Buffalo, NY (WBEN) The race for NY23 will be a rematch from 2018, pitting incumbent Tom Reed against challenger Tracy Mitrano.
Reed is a five term congressman in the southern tier. He believes his track record will speak for itself. "I think it's the service we've done to the people, not only COVID19, but our tenure," says Reed. "Even our arch enemies give us begrudgingly good marks for showing up, listening and delivering even when we've disagreed."
Reed believes NY23 will be vital toward GOP control of the House. "Every seat will be important in regards to control, and that's why we think as we go forward we want to put our strongest face forward, and we don't want to regress in any way," says Reed.
Reed says COVID19 is the big issue right now, with a focus on a vaccine. "That's coming. I'm very confident in talking with the scientists that they've cracked the science and we just have to get through the review process to show it's effective and safe. Once we come out of the crisis, the economy and getting people back into jobs. Not only jobs here, in the district, but bringing jobs back from overseas and having the supply chains and opportunities for next generation jobs on our soil," says Reed.
Mitrano believes she can defeat Reed this time around, and she says that's because the southern tier hasn't been prosperous. "Our area has not had the economic revival you in Buffalo have had," says Mitrano. "Mr. Reed's been in office for 10 years, and that's enough time to determine if you're effective or not. The economy was in good shape most of that time, but right now we're in COVID."
Mitrano says she wants to build the economy, and she has a plan. "We need to transition out of industrial manufacturing. We have Corning, which is advanced manufacturing, and that's a model for what we can do in this district. How I understand you effectuate this plan is you have to have healthy and educated people, and you must have good infrastructure. Nobody is going to invest unless you have that foundation," notes Mitrano.
Mitrano thinks she can unseat Reed this time. "We have an election where it's presidential. The country is clinging to the Democrat choice. You have a candidate willing to run twice so people get a chance to know you and not what your opponent says about you. That makes a huge difference, and we expect to win," says Mitrano.
Mitrano says NY23 is a swing district. "People think it's a ruby red district, but it's not. NY27 is more ruby red," says Mitrano. "We elected a Democrat in 2008 under similar circumstances. We have 23 percent unaffiliated voters. The ratio was worse for a Democrat then, it was 5 to 1, it's 3 to 2 now."
