Joseph Morelle, U.S. Congressman representing New York’s 25th district since 2018, has recently posted a series of statements on social media addressing constitutional issues, stock trading regulations for public officials, and the legacy of Frederick Douglass.
On February 13, 2026, Morelle directed a message to the president regarding electoral authority: “Mr. President, read the Constitution. Elections belong to the American people. Not you.”
Later that same day, he addressed ethics in government with a call for legislative action: “We need to put an end to individual stock trading by members of Congress, the president, and the vice president. My discharge petition would bring a real stock trading ban to the House floor and help restore trust in our government.”
On February 14, 2026, Morelle commemorated abolitionist Frederick Douglass and his ties to Rochester: “Frederick Douglass chose Rochester as the home of The North Star, a place where he lead the fight for freedom. Today, we honor his courage by continuing his mission: defending democracy, expanding opportunity, and protecting equal rights for all.”
Morelle has served in Congress since replacing Louise Slaughter in 2018 after previously holding office in the New York State Assembly from 1991 to 2018. He was born in Utica in 1957 and currently resides in Irondequoit. Morelle graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986.
