The Case Against Brandon Williams

“Central New Yorkers want a leader who’s honest, trustworthy, and understands what it means to serve; none of those attributes apply to Brandon Williams. While Francis Conole has dedicated his life serving our nation, Brandon Williams has cozied up to MAGA extremists and betrayed New York families. This November, voters are going to reject Brandon Williams and his party’s increasingly radical agenda, and flip this seat from red to blue,” said DCCC Chairman Sean Patrick Maloney. 

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To: Interested Parties
From:  Nebeyatt Betre
Date: August 24, 2022
Subject: The Case Against Brandon Williams

One of the most likely House seats in the nation to flip red to blue this November, last night’s primary set up a clear choice between Francis Conole, a proud fourth generation Central New Yorker, U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Iraq War Veteran, and community leader, and Brandon Williams, an out-of-touch, anti-choice millionaire who continues to choose MAGA extremism over New York families.

Throughout the last year, Francis not only helped lead the community through the devastating pandemic as the Syracuse City Chair of the Onondaga County Committee, he also supported the Navy’s response to COVID-19. As a Commander in the Navy Reserves, Francis has taken an oath to protect this country six times, and it’ll soon be seven when he is promoted to captain in the U.S. Navy Reserves. Francis has a proven record of solving problems in the most unique and challenging of circumstances, and has worked with Republicans and Democrats alike to get the job done.

Brandon Williams is a multi-millionaire who is running a far-right campaign that is completely out of step with this district. Unashamed of his dangerously radical ideas, Williams is a parrot for the worst kind of MAGA extremism, standing in the way of reproductive freedom and consistently choosing the gun lobby over New York families. Williams is too extreme for New York and is deeply out of touch with voters.

This central New York seat is rated D+1 by The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, rated as Tilt Democratic by Inside Elections, and was rated by National Journal as one the top most likely House races to flip. Francis Conole is exactly the type of Democrat who can get the job done.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Syracuse Post-Standard: A battle of GOP millionaires: 1 candidate pours wealth into run for CNY seat in Congress | [Post Standard, 7/17/22]

“Williams, 54, a technology executive from Cayuga County, has personal assets worth a minimum of $3.1 million, the records show.

“Unlike Wells, Williams has almost all of his money tied up in his businesses. Those include a family truffle farm near Skaneateles Lake, and a California software business and New York City venture capital firm he launched.”

[…]

“Williams, on the other hand, has most of his money invested in his own businesses. His single largest asset is a loan he made to IgniteIP worth $1 million to $5 million. Williams is founder and managing director of the venture capital firm based in New York City.

“The financial disclosure reports show Wells and Williams each has financial assets worth more than all four of their potential Democratic opponents combined.”

Syracuse Post-Standard: Brandon Williams won’t rule out third-party run if he loses GOP primary for Congress | [Post Standard, 8/10/22]

“Williams said he would oppose an effort by Democrats in Congress to pass a ban on assault-style semiautomatic rifles, such as the AR-15. He said the law would do nothing to stop rising gun violence.

[…]

“When asked about his position on abortion, Williams said he opposes abortion rights and believes that life begins at conception.”

Auburn Citizen: Francis Conole, for second time, is Onondaga County Democratic designee for Congress | [Auburn Citizen, 2/18/22]

Syracuse Post-Standard: Clay Republican Committee met with Williams and rejected his ‘fringe’ candidacy (Your Letters) | [Post Standard, 8/10/22]

“Running for Congress because you are mad about a particular vote by your member of Congress is not leadership, it’s spite. We have seen enough spite. In the case of Brandon Williams, he should look no further than the mirror to see why he has no support in the Republican committees of the 22nd District.”

BRANDON WILLIAMS DOES NOT STAND WITH NEW YORK FAMILIES

Williams is pro-life “without any qualification”

Brandon Williams is an anti-abortion extremist hellbent on stripping freedoms from women across the country. He is an unabashed supporter of efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade, calling the devastating Dobbs decision a “monumental victory” while repeatedly bemoaning the fact that “nothing would change in New York.”

The right to an abortion has risen to be one of the top concerns for voters heading into November, and Williams’ belief that states should be allowed to terrorize and criminalize women for seeking abortion care stands way out of line with this district.

Francis Conole was the only person in this race to earn Planned Parenthood’s endorsement because he has stood with women and the vast majority of New Yorkers who support the right to an abortion. During this dangerous time for our country, voters want a candidate who will fight for a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions. Unlike Williams, Conole will be a champion in Congress in the fight to restore a woman’s right to choose.

Williams stands with gun lobby over American families

In the wake of countless, heartbreaking mass shootings, Brandon Williams has chosen to use his platform to defend the gun lobby over American families.  After the horrific shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Williams has repeatedly attacked red flag laws, calling this common-sense measure a violation of the constitution and abuse of government authority. His solution for the deadly violence across the nation? A national concealed carry law, a measure that is more likely to bolster the gun industry’s profit margins than protect innocent lives.

Williams is an out-of-touch millionaire

A corporate elitist, Williams is a multimillionaire venture capitalist who is deeply out of touch with the challenges facing Central New Yorkers, and he’s never cared to try to understand them either. There are enough millionaires in Congress who don’t understand what working families are going through, and we don’t need another one. He is a threat to the middle class, and to critically important programs like Social Security. If Williams and House Republicans had control of Congress, they’d raise taxes on the middle class instead of making the wealthiest and big corporations pay their fair share.

Unlike Williams, Francis Conole understands what it means to work hard to provide for a family. He is dedicated to fighting for working class families and will take on greedy companies to bring down costs for Central New Yorkers.

PATH TO VICTORY

An opportunity to flip a seat in central New York has emerged following redistricting placing much of Syracuse into this district. This district has been purple historically, with split tickets between some top-of-ticket candidates and congressional candidates over the years, but both President Biden (53.8%) and Secretary Clinton (51.1%) came away with a majority of support, as did congressional democrats in 2018 (50.9%). Inside Elections rates the race as Tilt Democratic.

Brandon Williams is not the ordinary Katko brand of Republican who historically has won this district. Williams has embraced the radical MAGA wing of the Republican Party that is pushing an extreme agenda that would overturn elections, give more power to corporate interests, and harm working families – an extreme, out-of-touch brand that Central New Yorkers are primed to reject.