To: Interested Parties
From: Bryan Lesswing, DCCC Northeast Press Secretary
Date: Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Re: The Case Against John Katko
The Case Against John Katko
Tonight marks the beginning of the general election in New York’s 24th Congressional District between Colleen Deacon and Congressman John Katko.
Katko faced an uphill battle in his reelection bid from the very start based simply on mathematics: President Obama won this district with almost 60% of the vote in 2012. Additionally, Katko’s conservative voting record in Congress and his willingness to back his party’s toxic presidential nominee, Donald Trump, have only made matters worse for the first-term incumbent.
In contrast, Deacon will put Central New York first by focusing on creating jobs, making college more affordable, fighting to expand the middle-class and keeping New Yorkers safe.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report: Toss-up
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Toss-up
The Cook Political Report: Toss-up
One of the “10 Most Vulnerable House Members” – Roll Call [11/06/15]
PARTY FIRST
Party First
When Katko arrived in Washington, he fell right in line with his Republican leadership on the votes that count, instead of standing up for Central New York. He has voted with extreme House Republicans to defund critical health care services for women and their families.
Voters in Central New York deserve better than a lackey for House Republicans’ right-wing agenda.
Party Over Women’s Health
Katko has aligned himself with the far-right wing of his Republican Party, which has consistently failed women and their families.
Despite the essential health care services Planned Parenthood provides Central New York women and men, Katko has voted to defund Planned Parenthood four times, breaking a campaign promise he made to voters when he ran for Congress.
Katko even went a step further and voted to establish House Republicans’ Select Committee to Attack Women’s Health – a witch hunt committee with the goal of intimidating women’s health care providers.
This November, Central New York families will be ready to replace Katko with an advocate who will fight for women’s reproductive healthcare.
Party Over Keeping Americans Safe
Katko still refuses to back a commonsense and bipartisan effort to address a real threat to our homeland security: keeping guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists.
The threat is real. Per the Washington Post, a recent Government Accountability Office report found that, “Between 2004 and 2014, suspected terrorists attempted to purchase guns from American dealers at least 2,233 times. And in 2,043 of those cases — 91 percent of the time — they succeeded.”
At the same time, closing this dangerous loophole is widely popular among Americans, including gun owners. According to the Washington Post, a 2012 poll found that “even 76 percent of American gun owners, including 71 percent of NRA members, supported prohibiting people on the terror watchlist from buying guns.”
It should alarm Central New Yorkers that Katko would rather fall in line with his party than support bipartisan efforts to keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists.
Party Over Economic Opportunity
Amidst talks of a state-level proposal to gradually increase New York’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, Katko made his stance clear: he is against it.
His opposition should alarm the 52,000 low-wage workers in the 24th District who would immediately benefit from a minimum wage increase to just $10.10, according to a 2014 Oxfam America report.
Not only does Katko’s position hurt hardworking families, Katko’s position is also at odds with a majority of Upstate New Yorkers. A recent poll found that a majority of Upstate New Yorkers support gradually increasing the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.
#PartyOfTrump
Donald Trump will have a disastrous impact on Katko’s re-election chances. Katko knows this – which is why he has tried to avoid the topic at all costs, despite pledging support to back his party’s nominee.
That’s not surprising. President Obama won this district in 2008 (57.2%) and increased his win margin in 2012 (58.1%).
Katko told press at numerous times his plan to back his party’s nominee, which isn’t surprising given their shared agenda to defund Planned Parenthood, opposing the minimum wage or dismissing equal pay. Voters know that Trump is the Republican Party, and Katko always falls in line.
New York’s 24th Congressional district is comprised of moderates, suburban voters, women, young people, and seniors who want a sensible leader that will focus on their priorities and deliver results.
CONCLUSION
New York’s 24th Congressional District is a prime pickup opportunity for Democrats.
Voters in this Central New York swing district – where registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by more than 9,000 – will swiftly reject reliable House Republican John Katko and his support for Donald Trump – and instead back Colleen Deacon who will give Central New York families the security and opportunity to succeed.