U.S. House District 7 Election: Mike Capuano

Michael Capuano is the incumbent Democratic representative of the Massachusetts' 8th congressional district and is a candidate for the 7th congressional district.

Michael Everett Capuano was born in Somerville, Massachusetts in 1952 to Andrew Capuano of Somerville and Rita Garvey of Boston. Mike was named after both grandfathers, Michael Capuano and Everett Garvey. One was an orphan born in Italy who traveled to America alone when he was eighteen. The other was the son of Irish immigrants.

Mike is currently serving his seventh term as a Member of Congress. Prior to his election in 1998, Mike was Mayor of Somerville for five terms. He was elected Mayor in 1990. In 1998, he served as President of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, a statewide organization that represents the interests of the Commonwealth's 351 communities. He is also past President of the Massachusetts Mayors' Association.

As a Member of Congress, Mike was a consistent and outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq. In October of 2002, Mike voted against the Congressional Resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq.

Mike was one of only a small group of lawmakers to vote against the so-called PATRIOT Act, demonstrating unwavering support for our cherished civil liberties.

In November of 2006, Mike headed Rep. Nancy Pelosi's transition team as the Democrats prepared for a Majority role. Speaker Pelosi also named Mike to chair her Special Task Force on Ethics Enforcement, which was established in January of 2007. In March of 2008, Mike's resolution establishing the Office of Congressional Ethics passed in the House, marking the first time in the history of the House that an independent perspective was brought to ethics matters. The national advocacy group Common Cause called these efforts "monumentally important" and a "tremendous improvement to the current system".

Mike graduated from Somerville High School in 1969, received a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College in 1973 and a law degree from Boston College Law School in 1977. He passed the Massachusetts Bar in 1977. Mike was first elected to Congress in November of 1998. Mike met his wife, Barbara Teebagy Capuano in a Somerville High School chemistry class. Mike and Barbara have two sons, Michael and Joseph.