View source for Mike Capuano

{{Short description|American politician (born 1952)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name         = Mike Capuano
|image        = Mike Capuano.jpg
|state        = [[Massachusetts]]
|term_start   = January 3, 1999
|term_end     = January 3, 2019
|predecessor  = [[Joseph P. Kennedy II]]
|successor    = [[Ayanna Pressley]]
|constituency = {{ushr|MA|8|C}} (1999–2013)<br>{{ushr|MA|7|C}} (2013–2019)
|office2      = 33rd [[List of mayors of Somerville, Massachusetts|Mayor of Somerville]]
|term_start2  = January 1, 1990
|term_end2    = January 3, 1999
|predecessor2 = Eugene Brune
|successor2   = [[Dorothy Kelly Gay]]
|birth_name   = Michael Everett Capuano
|birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1952|1|9}}
|birth_place  = [[Somerville, Massachusetts|Somerville]], [[Massachusetts]], U.S.
|death_date   = 
|death_place  = 
|party        = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse       = {{marriage|Barbara Teebagy|1974}}
|children     = 2
|relatives    = [[Chris Evans (actor)|Chris Evans]] (nephew)<br>[[Scott Evans (actor)|Scott Evans]] (nephew)
|education    = [[Dartmouth College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Boston College]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
|website      = {{url|mikecapuano.com|Personal website}}
|signature    = Mike Capuano signature.png
|module       = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Rep. Mike Capuano Honors Retiring House Chaplain Daniel Coughlin.ogg |title=Capuano's voice |type=speech |description=Capuano honoring [[Daniel Coughlin]], the retiring [[Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives|House chaplain]].<br>Recorded April 21, 2010}}
}}
'''Michael Everett Capuano''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|æ|p|j|u|ˈ|ɑː|n|oʊ}} {{respell|KAP|ew|AH|noh}}; born January 9, 1952) is an American politician and attorney  who served as a [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] of [[Massachusetts]] from 1999 to 2019. A [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], his district included the northern three-fourths of [[Boston]], as well as parts of [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]], his hometown of [[Somerville, Massachusetts|Somerville]], and other communities immediately north and south of Boston. Prior to being elected to [[United States Congress|Congress]], he served in Somerville as an [[Alderman]] and the [[List of mayors of Somerville, Massachusetts|33rd mayor]].

Capuano was born and raised in Somerville. After graduating from [[Dartmouth College]] and [[Boston College Law School]], he worked as an attorney and Somerville alderman. After losing two mayoral elections in 1979 and 1981, he worked as legal counsel for the [[Massachusetts General Court]]. In 1989 Capuano ran for mayor a third time and won, serving from 1990 to 1999.

In 1998 Capuano won a crowded Democratic primary to replace [[Joseph Kennedy II]] in Congress and was re-elected nine times. He represented the state's [[Massachusetts's 8th congressional district|8th district]] until it was redrawn in 2013 into the {{ushr|MA|7|7th district}}. In Congress he was a staunch [[liberalism in the United States|liberal]] and member of the [[Congressional Progressive Caucus]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Caucus Members|url=https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=71&sectiontree=2,71|publisher=Congressional Progressive Caucus|access-date=January 30, 2018}}</ref> He ran in the [[United States Senate special election in Massachusetts, 2010|2010 special election]] to fill the seat in the [[United States Senate]] made vacant by the death of [[Ted Kennedy]], his Congressional predecessor's uncle, but lost the primary to [[Martha Coakley]], who in turn lost the general election to Republican [[Scott Brown (politician)|Scott Brown]]. In 2018, he was defeated by [[Ayanna Pressley]] in a House Democratic primary.<ref>{{cite web |title=Capuano concedes to Pressley in congressional race - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2018/09/04/capuano-pressley-count-experience-support-win-primary/BexLGYivjWMnwv4jaYTC1N/story.html |website=BostonGlobe.com |access-date=September 5, 2018}}</ref>

