Former Bronx Congressman Eliot Engel died at the age of 79 on Friday, his family said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Engel, who also represented voters in Westchester County during his 16 terms in Congress, served as a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives for 31 years. He was defeated at the polls in the 2020 Democratic primary<\/a> by middle school principal Jamaal Bowman, who would go on to win that year\u2019s general election.<\/p>\n Engel passed away in the Bronx surrounded by family.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring his over 44 years in public service, Eliot Engel fought tirelessly for his constituents at home and for peace and security around the world,\u201d the statement from the congressman\u2019s family read. \u201cWe love and miss him dearly.\u201d<\/p>\n Engel was a longtime ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which he chaired in his final two terms in office.<\/p>\n \u201cI had the honor of serving alongside Eliot, who fought tirelessly for the people he served,\u201d said Gov. Hochul. \u201cI\u2019m keeping his family and loved ones in my thoughts today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEliot Engel was a giant of New York politics and one of the greatest champions the Bronx has ever had in Congress,\u201d Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres said on X<\/a>. \u201cHe served for more than three decades with unyielding dedication, fighting for his constituents and standing up for democracy around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Engel made his political debut in the 1977 special election for the seat vacated by state Assemblyman Alan Hochberg, a Democrat, who resigned following his indictment on bribery charges<\/a> the year before. Engel eked out a narrow victory<\/a> over Theodore Weinstein to claim the seat he would hold for more than a decade.<\/p>\n In 1988, Engel campaigned for New York\u2019s 19th Congressional District, defeating 10-term incumbent Mario Biaggi in the Democratic primary. He championed liberal causes, including a woman\u2019s right to choose, gun control regulations and healthcare reform, throughout his 16 terms in Congress.<\/p>\n He was also known as a champion of Kosovo\u2019s independence, a strong ally of Albania and advocated for NATO intervention against Serbia in the 1990s.<\/p>\n \u201cEliot will be remembered as a passionate defender of human rights and a powerful voice for his constituents in Westchester and the Bronx,\u201d said Rep. Adriano Espaillat, whose district covers northern Manhattan and part of the Bronx. \u201cEliot\u2019s diplomatic efforts sought to improve the lives of millions and elevate the moral standing of the United States of America around the world. \u2026 This world needs more statesmen like Eliot Engel.\u201d<\/p>\n