John Hall, one of the founders of 70's band Orleans, was defeated in his reelection campaign to the U.S. House of Representatives. Hall had represented New York District 19, serving all of Putnam County plus parts of Dutchess, Orange, Rockland and Westchester Counties, since 2007. He was defeated by Republican Nan Heyworth, a favorite of tea party supporters, 53% to 47%.
Hall began his political career in the counties north of New York City on action committees opposing nuclear power plants on the nearby Hudson River. In 1989, he became a legislator in Ulster County and, in the late-90's, he was elected to the Saugerties Board of Education, serving part of the time as president.
As a two-term member of the U.S. congress, Hall kept to a progressive Democrat slate, supporting the rise in minimum wage, federal funding for stem cell research and health care reform. He was also a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on Veteran Affairs and the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
In his concession call to winner Heyworth, he said that he would be returning to his music career. After the call, Heyworth told her supporters "The Orleans reunion tour is on."
Hall, in his concession speech to his gathered supporters, said "It's been my honor to serve the hundreds of thousands of people who live in this district - more people who live in the entire state of Alaska - and all the veterans in this district who I was able to represent."
Hall was a member of Orleans from their inception in February 1972 until 1977, during which time they had the national hits Let There Be Music, Dance With Me and Still the One.