In March 2019, Capuano joined the law firm [[Foley & Lardner]], to serve as public affairs director.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2019/03/01/michael-capuano-new-job|title=Michael Capuano has a new job|date=2019-03-01|work=Boston.com|access-date=2019-03-15|language=en-US}}</ref> The same month, he also joined [[Boston University]] to teach at the university's [[Initiative on Cities]] and help organize the program.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bu.edu/today/2019/michael-capuano-to-join-bu/|title=Former Congressman Michael Capuano (Hon.'09) to Join BU|last=Barlow|first=Rich|website=BU Today|date=March 4, 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Capuano was born January 9, 1952, in the [[Spring Hill, Somerville, Massachusetts|Spring Hill]] neighborhood of [[Somerville, Massachusetts]], the son of Rita Marie (née Garvey) (1919–2010) and Andrew Capuano (1914–1994). His father left to serve in [[World War II]] shortly after his marriage, and after returning ran for the Somerville Board of Aldermen, and became the first [[Italian Americans|Italian American]] elected to the board. His mother was of Irish descent.<ref name="rita-2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2010/07/21/rita_capuano_campaigned_with_vigor_for_husband_son_at_90/|author=Emma Stickgold|title=Rita Capuano; campaigned with vigor for husband, son; at 90|publisher =[[The Boston Globe]]|date=July 21, 2010}}</ref><ref name="post-bio">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/elections/2004/candidates/22079/ |title=Biography: Michael Everett Capuano (D)|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

Capuano graduated from [[Somerville High School (Massachusetts)|Somerville High School]] in 1969, and later attended [[Dartmouth College]], where he graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in 1973. Capuano later went on to earn his [[Juris Doctor]] in 1977 from [[Boston College Law School]], specializing in tax law.<ref name="directory-2009">{{cite book |last1=Alston |first1=Farnsworth |last2=Carter|first2=Mary Ann|last3=Randolph|first3=Sarah (eds.)|year=2009|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9nL2Bhq3UYIC&pg=PA130|chapter=Michael E. Capuano|title=[[Official Congressional Directory|Congressional Directory for the 111th Congress (2009–2010)]]|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|publisher=[[United States Government Printing Office|Government Printing Office]]|pages=127–128|isbn=978-0-16-083727-2}}</ref>

==Early political career==
In 1976, Capuano was elected to the Somerville Board of Aldermen representing Ward 5, once served in by his father.<ref name="directory-2009" /><ref>{{cite book|last1=Government Research Corporation|title=National Journal|volume=30|publisher=Government Research Corporation|year=1998|pages=2589–3044|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ULNWAAAAYAAJ |access-date=October 10, 2012}}</ref> Capuano served one term, stepping down in 1979 to run for [[list of mayors of Somerville, Massachusetts|Mayor of Somerville]].<ref name="flint-1998" /> In the 1979 mayoral election he faced Eugene Brune, Paul Haley, and incumbent, Thomas August. He lost the nomination to Brune, who went on to defeat August.<ref>{{cite web|author=Meghann Ackerman|url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/features/x1013165255/Longtime-Somerville-champion-Haley-dies-at-60|title=Longtime Somerville champion, Haley dies at 60|publisher=Wicked Local-Somerville|date=March 3, 2010|access-date=December 17, 2012}}</ref> Capuano ran again in 1981 to challenge Brune, placing second in a three-person runoff election.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/684431721.html?FMT=ABS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104044243/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/684431721.html?FMT=ABS|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 4, 2012|title=Somerville|date=October 1, 1981|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=October 11, 2010}}</ref> Capuano promoted his opposition to the state ballot question [[Proposition 2½]] and criticized Brune for expanding the mayoral staff in the face of tight city budgets, while Brune touted his prevention of service cuts after the proposition passed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ziegler |first=Bart |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/684421561.html?FMT=ABS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104044255/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/684421561.html?FMT=ABS |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |title=Somerville: Mayor defending his 2½ record against 2 foes |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |access-date=October 11, 2010 |date=September 27, 1981}}</ref> Capuano lost in the general election with 40% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/684494931.html?FMT=ABS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104044309/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/684494931.html?FMT=ABS |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |title=Somerville |date=November 4, 1981 |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |access-date=October 11, 2010}}</ref>

