{{short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | state_senate = New York State | district = 43rd | name = Daphne Jordan | term_start = January 1, 2019 | term_end = December 31, 2022 | predecessor = Kathy Marchione | successor = Jim Tedisco (redistricting) | party = Republican | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|11|28}}{{citation needed|date=February 2026}} | birth_place = | alma_mater = Lehigh University (BA)<br />Penn State University (JD) | website = {{URL|https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/daphne-jordan|Official website}} | image = Daphnejordan062019.jpg | caption = Jordan in 2019 }} '''Daphne Veras Jordan''' is an American politician and attorney from the state of New York. A Republican, Jordan represented the 43rd district in the New York State Senate from 2019 to 2022. During Jordan's tenure, Senate District 43 included Columbia County and portions of Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Washington counties. Prior to her Senate tenure, Jordan served as a member of the town board in Halfmoon, New York.
== Early life and education == Jordan was born Daphne Veras in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mainstreetmag.com/nothing-is-impossible-to-her-who-will/|title=Nothing Is Impossible To Her Who Will|website=MainStreetMag.com|date=August 28, 2021}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.qgazette.com/articles/senate-deputy-leader-gianaris-and-nys-greek-american-legislators-introduce-resolution-marking-200th-anniversary-of-greek-independence/|title=SENATE DEPUTY LEADER GIANARIS AND NY'S GREEK-AMERICAN LEGISLATORS INTRODUCE RESOLUTION MARKING 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE |website=Queens Gazette|date=March 24, 2021}}</ref>
Jordan is of Greek descent. Her paternal ancestors came from Mytilene and Evia, while her maternal ancestors came from Skoura and Kastania.<ref name="auto1"/>
Jordan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and English from Lehigh University in 1981. She earned a Juris Doctor from Penn State Dickinson Law in 1984.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/daphne-jordan|title=Daphne Jordan |website=www.nysenate.gov}}</ref>
== Early career == Jordan served on the Halfmoon Planning Board and the Halfmoon Zoning Board of Appeals. In 2014, Jordan was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Halfmoon Town Board.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnweekly.com/news/halfmoon-councilwoman-announces-run-for-full-term/article_855c9041-cafa-5c6c-be05-f854df5046bf.html/|title=Halfmoon Councilwoman announces run for full term|website=CNWeekly.com|date=May 8, 2014}}</ref> She was elected to a full term in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.saratogacountyny.gov/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/GE15-Results.pdf|title=Saratoga County 2015 General Election Results |website=SaratogaCountyNY.gov |access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>
Jordan served as a Trustee, Member of the Executive Committee, and Treasurer for the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.townofhalfmoon-ny.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif4491/f/uploads/business_directory_form_and_letter.pdf |title=BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE |website=townofhalfmoon-ny.gov |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref>
Jordan worked as a legislative director for her predecessor in the State Senate, Kathy Marchione.<ref name="auto"/>
== New York State Senate == ===Elections=== ====2018 State Senate election==== In 2018, Republican Senator Kathy Marchione announced that she would not seek reelection in Senate District 43 that fall.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lombardo |first1=David |url=https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/State-Sen-Kathy-Marchione-to-retire-12865002.php |title=State Sen. Kathy Marchione abruptly announces retirement |website=timesunion.com |date=2018-04-26 |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref> Marchione's announcement immediately put District 43 into play as a competitive district.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Different-options-emerge-in-race-to-replace-Kathy-13110642.php |title=Options emerge in race to replace Kathy Marchione |website=timesunion.com |date=July 29, 2018 |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref> Following Marchione's retirement announcement, Jordan stated that she would run for State Senate in District 43.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wamc.org/new-york-news/2018-07-26/republican-daphne-jordan-officially-kicks-off-campaign-for-43rd-senate-district |title=Republican Daphne Jordan Officially Kicks Off Campaign For 43rd Senate District |website=wamc.org |date=2018-07-26 |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref>
