Patrick Timmins

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Patrick Timmins

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 24, 2025

Education

High school

Cardinal Spellman High School

Bachelor's

Manhattan University

Law

Pace University

Personal

Birthplace

New York, N.Y.

Religion

Catholic

Profession

Attorney and Professor

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Patrick Timmins (Democratic Party) ran for election for Manhattan District Attorney in New York. He lost in the Democratic primary on June 24, 2025.

Timmins completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Patrick Timmins was born in New York, New York. He earned a high school diploma from Cardinal Spellman High School, a bachelor's degree from Manhattan University, a law degree from Pace University. His career experience includes working as an attorney and professor. As of 2025, Timmins was affiliated with the NYC Bar Association.

Elections

2025

See also: Municipal elections in New York County, New York (2025)

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for Manhattan District Attorney

Incumbent Alvin Bragg Jr., Maud Maron, and Diana Florence are running in the general election for Manhattan District Attorney on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		Alvin Bragg Jr. (D / Working Families Party)
		Maud Maron (R / Conservative Party)
	Submit photo	Diana Florence (A Safer Manhattan)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Manhattan District Attorney

Incumbent Alvin Bragg Jr. defeated Patrick Timmins in the Democratic primary for Manhattan District Attorney on June 24, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Alvin Bragg Jr.	73.6	194,798
		Patrick Timmins	26.0	68,930
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3	887

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 264,615
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Maud Maron advanced from the Republican primary for Manhattan District Attorney.

Conservative Party primary election

The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Maud Maron advanced from the Conservative Party primary for Manhattan District Attorney.

Working Families Party primary election

The Working Families Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Alvin Bragg Jr. advanced from the Working Families Party primary for Manhattan District Attorney.

Endorsements

Timmins received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.

• Ray Kelly - Frmr. New York City Police Commissioner

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Patrick Timmins completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Timmins' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Patrick Timmins, and I have been an attorney for 33 years. I have lived my entire adult life in Manhattan, where my family is also from. After graduating from Manhattan University in the Bronx and getting my law degree from Pace University, I worked in the Bronx DA's office for almost 4 years and have been an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice for 21 years. Prior to the campaign, I was a civil litigator working on asbestos cases.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Manhattan can be safe once again both above and below ground. I am committed to reversing the soft-on-crime policies that have failed this borough and have created a sense of fear and have eroded public safety.
• We must do better as a borough to clear cases brought before us and keep criminals off the streets. High case dismissal rates must be stopped. This has been partially attributed to the onerous Discovery laws, but that ignores the fact that a district attorney's office with more than a thousand employees can't hand over case material in a timely manner. This is unacceptable and will be a key focus of my tenure as District Attorney.
• Hate crimes are a scourge of every city--and they have been increasing in frequency. I am committed to protecting every Manhattanite, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, or any other distinguishing feature. This means ramping up resources for investigating and prosecuting hate crimes, and making a guarantee that those crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about addressing and being part of the solution to achieve safe streets and safe subways in Manhattan. The plans, the energy, and the creative solutions to some of the crime that exists in the city will be something I look forward to working on with others - this includes the NYPD, the Mayor, and the people of Manhattan. I also look forward to implementing some programs like expungements for felons who have paid their debt to society and also programs that assist victims with their trauma.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

This office is responsible for enforcing the New York Penal Law in Manhattan/New York County. Not only does the office prosecute those who commit crimes, but the office also helps shape criminal justice policy. The district attorneys work closely with law enforcement to ensure public safety for those in their jurisdiction.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

There are many guys I grew up with in various neighborhoods in NYC who died too young, who showed me courage, toughness, and strength. This includes some family members, some older guys from my neighborhood, some sports figures - saints and sinners.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Diaries of Mario Cuomo: The Campaign for Governor

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

A successful District Attorney must be tenacious and courageous. Tenacity is important in the face of legal hurdles that arise; prosecuting cases is very rarely done in a straight line. Courage comes next: there are endless hard choices to make, and without courage, a DA will not be able to make those choices with conviction.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am a high-energy leader, and I have the ability to focus on the most important priorities in a given situation that need to be done and the very necessary follow-up that is required to accomplish any goal.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Among the core responsibilities are public safety, transparency, and a strong, ethical working relationship with the NYPD and victims of crime. Making major contributions to the people of Manhattan in terms of safety above and below ground is another core responsibility.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I believe in the present. Legacies will be determined by others.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was as an apprentice cooper at the Fulton Fish Market in lower Manhattan, which involved repairing boxes and barrels so that fish and ice could be put in barrels and boxes to be shipped out to restaurants in various east coast cities. I worked with very colorful characters, with all sorts of nicknames given to them from New York City neighborhoods and prison gangs. This was a summer and part-time job.

I also worked as an assistant embalmer at a funeral home in the Bronx part-time on the weekends. I have epic stories from this job, too.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Lost Horizon by James Hilton

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Shakespeare's Henry V. Once more unto the breach . . . .

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

Of paramount importance is the expeditious prosecution of violent crimes with full transparency and full fairness and due process under the New York Penal Law. The goal is to deter and stop subway and street crime in Manhattan.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Management of the grand jury process and public disclosure of finances of the office are important.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes. Voters do not need to put up with incompetence because of on-the-job training required by some brand-new candidates.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Strong investigative analytical skills, deep knowledge of New York Criminal Law, personnel management skills, and criminal courtroom knowledge and experience are vital.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, West Side Community Organization; El Barrio / East Harlem

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Both are extremely important. It should be known to the public.

Would a state ballot initiative process be good or bad for your state?

It depends on the existing injustice in the system.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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