About Dan

Dan is running for Congress so that we can bring about a New Direction for upstate New York.  He believes that we can change Washington only if we have leaders who have the courage to change course.  Dan is an accomplished leader in the private and public sectors.  Born and raised in Syracuse, he understands what families in central and upstate New York need to meet the challenges they face.

Dan is a proud graduate of Syracuse's public school system, having graduated from Nottingham High School. He believes that every child should have the necessary resources to succeed just as he did.  After high school, Dan earned a Bachelor's Degree in History from Brown University and Masters Degrees from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

After graduation, Dan came home looking for a way to use his education to communicate about the issues that matter to people in Central New York. 

As a reporter and producer for Syracuse's Channel 9 News, Dan worked on numerous stories: about the closing of important factories, job loss, the need for more high-tech development, and the economic and environmental pressures on farming, hunting and fishing.

Public service has always been a big part of Dan's life. He has worked for former Senator and New York Knick Bill Bradley, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Congressman Charles Rangel, the leader of New York's Congressional delegation, and Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll.

Through his years working for some of New York's most effective leaders, Dan learned the importance of integrity, service and honor.  He worked to preserve Social Security.  He led the media campaign to provide tax incentives to American companies that keep manufacturing jobs here at home.  He fought tirelessly to lower prescription drug costs for seniors by forcing pharmaceutical companies to negotiate lower prices. And he is committed to providing our brave veterans with the services they need here at home.

In 2006, Dan decided to run for Congress against Congressman Jim Walsh because he recognized that his community seemed to be at a standstill, rather than making progress.  He earned the Democratic nomination for the Congress and came within two percentage points of defeating a nine-term incumbent.  Dan received a majority vote in the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County and Monroe County in that election, his first bid for public office.

Dan now works as the Senior Vice President of Pinnacle Capital Management, LLC and he remains an active participant of the Spanish Action League, the Tech Central Community Advisory Board, and Donors Choose.  Dan is a member of the DeWitt Rotary Club and a parishioner at Holy Cross Church.  He is a former member of NABET Local 211 of the Communications Workers of America.

Dan is married to Abby Davidson-Maffei, who is attending a joint graduate degree program at Syracuse University's Maxwell School and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.  His mother, a school psychologist, lives in Dewitt.  His father and stepmother, both retired from Onondaga County Social Services, live in Syracuse.  Dan has two younger brothers and a younger sister.