Jordan described herself as pro-life and pro-Second Amendment. Jordan netted many endorsements,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Jordan-Gladd-battle-for-endorsements-13290994.php |title=Jordan, Gladd net key endorsements |newspaper=Times Union |date=2018-10-08 |access-date=2022-12-02 |last1=Lyons |first1=Brendan J. }}</ref> running on a platform that she said would serve as a check and balance to Governor Andrew Cuomo and the powerful New York City Democrats. Jordan opposed sanctuary cities and free college for undocumented immigrants. Jordan defeated Democrat Aaron Gladd, 67,377 votes to 59,615 votes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2018/general/2018NYSenate.pdf |title=Certified Results from the November 6, 2018 General Election for NYS Senate |website=elections.ny.gov |access-date=2022-12-02 |archive-date=December 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220231112/https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2018/general/2018NYSenate.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://poststar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/jordan-wins-43rd-state-senate-district/article_0367a017-d3d9-5b09-8473-50845487c6fe.html |title=Jordan wins 43rd state Senate District |website=poststar.com |date=November 6, 2018 |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref>
====2020 State Senate election==== Jordan was re-elected to the State Senate in 2020, winning her race over Democratic challenger Patrick Nelson by a margin of 86,146 to 77,425.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.ny.gov/2020ElectionResults.html |title=2020 New York State Senate Election Results |access-date=July 27, 2023 |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115175352/https://www.elections.ny.gov/2020ElectionResults.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
====2022 State Senate election==== In May 2022, following redistricting,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/court-releases-ny-redistricting-maps-120417813.html |title=Court releases NY redistricting maps after public review |publisher=Yahoo News |date=2022-05-23 |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref> Republican State Sen. Jim Tedisco announced his intent to move into the newly redrawn 44th Senate District to challenge Jordan for the seat. This action caused controversy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wamc.org/capital-region-news/2022-05-26/sen-tedisco-barreling-ahead-in-new-district-over-protests-from-sen-jordan-leadership |title=Sen. Tedisco barreling ahead in new district over protests from Sen. Jordan, leadership |website=wamc.org |date=2022-05-26 |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref> On June 14, 2022, Jordan announced that she would not seek re-election to the Senate. Jordan accused Tedisco of "creating a 'circus atmosphere' in the campaign", commenting: "'I want no part of this sideshow. I’m not going to play a political game that would be destructive, divisive, and undermine the principles that I care deeply about'".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/ny-state-of-politics/2022/06/14/sen--daphne-jordan-halts-primary-campaign-for-re-nomination |title=Sen. Daphne Jordan halts primary campaign for re-nomination |website=spectrumlocalnews.com |date=2022-06-14 |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref>
Jordan's name remained on the primary ballot; she received nearly two thousand votes on the Republican line<ref name="2022AugFedAndStatePrimaryResults">{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/Elections/2022/Primary/2022AugFedAndStatePrimaryResults.xlsx |title=NYS BOE, 2022 Primary Election Results |website=elections.ny.gov |access-date=2022-12-02 |archive-date=December 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203094733/https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/Elections/2022/Primary/2022AugFedAndStatePrimaryResults.xlsx |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{rp|SD 44 REP}} and almost one hundred votes on the Conservative line.<ref name="2022AugFedAndStatePrimaryResults"/>{{rp|SD 44 CON}}
===Tenure=== During Jordan's tenure, Senate District 43 included Columbia County and portions of Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Washington counties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-region/in-focus-shows/2019/01/12/daphne-jordan-begins-first-term-as-senator|title=Daphne Jordan Begins First Term as Senator, Discusses Her Ideas|first=Solomon |last=Syed |website=spectrumlocalnews.com|date=January 12, 2019}}</ref>
Jordan voted against the Reproductive Health Act, which codified abortion rights in New York. During the January 22, 2019 Senate floor debate on the bill, Jordan stated that "strengthening abortion rights contributes to what she calls a 'throwaway' culture. 'A baby inside its mother is not an inanimate object, it’s a life,' Jordan said. 'Think about what you’re allowing to be tossed away with a yes vote'".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/37880/20190123/reproductive-health-act-now-codifies-abortion-rights-into-ny-law|title=Reproductive Health Act now codifies abortion rights into NY law|date=January 23, 2019|website=NCPR|last=DeWitt|first=Karen}}</ref>