From 1978 to 1984 Capuano served as chief legal counsel for the [[Massachusetts General Court]]'s Joint Committee on Taxation.<ref name="bioguide">{{cite web |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001037|title=Capuano, Michael Everett|work=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date=October 11, 2010}}</ref> Capuano left the committee in 1984 to join the [[Beacon Hill, Boston|Beacon Hill]] law firm and lobbying group Joyce & Joyce.<ref name="flint-1998">{{cite news|author=Anthony Flint |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/34104706.html?FMT=ABS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104044229/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/34104706.html?FMT=ABS|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 4, 2012|title=In the long run, persistence wins|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=September 17, 1998|access-date=October 11, 2010}}</ref> In 1985 he returned to the Somerville Board of Aldermen as an at-large member.<ref name="bioguide" />

===Mayor of Somerville===
In 1989 Capuano ran for mayor a third time and won.<ref name="directory-2009" /> Capuano served as mayor from 1990 to 1999, where he earned a reputation as a hands-on administrator.<ref name="goldberg-1998" /><ref name="ferdinand-1998" /> One of his priorities was to lower the city's population density, which at the time was the highest of any [[New England]] municipality, by using state grants to demolish several buildings and replace them with playgrounds and parking spaces.<ref name="kenney-1994" /> As mayor, Capuano oversaw the reduction of school class sizes to a maximum of 19 students.<ref name="goldberg-1998" />

==U.S. House of Representatives==
[[File:Capuano and Clooney.jpg|thumb|left|Capuano with actor [[George Clooney]] in [[Darfur]]]]

===Elections===
In 1998, [[Joseph Kennedy II]] announced his retirement after six terms in what was then the 8th District. Capuano entered a crowded 10-way Democratic primary—the real contest in this heavily Democratic district, which was once represented by [[John F. Kennedy]] and [[Tip O'Neill]]. The early front-runner was former [[List of mayors of Boston|Boston Mayor]] and [[United States Ambassador to the Holy See|US Vatican Ambassador]] [[Raymond Flynn]]. However, Capuano won the primary with 23%, largely due to large turnout in Somerville, all but assuring him of election in November.<ref name="goldberg-1998">Goldberg, Carey (September 16, 1998). "[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E7D61131F935A2575AC0A96E958260 Mayor Wins Chance to Take Storied Kennedy House Seat]." ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref><ref name="ferdinand-1998">Ferdinand, Pamela (September 17, 1998). "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/keyraces98/stories/ma091798.htm Massachusetts: Ex-Mayor Ray Flynn's Comeback Fizzles; Competitive Race For Governor Set]." ''[[The Washington Post]]''.</ref>  He easily won the general election in November, taking 81 percent of the vote. He was reelected nine times, never dropping below 80% of the vote in what has long been the most Democratic district in New England. Since his initial run for the seat, Capuano was unopposed in all but two reelection bids; he faced a minor-party candidate in 2006 and an independent in 2012. He faced a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] only once, during his initial run in 1998.

