George Pataki is an American politician who served as the 53rd Governor of New York from 1995 to 2006. He is a member of the Republican Party and was the first Republican to hold the office in over a decade. During his tenure, he focused on tax cuts, economic development, and environmental issues. Before becoming governor, Pataki was a member of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate. After leaving office, he remained active in public life, including running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Pataki is known for his leadership during the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.