Both NRCC-backed candidates in NY-22 fail to advance into general election, making it a prime pickup opportunity for Democrats
After primary night in New York, the National Republican Congressional Committee promoted two of its candidates – Albany politicians John Faso and Jack Martins — to the “Young Guns” program, but Claudia Tenney remains conspicuously absent after winning the GOP nomination for the open seat in New York’s 22nd Congressional district. By leaving Tenney off of “Young Guns,” the NRCC is admitting failure and confirming that their chances of holding this open, swing seat are slim with a Trump-Tenney ticket.
There is a reason why the NRCC wanted “Anybody But” Claudia Tenney to win the GOP nomination, going so far as to place both of her primary opponents in their “On The Radar” program and hoping that their big money friends could bail them out by attacking Tenney in the primary. In the words of retiring Congressman Richard Hanna, there is “acres of material to use against her,” thanks to her extreme conservative record and penchant for personal insults.
“By leaving Claudia Tenney off their ‘Young Guns’ candidate assistance program, it’s clear that National Republicans are waving the white flag and giving up on a critical swing seat in the New York 22nd,” said Bryan Lesswing of the DCCC. “In the general election, voters have a clear choice between Kim Myers’ record of fighting for the middle class, and Claudia Tenney’s record of fighting with anyone she disagrees with. Today, the NRCC confirmed that they agree that Claudia Tenney is far too extreme for this district.”