The district includes all of Cohoes and Rensselaer, and parts of Albany and Troy.

McDonald was born and raised in Cohoes, New York where he would later serve as Mayor from 1999 to 2012.

[3] In 2012, McDonald opted to run for a newly created seat in the New York Assembly.

[4] In the Democratic primary, he defeated Albany City Council President Carolyn McLaughlin 55% to 45% to take the nomination.

In the Assembly, McDonald serves as the Chairman of the Governmental Operations Committee.