Meet the four New York state Republicans who crossed party lines and helped Democrats pass marriage equality

James S. Alesi (55th District)

Profession: Former small business owner. His company operated washers and dryers in apartment complexes and colleges.

Year elected: Alesi was elected to the New York State Senate in a Special Election in 1996 and has been re-elected every two years since.

Priority issues: Lowering taxes, preserving workers’ right to unionize, preserving funding arts and public education, state-level stimulus to create jobs in the technology sector.

Statement on marriage equality vote: None available.

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Roy J. McDonald (43rd District)

Profession: Banker. McDonald is also a Vietnam War veteran.

Year elected: Roy was elected to the 43rd Senate District in 2008. Prior to that, he had served in the Assembly since February 2002.

Priority issues: Incentives to encourage military service, legislation to preserve local military sites, autism awareness, farm subsidies.

Statement on marriage equality vote: McDonald told the New York Daily News: “You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn’t black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing. … You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, fuck it, I don’t care what you think. I’m trying to do the right thing.”

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Stephen M. Saland (41st District)

Profession: Attorney. Saland is of-counsel to Gellert & Klein, P.C.

Year elected: 1990.

Priority issues: Creation of the Hudson River Greenway, domestic violence prevention, child abuse prevention.

Statement on marriage equality vote: None available.

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Mark J. Grisanti (60th District)

Profession: Grisanti is a third-generation attorney and is employed by his father’s law firm in Buffalo.

Year elected: Not cited.

Priority issues: Redevelopment of the Niagra Falls airport, legislative support for charter schools, Medicaid cuts.

Statement on marriage equality vote: Grisanti released a statement shortly after the voting: “As an attorney I analyzed the legislation and concluded that the amendments provide critical exemptions for religious institutions. Passage of this bill now rather than later ensures that these protections be included. I cannot deny anyone in my district and across New York the same rights I have with my wife.”

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