Daniel O'Donnell (politician)

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For the Irish country singer, see Daniel O'Donnell (Irish singer).

Member of the New York State Assembly from the 69^th district
Daniel O'Donnell

In office 2003 – present
Preceded by	Edward C. Sullivan

Political party	Democratic
Spouse	John Banta
Residence	New York City

Daniel J. O'Donnell (b. 1961?) is a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly. He was first elected in 2002, taking office the following January and had run unsuccessfully for the seat in 1998. Openly gay,^[1] he represents the 69th Assembly District, which is located in Manhattan's Upper West Side.

Born in Queens, New York, O'Donnell is the brother of American entertainer Rosie O'Donnell. Raised on Long Island, he attended George Washington University for his B.A. and received a Juris Doctor degree from CUNY School of Law at Queens College.

He has lived in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan with his partner, John Banta, for more than 10 years. O'Donnell is one of five LGBT members of the New York Legislature, alongside Assemblymembers Deborah Glick, Micah Kellner and Matthew Titone, and Senator Thomas Duane. His campaigns have frequently won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

On June 19, 2007 O'Donnell led Assemblymembers in a vote to legalize gay marriage in New York State. Although the bill has the support of the Assembly which voted 85-61 to approve it, along with the backing of Gov. Eliot Spitzer, the Republican-controlled State Senate is unlikely to take up the measure.