BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN).....Fresh off his Democratic Party primary victory, Aaron Gies said he is ready to take on his next candidate - entrenched Rep. Nick Langworthy.
Gies, a former teacher, beat his fellow Democratic Party challenger local attorney Kevin Stocker garnering nearly 59% of the vote in what was a very-low primary contest.
Gies landed 4,745 votes to Stocker's 3,301 votes.
Now, he will face off against Langworthy in the battle for the 23rd Congressional District - one of the widest in New York state that covers portions of nine Western New York counties and has 773,707 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The 23rd Congressional District runs a wide swath that includes portions of Chemung, Tioga and Steuben counties as well as parts of Erie and Niagara counties.
The census bureau says the district is 52% rural and 88% of its residents are white.
Bring it on, Gies said.
"I'm excited about the challenge," Gies said. "Life, for so many in the district, has gotten very hard. That's something I learned during the primary."
Gies knows his race against Langworthy is like a political David vs. Goliath scenario where registered Republican and Conservative Party voters out number Democrats and Working Families Party enrollees by a two-to-one count.
In addition to the now having the Democratic Party nod, Gies is also endorsed by the Working Families Party that, itself, is gaining more political traction across New York.
The Republican and Conservative Parties have backed Langworthy.
"Langworthy is too deeply tied to the Trump agenda," Gies said. "I think people are sick of the realty TV show way of doing government."
Langworthy, who was first elected in late 2022 to replace, in effect, former Rep. Tom Reed, doesn't hide the fact that he is a strong Trump supporter.
Gies' political agenda focuses on such issues as universal healthcare, affordable housing options, support for public education and aiding the farming and agricultural industries, especially family-owned farms.
"We need more accountability in government and less partisan food fights," Gies said.
The battle for the 23rd Congressional District headed to November general election
The battle for the 23rd Congressional District headed to November general election
