[7] From 1973 to 1982, Tedisco worked in education; he served as a guidance counselor, basketball coach, and athletic director at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons High School in Schenectady, and later worked as a special education teacher, resource room instructor and varsity basketball coach at Bethlehem Central High School in Delmar, New York.

[19] According to The New York Times, Tedisco "clashed loudly and publicly" with Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer.

[21] Tedisco was noted for his opposition to Spitzer's September 2007 executive order directing that state offices allow undocumented immigrants to be issued driver's licenses.

[29] Tedisco stepped down as Minority Leader in April 2009 amid reports that other Republican Members of the Assembly were concerned about his congressional campaign distracting him from his leadership role.

[30] On January 23, 2009, after Governor David Paterson announced that he had selected Representative Kirsten Gillibrand to fill the United States Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton, Tedisco stated his intention to run for Congress to replace Gillibrand in New York's 20th Congressional District.

[31] Though not a resident of the district,[32][33] Tedisco became its Republican nominee on January 27, 2009, and ran against Democrat Scott Murphy.

After Tedisco handily won the Republican primary, he went on to defeat General Election opponent Chad Putman.

[40] Tedisco opposes abortion and only supports it in cases of rape, incest, or if a woman's life (not health) is in danger.

The Times Union stated that Tedisco had informed the paper's editorial board that he would support a proposed abortion rights bill known as the Reproductive Health Act.

After Tedisco publicly contradicted this assertion and affirmed his opposition to the bill, the Times Union rescinded its endorsement.

[43] He voted against a bill that prohibits individuals convicted of domestic abuse from purchasing guns.

[52] On June 16, 2014, Tedisco voted against a bill that would have prohibited sexual orientation conversion therapy on minors.