Former U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel dies at 79 after 16-term career representing Westchester and the Bronx and decades of influence on foreign policy and local politics

Apr 11, 2026, 12:25 PM

Former U.S. Congressman Elliot Engel, who served 16 terms in Congress and represented parts of Westchester and the Bronx, passed away on April 10 at the age of 79. Engel was born on February 18, 1947, in the Bronx. The cause of Engel’s death was not immediately known.

For over 3 decades (1989–2021), he was considered the "strongest voice" of Albanians on Capitol Hill, playing a key role in supporting Kosovo’s independence, fighting ethnic cleansing, and strengthening ties between the US and Albanians.

His interest in the Albanian issue began in the early 1990s, when the Albanian community of the Bronx first contacted him. From 1996 to 1999, Engel became a key leader in the US Congress, keeping the Kosovo issue alive.

Engel strongly supported the Kosovo Declaration of Independence on 17 February 2008. He was the first foreign MP to speak in the Kosovo Assembly and has repeatedly visited Albania and Kosovo. In Peja (Peć), a street is named after him, and the Government of Kosovo dedicated a postage stamp with his portrait in his honor.

He is considered not only a friend, but also one of the greatest advocates of the Albanian cause in American institutions.

Engel was also a “champion of justice” for the Bytyçi brothers, three Albanian-Americans who fought for the KLA and were executed by Serbian police in 1999.

He attended Bronx public schools, Herbert H. Lehman College, and New York Law School. He was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1977 and served there until 1988. In November 1988, he was elected to Congress, serving on Capitol Hill from 1989 to 2021. Engel lost the primary for the Democratic nomination to run for another term to Jamaal Bowman, who was elected in 2020 to the seat of New York’s 16th Congressional District.

Engel was an outspoken liberal voice in both Washington and his home district. He was often seen at events in Westchester, especially those supporting liberal causes. Engel was one of the most consistent pro-Israel representatives on Capitol Hill.

U.S. Representative George Latimer, who now serves in the New York 16th Congressional District seat once held by Engel, said, “Eliot Engel dedicated his life to public service, both as a teacher and as an elected official in Albany and Washington, D.C. His legacy is one of hard work on issues and kindness to all. His work in helping to bring peace to the Balkans in the 1990s was a great accomplishment, among many others. We mourn with his family and extend our deepest condolences. May he rest in peace.”

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Congressman Eliot Engel, a tireless public servant who dedicated more than three decades to representing the people of New York.”

“Throughout his career, Congressman Engel was a passionate advocate for his constituents in Westchester and the Bronx. He was a champion of human rights, and as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he helped shape American policy on the global stage, never losing sight of the needs of the communities he represented at home.

His legacy is one of dedication, conviction, and service. He understood that public office is a responsibility to speak out, to stand firm, and to deliver for the people who entrusted him with their voices.

"We express our deepest condolences to his family, friends and all those who had the privilege of working alongside him. His impact will be felt for generations," he said.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said, "For more than three decades, Congressman Eliot Engel dedicated himself to serving New Yorkers in Westchester and the Bronx, and New York is grateful for his service to our state. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. May his memory be a blessing."

Governor Kathy Hochul said that “the son of Ukrainian-Jewish immigrants, Eliot Engel brought the best of the Bronx to Congress. I was honored to serve alongside Eliot, who fought tirelessly for the people he served. Today, I am thinking of his family and loved ones.”