====2018 election====
{{See also|2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts#District 7}}
Capuano was defeated by Boston City Councilor [[Ayanna Pressley]] in the September 4, 2018, primary election, receiving 41.3% of the vote versus Pressley's 58.5%.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/132150|title=2018 U.S. House Democratic Primary: 7th Congressional District|website=Massachusetts Election Statistics|publisher=Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts}}</ref> ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' reported that Capuano did not get the endorsement of either U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, [[Elizabeth Warren]] and [[Edward J. Markey]], nor was he endorsed by Representatives [[Seth Moulton]] and [[Niki Tsongas]]. Capuano did receive the support of the majority of the Massachusetts federal delegation, including Representatives [[Bill Keating (politician)|William Keating]], [[Katherine Clark]], [[Jim McGovern (American politician)|James McGovern]], [[Joseph Kennedy III]], [[Stephen F. Lynch|Stephen Lynch]], and [[Richard Neal]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Joshua |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/03/06/michael-capuano-first-major-challenge-gets-love-from-warren-markey/ihIkq7y7bqTdlns08ckHGK/story.html |title=Capuano faces a major challenge from Pressley. And Warren, Markey aren't endorsing him. |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=March 7, 2018 |access-date=March 7, 2018 }}</ref> Capuano was endorsed by Congressman [[John Lewis]] (D-GA), on March 7, 2018; Lewis described Capuano as "a champion and fierce advocate for those who have often been forgotten or left behind" and "a leader alongside those of us opposing the unfair and immoral policies of the Trump Administration."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/03/06/civil-rights-hero-john-lewis-endorses-mike-capuano/ksHpI49c8O5IR7FvY02PyL/story.html|title=Civil rights hero John Lewis endorses Mike Capuano - The Boston Globe|work=BostonGlobe.com|access-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref> In its editorial endorsement of Pressley, the ''Boston Globe'' noted that the state Legislature had drawn the 7th district to favor minority candidates.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2018/08/25/endorsement-democrats-should-choose-ayanna-pressley-for-seventh-district/E5YhYoFCXesjJU2ThByDaK/story.html|title= Endorsement: Democrats should choose Ayanna Pressley for the Seventh District|work=BostonGlobe.com|access-date=July 10, 2019}}</ref> No Republican even filed, all but assuring Pressley of being the district's next congresswoman.

===Tenure===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:22em; float:right; clear:right; margin-left:1em; font-size:88%"
|-
! Committee assignments
|-
! [[115th United States Congress|115th Congress]] {{nobold|(2017–19)}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollcall.com/members/221.html|title=Rep. Michael E. Capuano (D-Mass.)|publisher=[[Roll Call]] ([[Congressional Quarterly|CQ]])}}</ref>
|-
|
* '''[[United States House Committee on Financial Services|Financial Services]]'''
** [[United States House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit|Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit]]
** [[United States House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance|Housing and Insurance]]
** [[United States House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations|Oversight and Investigations]]
* '''[[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Transportation and Infrastructure]]'''
** [[United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation|Aviation]]
** [[United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and Transit|Highways and Transit]]
** [[United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials|Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials]] (ranking member)
|}
During his tenure, Capuano helped found five congressional caucuses, on: Community Health Centers;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nachc.com/client/documents/Community%20Health%20Center%20Caucus%20Membership_09262011-PDF%20%282%29.pdf|title=Community Health Center Caucus Membership|work=National Association for Home Care & Hospice|date=September 9, 2011|access-date=January 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509094320/http://www.nachc.com/client/documents/Community%20Health%20Center%20Caucus%20Membership_09262011-PDF%20%282%29.pdf|archive-date=May 9, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huduser.org/Publications/pdf/ezec_report.pdf|title=Interim Assessment of the Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/EC) Program: A Progress Report|work=[[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development]]|date=November 2001|access-date=January 28, 2013}}</ref> [[Sudan]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?page=imprimable&id_article=12163|title=US Congress inaugurates "Sudan caucus"|work=[[Sudan Tribune]]|date=October 20, 2005|access-date=January 28, 2013}}</ref> and [[Korea]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/18883/mike-capuano#.UQYO2mdU5co|title=Representative Michael 'Mike' E. Capuano's Biography|work=[[Project Vote Smart]]|access-date=January 28, 2013}}</ref> as well as one for former [[Mayoralty in the United States|Mayors]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.macfound.org/media/article_pdfs/LIVING_CITIES_PRESS_RELEASE_060519.PDF|title=Living Cities Joins Congressmen Turner, and Capuano to Announce Formation of Former Mayors Caucus|work=LivingCities|date=May 19, 2006|access-date=January 28, 2013}}</ref>

Capuano voted against the [[Iraq Resolution|War in Iraq]] and supported immediate withdrawal of troops. In 2005 Capuano visited Iraq and met with military leaders to assess the future of the region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/public-statement/131725/congressman-mike-capuano-returns-from-visit-to-iraq#.UQg1AmdU5cq|title=Congressman Mike Capuano Returns From Visit to Iraq|date=October 14, 2005|access-date=January 29, 2013|author=Mike Capuano}}</ref> Capuano is considered to be one of the biggest supporters in Congress for increasing international aid funding,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/01/massachusetts_us_senate_race_p_1.html|title=Massachusetts U.S. Senate Race Profile: Michael Capuano|work=[[The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts)]]|author=Robert Rizzuto|date=January 12, 2013|access-date=January 29, 2013}}</ref> and has advocated bringing attention to the [[War in Darfur|crisis in Sudan]] and helped secure funding aimed at assisting developing African nations.<ref name="Capuano Who Runs Gov">{{cite news|title=Michael E. Capuano (D-Mass.)|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/michael-e-capuano-d-mass/gIQAzL6PAP_topic.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518113617/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/michael-e-capuano-d-mass/gIQAzL6PAP_topic.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 18, 2015|work=Who Runs Gov|publisher=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=June 12, 2012|first=Chris|last=Cillizza}}</ref>

Capuano is [[pro-choice]] and supports open access to abortions. In 2012 a fundraiser hosted by [[Pope John XXIII High School (Everett, Massachusetts)|Pope John XXIII High School]] where Capuano and fellow Massachusetts Congressman [[Ed Markey]] were to receive awards was cancelled due to their "positions [being] inconsistent with [[Catholic Church|church doctrine]];" both were humble in response to the news.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.everettindependent.com/2012/05/17/pope-john-fundraiser-cancelled-markey-capuano-maintain-support/|title=Pope John Fundraiser Cancelled: Markey, Capuano Maintain Support|author=John Resnek|work=Everett Independent|date=May 17, 2012|access-date=April 12, 2013}}</ref> During the [[United States Senate special election in Massachusetts, 2010|2010 Senate Democratic primary]] Capuano criticized his opponent [[Martha Coakley]], claiming she wouldn't have voted for the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] with [[Stupak–Pitts Amendment]] which would have barred federal funding of abortions; which Capuano said he only did to "keep the health care debate alive."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-plank/mike-capuanos-profile-courage#|title=Mike Capuano's Profile in Courage|date=November 11, 2009|access-date=January 26, 2013|magazine=The New Republic|author=Jason Zengerle}}</ref> Capuano's comments were characterized by [[WBUR]] political analyst as "an empty charge against her since he has the same position as she does."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wbur.org/2009/11/11/health-bill-analysis|title=Payne: Capuano Has To Explain His Health Care, Abortion Position|date=November 11, 2009|access-date=January 26, 2013|author=Bob Oakes and Kathleen McNerney|work=[[WBUR]]}}</ref>

After the [[United States general elections, 2006|2006 election]] that created a Democratic majority in the House, he was appointed Chairman of the Speaker's Task Force on Ethics Enforcement by [[Nancy Pelosi]], with whom he has a close relationship. After serving as the Chairman of the Task Force on Ethics Enforcement, in 2008 Capuano introduced {{USBill|110|H|895}} which established the [[Office of Congressional Ethics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2013/01/23/capuano-named-house-ethics-committee/OVoFopKyptqvU7X57uPX6H/story.html|title=Representative Michael Capuano named to House Ethics Committee|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|author=David Uberti|date=January 23, 2013|access-date=January 28, 2013}}</ref> Capuano has had a long-running relationship with former Congressman [[Anthony Weiner]], whom he shared a [[Washington, D.C.]] apartment with for 12 years. Following Weiner's [[Anthony Weiner sexting scandal|sexting scandal]] Capuano did not call on him to resign, saying: "I am not the guy who likes to judge other people. I figure that is between them and the people who are appropriately named to do that&nbsp;– and that is the Ethics Committee."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/wellesley/topstories/x1841758636/Capuano-on-scandal-plagued-Weiner-Ex-roomie-shouldnt-resign#axzz2PwXpuiDX|title=Capuano on scandal-plagued Weiner: Ex-roomie shouldn't resign|date=June 9, 2011|access-date=April 9, 2013|author=WickedLocal Wellesley|author-link=GateHouse Media}}</ref>

Capuano is a strong supporter of labor rights and unions; in February 2011 during a rally at [[Beacon Hill, Boston|Beacon Hill]] in Boston, in support of the [[2011 Wisconsin budget protests]], Capuano told the crowd, "I'm proud to be here with people who understand that it's more than just sending an email to get you going. Every once and awhile you need to get out on the streets and get a little bloody when necessary". Following criticism, especially when such a statement was made just days after the [[2011 Tucson shooting|attempted assassination]] of [[Gabby Giffords]], Capuano expressed regret for his "choice of words."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/83492-democrat-urges-unions-to-get-a-little-bloody-when-necessary/|title=Democrat urges unions to 'get a little bloody when necessary'|author=Michael O'Brien|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=February 23, 2011|access-date=January 29, 2013}}</ref>

After the [[2008 financial crisis]] and subsequent [[Troubled Asset Relief Program|bank bailouts]], at a [[United States House Committee on Financial Services|House Financial Services Committee]] hearing, Capuano berated the bank [[CEO]]s for their practices, saying at one point: "You come to us today on your bicycles after buying Girl Scout cookies and helping out [[Mother Teresa]] and telling us, 'We're sorry, we didn't mean it, we won't do it again, trust us.' Well, I have some people in my constituency that actually robbed some of your banks and they say the same thing."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/economy-watch/2009/02/kanjorski_to_bankers_pay_us_ba.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616085802/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/economy-watch/2009/02/kanjorski_to_bankers_pay_us_ba.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 16, 2013|title=Rep. Capuano Scorches Big Bankers|author=Frank Aherns|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=February 11, 2009|access-date=April 13, 2013}}</ref> Capuano's speech was included in the 2010 [[documentary film]] ''[[Inside Job (2010 film)|Inside Job]]'', described by [[Film director|director]] [[Charles H. Ferguson]] as being about "the systemic corruption of the United States by the [[financial services]] industry and the consequences of that systemic corruption."<ref>{{cite web|date=February 25, 2011|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS0hj4kiqsA| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/vS0hj4kiqsA| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=Charlie Rose Interviews Charles Ferguson on his documentary 'Inside Job'|work=[[YouTube]]|access-date=October 25, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

A self-described "[[Fiscal conservatism|fiscal conservative]]" who opposed the Bush-era tax cuts that provided tax reductions for the wealthy because they "created a deficit for no good reason,"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegram.com/article/20091201/NEWS/912010420/0/Holden&TEMPLATE=TOWNPORTAL|title=Capuano says House experience a big plus|date=December 1, 2009|access-date=April 9, 2013|author=John J. Monahan|work=[[The Telegram]]}}</ref> in 2013 Capuano joined [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Elizabeth Warren]] and [[List of mayors of Boston|Boston Mayor]] [[Thomas Menino]] in a rally against the then-upcoming [[Budget sequestration in 2013|sequester]], with Capuano calling it "stupid."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/02/18/warren-capuano-call-sequestration-stupid/|title=Warren, Capuano Call Sequestration 'Stupid'|date=February 18, 2013|access-date=April 9, 2013|work=[[WBZ-TV]]}}</ref> In 2012 Capuano along with fellow Massachusetts Congressman [[Barney Frank]] introduced legislation to combine the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|Securities and Exchange Commission]] and [[Commodity Futures Trading Commission]] into the "Securities and Derivatives Commission."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://centerforfinancialstability.org/wp/?p=954|title=House Democrats Frank and Capuano Push for SEC-CFTC Merger Bill|date=December 3, 2012|access-date=April 9, 2013|author=Steven Lofchie|work=Center for Financial Stability}}</ref>

Capuano was a member of the [[Congressional Arts Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Membership|url=https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|publisher=Congressional Arts Caucus|access-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140644/https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the [[U.S.-Japan Caucus]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://usjapancaucus-castro.house.gov/members|publisher=U.S. - Japan Caucus|access-date=1 December 2018}}</ref>

==Campaigns for higher office==

===1994 Secretary nomination===
Capuano ran for [[Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth]] in the [[Massachusetts general election, 1994#Secretary of the Commonwealth|1994 election]], running against former [[Massachusetts House of Representatives|State Representatives]] [[Augusto Grace]] and [[William F. Galvin]] for the Democratic nomination. During the race he framed himself as an advocate for the poor and urban communities, and criticized aid formulas which he argued left less-wealthy municipalities with less per-capita revenue. To appear on the Democratic primary required the support of at least 15% of delegates in the state party convention. In what the ''[[Boston Globe]]'' deemed "an embarrassing defeat," he failed to obtain the necessary delegate votes to be nominated to participate in the primary election,  with only 13%. When asked why he undertook the difficult race to begin with, he responded, "Because I wasn't ready to run for [[Governor of Massachusetts|Governor]]."<ref name="kenney-1994">{{cite news|author=Michael Kenney|date=August 7, 1994|access-date=October 16, 2010|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61997641.html?FMT=ABS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104064318/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61997641.html?FMT=ABS|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 4, 2012|title=An upbeat Capuano eyeing the future|work=[[The Boston Globe]]}}</ref>

===2010 Senate campaign===
{{wikinews|Brown, Coakley win Massachusetts Senate seat primaries amid low voter turnout}}
{{Main|2010 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts}}
After the death of incumbent Senator [[Ted Kennedy]], a special election to succeed him was scheduled. On September 8, 2009, Capuano collected nomination papers to run for the seat<ref name="herald-2009-09-08">{{cite web|url=http://bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view.bg?articleid=1196192&pos=breaking|title=Capuano takes out papers for Ted K's Senate seat|date=September 8, 2009|access-date=September 8, 2009|publisher=[[Boston Herald]]|first1=Edward|last1=Mason|first2=Joe|last2=Dwinell}}</ref> and on September 18, he announced his candidacy.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.necn.com/Boston/NECN-Extra/2009/09/18/NECN-Extra-Rep-Capuano/1253304446.html | title=NECN Extra: Rep. Capuano announces candidacy for U.S. Senate | date=September 18, 2009 | access-date=September 20, 2009 | publisher=New England Cable News | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924174803/http://www.necn.com/Boston/NECN-Extra/2009/09/18/NECN-Extra-Rep-Capuano/1253304446.html | archive-date=September 24, 2009 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Capuano ran as a "Washington insider," comparing himself to Kennedy saying: "was [Kennedy] not the ultimate insider ... I think that's probably one of the best things that we share."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wbur.org/2009/11/06/senate-campaign-trail-capuano|title=Capuano Embraces 'Washington Insider' Label|work=[[WBUR]]|date=November 6, 2009|access-date=January 28, 2013|author=Bob Oakes}}</ref> In his campaign Capuano received several high-profile endorsements, including House Speaker Pelosi and former Massachusetts Governor and [[1988 United States presidential election|1988 Democratic presidential nominee]], [[Michael Dukakis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.universalhub.com/node/28931|title=Nancy Pelosi endorses Mike Capuano for US Senate (vote Dec 8)|date=November 13, 2009|access-date=January 29, 2013|work=Universal HUB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wbur.org/2009/11/29/dukakis-hops-on-the-capuano-train|title=Dukakis Hops On The Capuano Train|date=November 29, 2009|access-date=January 29, 2013|author=Monica Brady-Myerov|work=[[WBUR]]}}</ref>

Consistently polling below incumbent [[Massachusetts Attorney General]], [[Martha Coakley]], on December 8, 2009, Capuano lost the Democratic primary to Coakley, winning only 28% of the vote to Coakley's 47%, amongst a field of four candidates.

