Nita Lowey, trailblazing New York lawmaker, dies at 87

Former Congressmember Nita Lowey died Saturday at 87 after battling metastatic breast cancer, her family said in a statement Sunday.

“Nita has quietly and bravely battled metastatic breast cancer in recent years with the same tenacity and strength that she fought throughout her 32-year career in Congress for women, children and families in the U.S. and around the world,” the statement read.

Elected to Congress in 1988, Lowey spent more than three decades representing suburban communities north of New York City. She was the first woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, overseeing trillions in federal spending.

Throughout her career, Lowey pushed for AIDS funding, women’s health care and contraception coverage for federal workers. Her family described her as a “devoted and beloved grandmother” to her grandchildren, and “an indefatigable fighter” for her constituents and Americans.

Lowey died at home in Harrison, N.Y., surrounded by loved ones. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Stephen Lowey, her children Dana, Jackie and Douglas and eight grandchildren.

“We will miss her more than words can say and take great comfort in knowing that she lived a full and purposeful life,” her family said.

Her family will hold a private funeral and burial, followed by a memorial service at a later date, according to the statement.

Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered flags at half-staff through Monday in Lowey’s honor.

“I’m deeply saddened by the passing of my friend, former Representative Nita Lowey,” Hochul said in a statement. “As a freshman member of Congress, Nita helped show me ropes as I was learning how to navigate Washington. She was a tireless fighter for the State of New York and never stopped working to deliver for the people of Westchester and Rockland.”

New York elected leaders shared their condolences on social media Sunday, praising Lowey’s legacy and lifelong dedication to public service.

“Congress Member Lowey not only preached ‘Tikkun Olam’—she lived it,” said Rep. Ritchie Torres, referring to the Hebrew phrase meaning "repair of the world," which her family described as a guiding core value in her life and work.

He continued, “She was a fearless fighter for the people, a champion of New York, and a longstanding defender of the US-Israel relationship. America is a better country and New York is a better state for having had Nita Lowey as one of its most devoted public servants.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said her legacy will "live on in the hearts of New Yorkers" and beyond.

“I am devastated to hear of the passing of former Congresswoman Nita Lowey—a trailblazer and champion for working people,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on social media.

Rep. Daniel Goldman reflected on Lowey’s legacy, highlighting her decades of service to New Yorkers.

“During a half century of serving New Yorkers, Nita Lowey was a legendary public servant, a trailblazing leader, and an irreplaceable advocate for the Jewish community,” Goldman said. “Her passing reminds us of the enduring responsibility we each bear to advocate for a better state and country.”

In 2019, after 31 years in office, Lowey announced she would not seek reelection, marking the end of an era in which she secured significant funding for the region, including efforts to clean up the Long Island Sound and Hudson River and authoring key legislation to combat drunk driving and provide disaster relief after 9/11 and Superstorm Sandy.