Patrick Timmins

Patrick Timmins was born in New York, New York. He earned a high school diploma from Cardinal Spellman High School, a bachelor's degree from Manhattan University in 1977, and a law degree from Pace University in 1989. His career experience includes working as an attorney and professor. As of 2025, Timmins was affiliated with the NYC Bar Association.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Patrick Timmins. I've spent my entire career fighting for everyday Americans — and now I want to bring that fight to Congress. As a lifelong Manhattanite, I know exactly what the people of CD-12 both need and deserve.

When I ran for Manhattan District Attorney in 2025, I knocked on thousands of doors and heard directly from my neighbors. That experience — earning 70,000 votes, 52,000 from CD-12 — only deepened my commitment to advocate for this community.

My legal career spans decades of public service. I spent three and a half years in the violent felony bureau of the Bronx DA's office, and for 21 years I've taught New York criminal Law and constitutional law at John Jay College, CUNY. I continue to fight for union members and others suffering from asbestos-related cancer, and I've worked with Legal Aid, Bronx Legal Services, and the NY Attorney General's Consumer Fraud Division.

I was born in Washington Heights, raised in the Bronx, and have lived in Manhattan my entire adult life. This is my home. These are my neighbors. And I'm ready to serve them in Congress.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I am a radical pragmatist. I want the Democratic Party to be a party of ideas, not of reactions, emotionalism, and partisanship. I want to aggressively address immigration law with a new concept of a "Blue Card" that will assist undocumented immigrants with establishing a legal status subject to background checks, work history, and contributions to our many diverse communities.Our healthcare system needs radical change. It is not enough for Medicare or Medicaid to provide basic emergency room and primary care physician support and inadequate hospitalization support. Our healthcare plan should be available to all, and needs to include dental and vision and rehabilitation (for falls and other accidents). We also need a drastic reduction in the cost of pharmaceuticals. Citizens should not have to have supplemental insurance plans in their retiring years because the federal government will not cover enough of the healthcare expenses that come up. It is time for comprehensive healthcare for every American.Antisemitism cannot be tolerated anymore. There should be debate in Congress as to mandatory educational requirements in public schools to help all schoolchildren better learn about Jewish culture and history. Commonsense reforms to law enforcement response to antisemitic attacks must happen, beginning with the legal definition of antisemitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

Our Jewish brothers and sisters are a backbone of our district, having built entire communities that resonate throughout Manhattan. It is long past time that we ensure their public safety just as much as the next New Yorker.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

First and foremost I am passionate about public safety. New Yorkers in CD 12 deserve not only to be safe, but to feel safe. This comes from effective policing, a robust criminal justice system, subway and bus safety in NYC, gun control reform, and other means.

I am also passionate about healthcare reform. America's healthcare system is complicated, expensive, and ineffective. Healthcare needs to be streamlined so it is easy to become and stay healthy.

Section 9 housing must be supported by prioritizing major repairs and maintenance. There should be no demolition of buildings. Our federal government needs to make public housing a priority.

I have signed the National Term Limits pledge. I don't believe in generational seats.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

The Honorable Ray Kelly - former NY Police Commissioner for David Dinkins and Michael Bloomberg; The Honorable John Dearie, former State Assemblymember; El Barrio East Harlem Democrats; Hispanics for Timmins for Congress; Catholics for Timmins for Congress; Asian-Americans for Timmins for Congress; Irish Americans for Timmins for Congress

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Patrick Timmins, and I have been an attorney for 33 years. I have lived my entire adult life in Manhattan, where my family is also from. After graduating from Manhattan University in the Bronx and getting my law degree from Pace University, I worked in the Bronx DA's office for almost 4 years and have been an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice for 21 years. Prior to the campaign, I was a civil litigator working on asbestos cases.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Manhattan can be safe once again both above and below ground. I am committed to reversing the soft-on-crime policies that have failed this borough and have created a sense of fear and have eroded public safety.We must do better as a borough to clear cases brought before us and keep criminals off the streets. High case dismissal rates must be stopped. This has been partially attributed to the onerous Discovery laws, but that ignores the fact that a district attorney's office with more than a thousand employees can't hand over case material in a timely manner. This is unacceptable and will be a key focus of my tenure as District Attorney.Hate crimes are a scourge of every city--and they have been increasing in frequency. I am committed to protecting every Manhattanite, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, or any other distinguishing feature. This means ramping up resources for investigating and prosecuting hate crimes, and making a guarantee that those crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about addressing and being part of the solution to achieve safe streets and safe subways in Manhattan. The plans, the energy, and the creative solutions to some of the crime that exists in the city will be something I look forward to working on with others - this includes the NYPD, the Mayor, and the people of Manhattan. I also look forward to implementing some programs like expungements for felons who have paid their debt to society and also programs that assist victims with their trauma.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

This office is responsible for enforcing the New York Penal Law in Manhattan/New York County. Not only does the office prosecute those who commit crimes, but the office also helps shape criminal justice policy. The district attorneys work closely with law enforcement to ensure public safety for those in their jurisdiction.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

There are many guys I grew up with in various neighborhoods in NYC who died too young, who showed me courage, toughness, and strength. This includes some family members, some older guys from my neighborhood, some sports figures - saints and sinners.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Diaries of Mario Cuomo: The Campaign for Governor

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

A successful District Attorney must be tenacious and courageous. Tenacity is important in the face of legal hurdles that arise; prosecuting cases is very rarely done in a straight line. Courage comes next: there are endless hard choices to make, and without courage, a DA will not be able to make those choices with conviction.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am a high-energy leader, and I have the ability to focus on the most important priorities in a given situation that need to be done and the very necessary follow-up that is required to accomplish any goal.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Among the core responsibilities are public safety, transparency, and a strong, ethical working relationship with the NYPD and victims of crime. Making major contributions to the people of Manhattan in terms of safety above and below ground is another core responsibility.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I believe in the present. Legacies will be determined by others.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was as an apprentice cooper at the Fulton Fish Market in lower Manhattan, which involved repairing boxes and barrels so that fish and ice could be put in barrels and boxes to be shipped out to restaurants in various east coast cities. I worked with very colorful characters, with all sorts of nicknames given to them from New York City neighborhoods and prison gangs. This was a summer and part-time job.

I also worked as an assistant embalmer at a funeral home in the Bronx part-time on the weekends. I have epic stories from this job, too.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Lost Horizon by James Hilton

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Shakespeare's Henry V. Once more unto the breach . . . .

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

Of paramount importance is the expeditious prosecution of violent crimes with full transparency and full fairness and due process under the New York Penal Law. The goal is to deter and stop subway and street crime in Manhattan.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Management of the grand jury process and public disclosure of finances of the office are important.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes. Voters do not need to put up with incompetence because of on-the-job training required by some brand-new candidates.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Strong investigative analytical skills, deep knowledge of New York Criminal Law, personnel management skills, and criminal courtroom knowledge and experience are vital.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, West Side Community Organization; El Barrio / East Harlem

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Both are extremely important. It should be known to the public.

Would a state ballot initiative process be good or bad for your state?

It depends on the existing injustice in the system.