# James Skoufis

James Skoufis (born October 18, 1987) is an American politician of the Democratic Party currently representing the 42nd District of the New York State Senate since 2023. Skoufis previously represented the 39th District prior to redistricting from 2019 to 2022.
Skoufis began his political career on the Woodbury town board in Orange County. In 2012 he was elected to the New York State Assembly, becoming its youngest member at 25. He was re-elected in 2014 and 2016. He ran for Chair of the Democratic National Committee in the 2025 chairmanship election.

## Background

Skoufis was born in Flushing, Queens in 1987, the son of a Greek immigrant. His family moved north to the town of Woodbury in the Hudson Valley in 1995. He graduated from Monroe-Woodbury High School in 2005. He has a bachelor's degree from The George Washington University and a masters from Columbia University. Skoufis worked at Amerigard Alarm & Security Corporation and was on the Woodbury Town Board.

## New York State Assembly

After redistricting in 2012 following the decennial census, long-time Republican Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun decided to retire, leaving the seat vacant. Skoufis received the Democratic nomination for the seat, defeating Larry Delarose at the party's county convention. In the November general election, he defeated Republican Goshen Mayor Kyle Roddey with 56% of the vote. At age 24, he became the youngest member of the Assembly.
Skoufis introduced his first two bills within a week of being sworn in; both were inspired by the aftermath of Hurricane Irene in 2011. Both bills passed the Assembly a few months later. Skoufis was an outspoken supporter of increasing the minimum wage. Early in 2014, Skoufis introduced Tuition-Free NY, a proposal to make SUNY and CUNY in New York State tuition-free as long as students fulfill community service and residency requirements.

## New York State Senate

In 2018, longtime Senator William J. Larkin Jr. retired at age 88. He had served in the seat since 1991. Prior to Larkin's retirement, Skoufis was floated as a potential challenger. After Larkin announced his retirement, Skoufis entered the race. In a good year for Democrats, Skoufis defeated Republican Stony Point Councilman Tom Basile, 54 percent to 46 percent. Democrats also took the majority in the Senate in the same election.
In the Senate, Skoufis was the Chair of the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations.
In 2023, Skoufis opposed plans for congestion pricing in Manhattan, citing the lack of viable transportation alternatives for his constituents. He called the congestion pricing plan "outright theft" and said he would support lawsuits to block the plan.

## 2025 Democratic National Committee Chair race

After Kamala Harris's loss to Donald Trump in the 2024 United States presidential election, Skoufis announced his intention to seek chairman role of the Democratic National Committee.
While running for the chairman, Skoufis declared his aspiration to "dismantle" the Green Party.
On January 16, 2025, Skoufis announced that he withdrew from the race and endorsed Ken Martin for the chairmanship.

## Personal life

Skoufis has a daughter, born in 2021. He has two sisters.

## Electoral history
### New York State Assembly

New York's 99th Assembly District 2012 General Election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James G. Skoufis | 26,325 | 50.22% |
| | Working Families | James G. Skoufis | 2,705 | 5.18% |
| | Total | James G. Skoufis | 29,030 | 55.57% |
| | Republican | Kyle Roddey | 19,032 | 36.43% |
| | Conservative | Kyle Roddey | 3,265 | 6.25% |
| | Independence | Kyle Roddey | 874 | 1.67% |
| | Total | Kyle Roddey | 23,171 | 44.35% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 44 | 0.08% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 52,245 | 100% |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |
New York's 99th Assembly District 2014 General Election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James G. Skoufis | 15,672 | 46.04% |
| | Working Families | James G. Skoufis | 2,165 | 6.36% |
| | Total | James G. Skoufis (incumbent) | 17,837 | 52.40% |
| | Republican | Richard M. Cocchiara | 12,365 | 36.33% |
| | Conservative | Richard M. Cocchiara | 3,184 | 9.35% |
| | Independence | Richard M. Cocchiara | 637 | 1.87% |
| | Total | Richard M. Cocchiara | 16,186 | 47.55% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 14 | 0.04% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 34,037 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
New York's 99th Assembly District 2016 General Election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James G. Skoufis | 26,971 | 48.04% |
| | Working Families | James G. Skoufis | 2,082 | 3.71% |
| | Women's Equality | James G. Skoufis | 537 | 0.96% |
| | Total | James G. Skoufis (incumbent) | 29,590 | 52.70% |
| | Republican | Colin J. Schmitt | 22,178 | 39.50% |
| | Conservative | Colin J. Schmitt | 3,284 | 5.85% |
| | Independence | Colin J. Schmitt | 910 | 1.62% |
| | Reform | Colin J. Schmitt | 169 | 0.30% |
| | Total | Colin J. Schmitt | 26,541 | 47.27% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 16 | 0.03% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 56,147 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### New York State Senate

New York's 39th Senatorial District 2018 Reform Party Primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Reform | James G. Skoufis | 931 | 99.68% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 3 | 0.32% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 934 | 100% |
New York's 39th Senatorial District 2018 General Election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James G. Skoufis | 48,267 | 50.50% |
| | Working Families | James G. Skoufis | 1,862 | 1.92% |
| | Reform | James G. Skoufis | 712 | 0.74% |
| | Women's Equality | James G. Skoufis | 707 | 0.74% |
| | Total | James G. Skoufis | 51,548 | 53.94% |
| | Republican | Tom Basile | 34,195 | 35.78% |
| | Conservative | Tom Basile | 5,080 | 5.32% |
| | Independence | Tom Basile | 4,713 | 4.93% |
| | Total | Tom Basile | 43,988 | 46.03% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 36 | 0.04% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 95,572 | 100% |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |
New York's 39th Senatorial District 2020 General Election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James G. Skoufis | 66,758 | 52.48% |
| | Working Families | James G. Skoufis | 5,356 | 4.21% |
| | SAM | James G. Skoufis | 404 | 0.32% |
| | Total | James G. Skoufis | 72,518 | 57.01% |
| | Republican | Steve Brescia | 48,635 | 38.23% |
| | Conservative | Steve Brescia | 5,963 | 4.69% |
| | Total | Steve Brescia | 54,598 | 42.92% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 85 | 0.07% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 127,201 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
New York's 42nd Senatorial District 2022 General Election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James G. Skoufis | 46,686 | 47.61 |
| | Working Families | James G. Skoufis | 3,042 | 3.10 |
| | Total | James G. Skoufis | 49,728 | 50.71% |
| | Republican | Dorey Houle | 43,292 | 44.15% |
| | Conservative | Dorey Houle | 5,004 | 5.10% |
| | Total | Dorey Houle | 48,296 | 49.25% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 35 | 0.04% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 98,059 | 100% |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |
New York's 42nd Senatorial District 2024 General Election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James G. Skoufis | 68,764 | 51.01 |
| | Working Families | James G. Skoufis | 4,656 | 3.45 |
| | Total | James G. Skoufis | 73,420 | 54.46% |
| | Republican | Dorey F. Houle | 54,614 | 40.51% |
| | Conservative | Timothy Mitts | 6,694 | 4.97% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 77 | 0.06% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 134,805 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |