Daniel Benjamin Maffei (/məˈfeɪ/ mə-FAY; born July 4, 1968) is an American politician and professor who was the United States representative for New York's 24th congressional district from 2013 to 2015.

On November 6, 2012, Maffei defeated incumbent 25th district Republican Ann Marie Buerkle in the race for the redistricted 24th, avenging his 2010 loss.

[4][5][6] During the four month lapse in his Maritime Commissioner post, Maffei was a professor of practice at George Washington University.

[10] Dan's career on Capitol Hill started with an unpaid internship in 1996 with New York Congressman Eliot Engel.

Following his successful return, Maffei decided to make his first bid for public office, challenging popular nine-term Republican Congressman Jim Walsh.

He earned the Democratic nomination and mounted the first serious challenge to Walsh in years, coming within two percentage points of defeating the incumbent.

[12] In May 2008, and again on June 20, 2008, The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza, author of "The Fix", ranked the race in the 25th as a near-certainty to result in a Democratic takeover.

[1] Despite the race being called in Maffei's favor before midnight on Election Day, Buerkle released a statement the following morning, November 7, saying she would not concede until all ballots were counted.

He was unopposed in the Democratic primary, and faced Republican candidate John Katko, a former federal prosecutor, in the general election.

[23] Maffei is on the board of advisors of the Global Panel Foundation, a prominent non-partisan NGO which works behind the scenes in conflict areas around the world.