Also in 2019, Jordan opposed a proposal to grant driver licenses to undocumented immigrants. Jordan argued that the measure would jeopardize public safety and open the door to identity theft, voter fraud, and non-citizen voting.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.saratogian.com/2019/04/06/readers-view-hit-the-brakes-on-licenses-for-illegal-immigrants/ |title=Reader's View: Hit the brakes on licenses for ILLEGAL immigrants |website=saratogian.com |date=2019-04-06 |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref>
Jordan "proposed legislation that would fund a study into the short-term and long-term costs of separating New York City and the surrounding area from the rest of New York".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/lawmaker-turn-nyc-into-own-state/|title=New New York? Lawmaker Proposes Turning NYC, Long Island Into Its Own State|date=February 23, 2019|website=www.cbsnews.com}}</ref>
During her 2020 re-election campaign, Jordan expressed opposition to tax credits for the film industry and to New York's system of public funding for political campaigns. She also advocated for "a repeal of the state’s bail reform laws" and "joined fellow lawmakers in calling for an independent investigation into the state’s COVID-19-related nursing home deaths".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wamc.org/new-york-news/2020-10-22/republican-nys-senator-daphne-jordan-seeks-second-term|title=Republican NYS Senator Daphne Jordan Seeks Second Term|first=Lucas|last=Willard|date=October 22, 2020|website=WAMC}}</ref>
Jordan opposed allowing a large-scale solar farm to be approved in 2021 under an expedited state siting process.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Johan |last1=Sheridan |url=https://www.news10.com/news/columbia-county/solar-farm-siting-process-pits-residents-against-renewables/ |title=Solar farm siting process pits residents against renewables |work=NEWS10 ABC |publisher=News 10 |date=2021-04-29 |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref>
On March 18, 2022, the American Red Cross named Jordan a Legislator of The Year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hudsonvalley360.com/artsandlife/localannouncements/senator-daphne-jordan-honored-by-the-american-red-cross/article_f48efb89-817e-5486-b730-26f3fd4ee08b.html |title=Senator Daphne Jordan honored by the American Red Cross |website=hudsonvalley360.com |date=2022-03-24 |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref>
Jordan introduced bipartisan legislation to honor philanthropist Marylou Whitney<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/19/sports/horse-racing/marylou-whitney-dead.html |title=Marylou Whitney, Social Queen of the Racing World, Dies at 93 |work=The New York Times |date=2019-07-19 |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref> by designating a portion of the state highway system in the city of Saratoga Springs as "Marylou Whitney Way". Jordan's bill was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wnyt.com/top-stories/new-saratoga-street-sign-honors-late-philanthropist-marylou-whitney/ |title=New Saratoga street sign honors late-philanthropist Marylou Whitney |website=wnyt.com |date=2022-08-27 |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref>
In 2019, Jordan launched an effort to honor the courage of Purple Heart recipients by establishing local Purple Heart Communities across the 43rd Senate District.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.benningtonbanner.com/archives/hoosick-declared-a-purple-heart-community/article_845fc7e5-70c3-550e-9609-71b4a20dfb9a.html |title=Hoosick declared a Purple Heart community |website=benningtonbanner.com |date=2020-07-28 |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref> Within the 43rd District, all 60 towns, villages, and cities are Purple Heart Communities, and all four counties (Saratoga, Rensselaer, Washington, and Columbia) passed local resolutions to become Purple Heart Communities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.troyrecord.com/2022/05/27/rensselaer-county-purple-heart-highway-legislation-passes-state-senate/ |title='Rensselaer County Purple Heart Highway' legislation passes State Senate |website=troyrecord.com |date=2022-05-27}}</ref>
== Personal life == Jordan is married to Phil Jordan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.troyrecord.com/snapshot-daphne-jordan-begins-term-in-state-senate/article_33f089c2-15b2-11e9-9686-a35ca520c5a3.html/|title=Snapshot: Daphne Jordan begins term in state Senate|website=TroyRecord.com|date=January 11, 2019}}</ref> During Jordan's Senate tenure, she resided with her family in Halfmoon, New York. The Jordans have two sons.<ref name="auto2"/>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jordan, Daphne}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:Republican Party New York (state) state senators Category:Women state legislators in New York (state) Category:People from Halfmoon, New York Category:New York (state) city council members Category:Penn State Dickinson Law alumni Category:Lehigh University alumni Category:American people of Greek descent Category:1959 births Category:Women city councillors in New York (state) Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature