Assemb. David McDonough misses 100 votes; unclear when he was last in Albany

ALBANY — A state lawmaker from Merrick has missed about 100 votes this year and hasn’t reported showing up at the State Capitol for more than two years.

It’s unclear just when Assemb. David McDonough, 88, last set foot in Albany to advocate for his Nassau County-based district.

Voting records show McDonough, who has represented the hamlet of Merrick and the surrounding area for 24 years, has voted on just 10 bills out of the 109 the state Assembly has approved as of Feb. 5, according to a Newsday review. All those votes came on a single session day, and all McDonough’s votes were via video conference. He was marked as excused for the remaining session days.

Further, McDonough has not filed a travel expense report for reimbursement of mileage, tolls or for the per diem that state legislators are eligible for to cover overnights stays in Albany since 2023, according to records with the state comptroller’s office. The per diem is available to all lawmakers who live outside the Capital Region.

McDonough's district office in Merrick did not respond to a Newsday call on the issue. But the state Assembly Republican Conference later sent a statement attributed to McDonough. It was the same statement sent to the Times Union of Albany last July when the paper reported that McDonough had missed more legislative session days than any other Republican lawmaker and only voted via video conference.

In it, McDonough said his extended absence was due to personal and health challenges.

"Across workplaces, technology has opened avenues for people to do their jobs remotely," he said. "Despite some limitations I appreciate the ability to participate in session, pass bills and cast votes on behalf of my district."

The State Legislature began allowing members to vote via video conference during the coronavirus pandemic. In general, members must notify leadership that they will be absent in order to vote remotely. Typically, absences are attributable to illness, disability or an unexpected event. Members using video conference can vote but cannot speak on any matter.

Rachael Fauss, a senior policy adviser with Reinvent Albany, said while McDonough was still voting on bills, his absence in the State Capitol meant he was missing out on key parts of the legislative process.

"We know the way business gets done in Albany," she said. "The deals get made in person and when someone’s not there, when they’re physically absent, they’re missing out on a big part of the decision-making process."

A spokesman for the Assembly Republican Conference declined to comment. Nassau County Republican Chair Joe Cairo did not return a call for comment. Nassau County Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs declined to comment.

McDonough was last reelected in 2024, winning easily over Democrat Ellen M. Lederer DeFrancesco, 49,465 to 27,907. It was the highest vote total McDonough had received in his career, according to the state Board of Elections. The 14th Assembly District, long a GOP stronghold where Republicans outnumber Democrats by about 11,000, is a South Shore district covering parts of Bellmore, Wantagh and Jones Beach.

McDonough previously served as president of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics from Columbia University and is a U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force veteran.

It is unclear if McDonough intends to run for another term. He is the chairman of the Assembly Republicans’ task force on public safety and the ranking minority member on the Assembly Transportation Committee. He introduced 19 bills in 2025.

He has not received any contributions to his campaign account since his 2024 campaign. In his most recent filing period, his only expenses from July through early January were a monthly bill for internet at his district office and donations to other local organizations. His campaign still has $40,000 in outstanding loans, including a $25,000 loan McDonough made in 2023.