Michael Forbes
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- For the farmer involved in a dispute with Donald Trump, see Michael Forbes (farmer).
| Michael Forbes | |
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| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | George J. Hochbrueckner |
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| Succeeded by | Felix Grucci |
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| Born | July 16, 1952 Riverhead, New York |
| Political party | Republican (– July 17, 1999) Democratic (July 17, 1999 – January 3, 2001) |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Michael Patrick Forbes (b. July 16, 1952, Riverhead, New York) is a politician from the state of New York.
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[edit] Early career
Forbes graduated from the SUNY Albany. Forbes worked as an assistant for Republicans U.S. Sen. Al D'Amato and U.S. Rep. Connie Mack.
[edit] Congress
In 1994, Forbes ran for the House of Representatives as a Republican. He defeated incumbent George Hochbrueckner by six percentage points. Forbes got a seat on the powerful Appropriations committee, unusual for a freshman representative, due to his ties with new House Speaker Newt Gingrich. In December 1996, Forbes announced he wasn't going to vote for Gingrich for speaker. Forbes voted for Rep. Jim Leach instead. Forbes supported the Clinton impeachment.
[edit] Party switch
On July 17, 1999, Forbes switched to the Democratic party. Forbes was promised financial support from House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt and Bill Clinton.
Forbes became a target for the Republican party and Democrats who had run against Forbes were hostile. Forbes' only opponent was a 71-year-old librarian, Regina Seltzer. The Republican campaign committee chairman sent out videos of outtakes from Forbes's television commercials to Democratic voters in which he made flatulent noises with his hand under his armpit and mailings which were used to show him as an arch-conservative. Seltzer won a court ruling halting state Democratic party ads for Forbes.
[edit] Lost primary
In the primary election, Seltzer defeated Forbes by 35 votes. Seltzer was defeated by Republican Felix Grucci, who was defeated in 2002 by Democrat Tim Bishop, who remains the incumbent.
[edit] External links
[edit] Biographies
- Michael Forbes at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Michael P. Forbes Biography at jhu.edu
[edit] Party switch
[edit] Lost primary
| Preceded by George J. Hochbrueckner |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 1st congressional district January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001 |
Succeeded by Felix Grucci |
