Andrew J. McDonald

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Andrew J. McDonald is an American lawyer and politician from Connecticut. A Democrat, he is a member of the Connecticut State Senate representing the state's 27th district, covering Stamford and Darien.

A Stamford native, McDonald won narrow election to the senate in 2002, defeating his Republican opponent, current Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele, by 53% to 47%. He was re-elected in 2004 with 61% of the vote and in 2006 with 62%. He serves as Deputy Majority Leader and as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Prior to his election, McDonald worked as Director of Legal Affairs for the City of Stamford from 1999 to 2002. He also served on the Stamford Board of Finance from 1995 to 1999, as the board's chairman from 1997 to 1999, and as Co-Chair of the Audit Committee from 1995 to 1997. He served on the Stamford Board of Representatives from the Cove from 1993 to 1995.

McDonald was educated at the Stamford Public Schools (Stark, Dolan and Stamford High School) before receiving his Bachelor's degree in Government from Cornell University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he graduated with honors. He served as Managing Editor of the Connecticut Journal of International Law and is currently a litigation partner with Pullman & Comley, LLC, in Stamford.

McDonald is gay and is one of the few openly gay members of the Connecticut General Assembly. His campaigns have won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. He is a leading advocate of enacting a gay marriage law in Connecticut.

In 2006 and 2007 McDonald challenged the decision of Connecticut Chief Justice William J. Sullivan to delay publication of a court decision in an effort to promote the chief justice candidacy of his colleague, Justice Peter Zarella. Sullivan challenged the power of a legislator to subpoena him to appear at a hearing, which led to a court challenge. ^[1]