===2014 gubernatorial election===
{{Further|2014 Massachusetts gubernatorial election}}
Capuano considered running for [[Governor of Massachusetts]] in [[Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2014|2014]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.thephoenix.com/BLOGS/talkingpolitics/archive/2012/03/23/q-amp-a-4-2014-guv-race.aspx|title=Q&A #4: 2014 Guv Race|date=March 23, 2012|access-date=April 9, 2013|author=David S. Bernstein|work=[[The Phoenix (newspaper)|The Phoenix]]}}</ref> On January 21, 2013, former mayor of [[Springfield, Massachusetts]], and member of the [[Massachusetts Governor's Council]] [[Michael Albano]] endorsed Capuano to run, posting on his [[Facebook]] page: "while the Congressman has not made a decision to compete for the [Democratic] nomination [for Governor] at this time, it is not too early to make the case and encourage his candidacy."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wggb.com/2013/01/21/former-springfield-mayor-endorses-gubernatorial-candidate/|title=Former Springfield Mayor Endorses Gubernatorial Candidate|date=January 21, 2013|access-date=April 9, 2013|work=[[WGGB-TV]]}}</ref> When asked in February 2013 whether he might run for governor, Capuano responded: "Part of me thinks that some of the more interesting, more important fights over the next several years might be conducted at statehouses around the country and not necessarily on [[Capitol Hill]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://somerville.patch.com/articles/capuano-to-consider-run-for-governor|title=Capuano to Consider Run for Governor|work=SomervillePatch|date=February 8, 2013|access-date=April 9, 2013|author=Chris Orchard}}</ref> In a statement in September 2013, Capuano announced he would not run for governor, and would instead focus on running for re-election to Congress.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/09/26/rep-capuano-will-not-run-for-governor-instead-plans-seek-reelection/UPUZML8JFt0zvcOmdEVTeN/story.html|title=Representative Michael Capuano will not run for governor|date=September 26, 2013|access-date=September 26, 2013|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|author=Frank Phillips}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Capuano was named after his two grandfathers,<ref name="post-bio" /> and has seven siblings, one of whom died in infancy, and another who died of [[polio]] at the age of 5.<ref name="rita-2010" /> Capuano married Barbara Teebagy in 1974, and together they have two sons: Michael and Joseph.<ref name="directory-2009" /> He is the uncle of actors [[Chris Evans (actor)|Chris Evans]] of the ''[[Captain America: The First Avenger|Captain America]]'' film series, and [[Scott Evans (actor)|Scott Evans]] of the soap opera ''[[One Life to Live]]'' through his sister Lisa.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2010/07/21/rita_capuano_campaigned_with_vigor_for_husband_son_at_90/ |title=Rita Capuano; campaigned with vigor for husband, son; at 90 |date=July 21, 2010|work=[[The Boston Globe]]| access-date=July 22, 2010 | first=Emma | last=Stickgold | archive-date= November 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105223730/http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2010/07/21/rita_capuano_campaigned_with_vigor_for_husband_son_at_90/}} {{subscription required}}</ref> In 2003, the City of Somerville dedicated a new school in Capuano's honor; the Michael E. Capuano Early Childhood Center officially opened in September that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.house.gov/capuano/news/2003/pr090203.shtml|title=City of Somerville Names Early Childhood Center in Honor of Congressman Capuano|publisher=Office of Rep. Michael Capuano|date=September 2, 2003|access-date=April 13, 2013}}</ref>

Capuano is a Roman Catholic.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2014/03/30/massachusetts-catholics-congress-accustomed-being-shunned-vatican-are-encouraged-thaw-under-pope-francis/cUi3Ur493XEzLNEba9h7GP/story.html|title=Massachusetts Catholics in Congress — accustomed to being shunned by the Vatican — are encouraged by thaw under Pope Francis|last=Lednicer|first=Lisa Grace|date=March 31, 2014|work=The Boston Globe|access-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406160745/http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2014/03/30/massachusetts-catholics-congress-accustomed-being-shunned-vatican-are-encouraged-thaw-under-pope-francis/cUi3Ur493XEzLNEba9h7GP/story.html|archive-date=April 6, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Before [[Pope Francis]] became pope and shifted the tone of the Church, Capuano used to fear that his mother would be embarrassed if he was ever denied communion because of his support for gay marriage and abortion rights.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
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[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:20th-century mayors of places in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:21st-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Boston College Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Catholic politicians from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Dartmouth College alumni]]
[[Category:Democratic Party United States representatives from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Evans-Capuano family|Mike Capuano]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Massachusetts city council members]]
[[Category:Mayors of Somerville, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Politicians from Somerville, Massachusetts]]