  daniel j. o'donnell (born november 17, 1960) is a democratic member of the new york state assembly, representing the 69th district in manhattan, made up of the neighborhoods of manhattan valley, morningside heights, and portions of the upper west side and west harlem. he is also the older brother of entertainer rosie o'donnell. in 2008 he was considered by new york governor david paterson to fill the senate vacancy created by the appointment of hillary rodham clinton as president obama's secretary of state. paterson ultimately appointed upstate congresswoman kirsten gillibrand to the seat. o'donnell was the legislative sponsor of the marriage equality act during its successful passage and signature into law on june 24, 2011. ==early life== born in queens, new york, o'donnell is one of five siblings; american entertainer rosie o'donnell is his younger sister. raised in commack, new york on long island, he attended the catholic university of america before transferring to george washington university for his b.a. and received a j.d. degree from cuny school of law at queens college. ==career== he first ran for the legislature in 1998, making an unsuccessful bid for the new york state senate in the 30th district, losing the democratic primary to eric schneiderman.
1960_births American_people_of_Irish_descent City_University_of_New_York_School_of_Law_alumni Gay_politicians George_Washington_University_alumni LGBT_state_legislators_in_New_York Living_people Members_of_the_New_York_State_Assembly New_York_Democrats People_from_Commack,_New_York People_from_Manhattan People_from_Queens,_New_York