeated Fish's son, Hamilton Fish V, who ran as a Democrat, and Conservative Party candidate Joseph DioGuardi, who had been defeated by her in the Republican primary but continued campaigning. She was re-elected by a seven-point margin in 1996 and had comfortable victory margins in her campaigns thereafter.{{cite web |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/GPO-CDOC-108hdoc223-3-1.pdf |title=Women in Congress }}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In 2004, Kelly easily won re-election with 67% of the vote in New York's 19th Congressional district although The New York Times described Kelly's opponents in previous races as "token opposition".{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/ref/washington/raceprofile_NEWYORK19.html | work=The New York Times | title=The 19th District in New York | date=August 22, 2006}}

Kelly highlighted a socially moderate and fiscally conservative voting record. A 2006 survey of congressional power and effectiveness by the nonpartisan company, Knowlegis, indicated that Rep. Kelly was among the 100 most powerful lawmakers in the 435-member House. The survey also labelled Kelly as the second most powerful congressperson in the New York delegation, second only to Thomas M. Reynolds, who was chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.{{cite web |url=http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060517/NEWS01/605170312/1006/NEWS01 |title= Survey: Schumer has more clout than Clinton |date= May 16, 2006 |access-date= February 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614230103/http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060517/NEWS01/605170312/1006/NEWS01 |archive-date= June 14, 2006 }}

On November 7, 2006, Kelly was narrowly defeated by Democratic opponent John Hall by less than 4700 votes.{{cite news |url=http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061011/NEWS01/610110335 |publisher=Poughkeepsie Journal |title=Hall, Kelly spar over debates |date=October 11, 2006 |access-date=2006-10-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184450/http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20061011%2FNEWS01%2F610110335 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }} On November 16, nine days after the election, she conceded the election. The state certified the official voting results on December 15, 2006. It is notable that although Hall barely outperformed Kelly's previous Democratic challengers in 2004, 2002, and 2000, Kelly herself received over 80,000 fewer votes than she had in 2004.

Initially, Hall's candidacy was considered a "long-shot," but he gained momentum after Kelly faced criticism in October 2006 for her connection to the Mark Foley scandal. Kelly refused to speak to a reporter from a local news network about the matter and also did not appear at a televised debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters.{{YouTube|UjVY6S5zdp}}{{dead link|date=August 2011}} Kelly was represented by an empty chair at the debate.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DwMV_CzcJI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/8DwMV_CzcJI |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=RNN on Sue Kelly: Anatomy of a Loss |publisher=YouTube |date=2006-11-10 |access-date=2011-08-11}}{{cbignore}}

Kelly was endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters, an environmental advocacy group.{{cite web|url=http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061016/NEWS/610160329/-1/NEWS14 |title=Talk on the Street: Green group gives surprise nod to Kelly |publisher=recordonline.com |access-date=2011-08-11}} Her score of 92% was the highest among any Republican Member of Congress in 2006. Kelly had earned a 17% score from the LCV in 2005, but attributed that score to the many missed votes that came in the several days she was absent due to a death in the family.{{cite web|url=http://archive.recordonline.com/archive/2006/02/27/news-talk27-02-27.html |title=recordonline.com – Times Herald-Record – Archive |publisher=Archive.recordonline.com |access-date=2011-08-11}}

Kelly stated she was an "independent voice" in Congress, but the Times Herald Record noted that in 25 of the closest House votes during her last session, Kelly sided with the Republican leadership 24 of those times.{{cite web|url=http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061029/NEWS/610290343/-1/NEWS |title=Sue Kelly faces her toughest challenge yet |publisher=recordonline.com |access-date=2011-08-11}}

In 2006, comedian Stephen Colbert invited Kelly to an interview for his "Better Know a District" segment on The Colbert Report. Upon Kelly's refusal, Colbert interviewed Kelly's challenger, John Hall. Colbert took credit for Hall's election win on the November 8, 2006, edition of The Colbert Report.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

Kelly was a member of The Republican Majority For Choice, Republicans for Choice, The Wish List, The Republican Main Street Partnership, and Republicans for Environmental Protection. She received an average score of 30% from NARAL from 1994 to 2005, and an average of 71% from 2000 to 2005. Her Sierra Club rating of 63% was 8th highest among Republicans during her congressional career, and 159th overall in the House. Some seniors advocacy groups have questioned her votes on Social Security and Medicare.{{cite web |url=http://www.retiredamericans.org/index.php?tg=articles&idx=More&topics=157&article=750 |title=Alliance for Retired Americans : 2005 Congressional Voting Record |website=www.retiredamericans.org |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312072646/http://www.retiredamericans.org/index.php?tg=articles&idx=More&topics=157&article=750 |archive-date=12 March 2007 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=CNIP8284 |title=Project Vote Smart – Interest Group Ratings |publisher=Vote-smart.org |access-date=2011-08-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215155911/http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=CNIP8284 |archive-date=2006-12-15 }} The Sierra Club chose to endorse her competitor in 2006.{{cite web |url=http://www.sierraclub.org/endorsements/2006/ |title=Endorsements – Politics |publisher=Sierra Club |access-date=2011-08-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130924110043/http://www.sierraclub.org/endorsements/2006/ |archive-date=2013-09-24 }} She has a lifetime rating of 64% from the American Conservative Union demonstrating a moderate to conservative voting record.{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719070158/http://www.acuratings.org/statedelegation.asp?state=ny |date=July 19, 2011}}

Kelly, a former small business owner, received a 22% rating from the US Women's Chamber of Commerce.{{cite web|url=http://www.uswcc.org/html/uswcc-scorecard.aspx |access-date=October 22, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212205922/http://www.uswcc.org/html/uswcc-scorecard.aspx |archive-date=February 12, 2007 |title=USWCC-Scorecard }} She received a grade of a C+ from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America,[http://capwiz.com/iava/bio/?id=423&lvl=C&azip=10930&bzip=]{{dead link|date=August 2011}} an issue which she felt strongly on because of her nephew's service in Iraq and Afghanistan with the United States Special Forces. Kelly voted in favor of so-called "pork amendments 84% of the time according to the conservative Club for Growth,{{cite web |url=http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2006/07/435_districts_435_blogs_agains.php |title=Archived copy |website=www.clubforgrowth.org |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060924151626/http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2006/07/435_districts_435_blogs_agains.php |archive-date=24 September 2006 |url-status=dead}} and has declined to answer questions from the National Taxpayers Union, a non-partisan group focused on taxpayer's waste.{{cite web|url=http://www.ntu.org/main/components/cansurvey2006/ |access-date=October 22, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018180712/http://www.ntu.org/main/components/cansurvey2006/ |archive-date=October 18, 2006 |title=National Taxpayers Union & National Taxpayers Union Foundation - 2006 Congressional Candidate Survey }}

In February 2006, the House voted 216 to 214 to cut domestic spending by $39 billion, primarily by cutting $11 billion from Medicaid and another $12.7 billion from federal student loans, which led to protest {{cite web|url=http://www.northcountynews.com/archives_2005/11-23-05/news4.htm |access-date=August 20, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060517085002/http://www.northcountynews.com/archives_2005/11-23-05/news4.htm |archive-date=May 17, 2006 |title=Protestors blast Kelly for supporting cuts }} in her district. Sue Kelly and Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02) were the deciding votes.{{cite web |url=http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/02/more_from_the_h.html |title=More From The House – Hotline On Call |publisher=Hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com |date=2006-02-01 |access-date=2011-08-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905031701/http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/02/more_from_the_h.html |archive-date=2008-09-05 }}{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/01/politics/01cnd-spend.html?ex=1296450000&en=bf6064fc0473f1ac&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss | work=The New York Times | title=Congress Narrowly Approves $39 Billion in Budget Cuts | date=February 1, 2006}}

She voted for the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004 and in 2006, a bill to permanently ban gay marriage in all states. These votes cost her the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign, which had supported her campaigns prior to 2004.{{cite web |url=http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Campaigns_and_Elections&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=23668 |title= HRC | HRC Congressional Endorsements - House 2004 NE-WY|website=www.hrc.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061013041754/http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Campaigns_and_Elections&Template=%2FContentManagement%2FContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=23668 |archive-date=2006-10-13}} Her rating on the Human Rights Campaign Congressional Scorecard is 25%.[http://www.hrc.org/Content/NavigationMenu/HRC/Get_Informed/Congress_and_Scorecard/Index.htm] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060814223811/http://www.hrc.org/Content/NavigationMenu/HRC/Get_Informed/Congress_and_Scorecard/Index.htm |date=August 14, 2006 }}

She is married to Edward Kelly, and they live in Katonah, New York. They have four children and eight grandchildren.{{cite web |url= https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GPO-CDOC-116hdoc152 |title= Women in Congress 1917—2020 |pages= 594–596 |publisher= United States House of Representatives |year= 2020 |access-date= 2024-06-12 }}

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{{Election box candidate with party link

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|candidate = Sue W. Kelly (incumbent)

|votes = 102,142

|percentage = 46.3

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{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Richard S. Klein

|votes = 86,926

|percentage = 39.4

|change = }}

{{Election box candidate with party link

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|candidate = Joseph J. DioGuardi

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|change = }}

{{Election box candidate

|party = Independence

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|change = }}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 15,216

|percentage = 6.9

|change = }}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 220,596

|percentage =

|change = }}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=U.S. House election, 1998: New York District 19}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Sue W. Kelly (incumbent)

|votes = 104,467

|percentage = 62.2

|change = +15.9}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Dick Collins

|votes = 56,378

|percentage = 33.6

|change = −5.8}}

{{Election box candidate

|party = Right to Life

|candidate = Joseph J. DioGuardi

|votes = 5,941

|percentage = 3.5

|change = +3.5}}

{{Election box candidate

|party = Freedom Party

|candidate = Charles C. Williams

|votes = 1,046

|percentage = 0.6

|change = +0.6}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 48,089

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|change = +21.8}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 167,832

|percentage =

|change = −23.9}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=U.S. House election, 2000: New York District 19}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Sue W. Kelly (incumbent)

|votes = 145,532

|percentage = 60.9

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{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Lawrence Otis Graham

|votes = 85,871

|percentage = 35.9

|change = +2.3}}

{{Election box candidate

|party = Right to Life

|candidate = Frank X. Lloyd

|votes = 4,086

|percentage = 1.7

|change = −1.8}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Green Party of the United States

|candidate = Mark R. Jacobs

|votes = 3,662

|percentage = 1.5

|change = +1.5}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 59,661

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|change = −3.8}}

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|votes = 239,151

|percentage =

|change = +42.5}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=U.S. House election, 2002: New York District 19}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Sue W. Kelly (incumbent)

|votes = 121,129

|percentage = 70.0

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{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Janine M. H. Selendy

|votes = 44,967

|percentage = 26.0

|change = −9.9}}

{{Election box candidate

|party = Right to Life

|candidate = Christine M. Tighe

|votes = 4,374

|percentage = 2.5

|change = +0.8}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Green Party of the United States

|candidate = Jonathan M. Wright

|votes = 2,642

|percentage = 1.5

|change = −0.0}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 76,162

|percentage = 44.0

|change = +19.1}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 173,112

|percentage =

|change = −27.6}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=U.S. House election, 2004: New York District 19}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Sue W. Kelly (incumbent)

|votes = 175,401

|percentage = 66.7

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{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Michael Jaliman

|votes = 87,429

|percentage = 33.3

|change = +7.3}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 87,972

|percentage = 33.5

|change = −10.5}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 262,830

|percentage =

|change = +51.8}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=U.S. House election, 2006: New York District 19}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (US)

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{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (US)

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{{Election box majority

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• Women in the United States House of Representatives

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Category:1936 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:American Presbyterians

Category:Denison University alumni

Category:Female members of the United States House of Representatives

Category:People from Katonah, New York

Category:Politicians from Lima, Ohio

Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)

Category:Politicians from Rockland County, New York

Category:Sarah Lawrence College alumni

Category:Politicians from Westchester County, New York

Category:Women in New York (state) politics

Category:21st-century New York (state) politicians

Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives