{"id":2231917,"date":"2024-04-28T07:55:02","date_gmt":"2024-04-28T11:55:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-york-republican-touts-better-message-in-long-shot-special-election-against-kennedy\/"},"modified":"2024-04-28T07:58:19","modified_gmt":"2024-04-28T11:58:19","slug":"new-york-republican-touts-better-message-in-long-shot-special-election-against-kennedy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-york-republican-touts-better-message-in-long-shot-special-election-against-kennedy\/","title":{"rendered":"Republican in New York emphasizes &#8216;strong message&#8217; in unlikely special election against Kennedy"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnew-york-republican-touts-better-message-in-long-shot-special-election-against-kennedy%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2231917&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>House \u200bDemocrats are banking on the \u200dNew York 26th\u200b Congressional District&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abortion-foes-say-out-of-state-funds-are-influencing-ohio-constitutional-amendment\/\" title=\"Out-of-state funds accused of influencing Ohio constitutional amendment by abortion opponents.\">special \u2062election<\/a> to close \u200cSpeaker Mike\u2062 Johnson&#8217;s House majority further. Republican Gary Dickson eyes \u200dan unexpected win with a &#8220;better message&#8221; against his Democratic rival\u2062 in the \u2062race\u200b to\u200d replace former Rep. Higgins. The \u200coutcome will impact the majority in the House. House Democrats are counting on the New York 26th\u2063 Congressional District&#8217;s special election to reduce Speaker Mike\u200c Johnson&#8217;s House majority. Republican Gary Dickson hopes to secure an\u200b unexpected victory with a compelling message against \u2064his Democratic opponent\u200c in the race to succeed \u2064former\u200b Rep. Higgins, a \u200cwin that\u200b could shift the balance of power in the House.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>House Democrats are counting on the special election in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-york\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"New York\">New York<\/a>\u2018s 26th Congressional District on Tuesday to narrow Speaker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-johnson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Mike Johnson\">Mike Johnson<\/a>\u2018s (R-LA) House majority even more, while Republican Gary Dickson is hoping for a \u201cdramatic\u201d underdog victory.<\/p>\n<p>Dickson, a West Seneca supervisor who is an Army and FBI veteran, argues he has a \u201cbetter message\u201d than his Democratic opponent for <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-york\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>New York<\/a>\u2018s special election to replace former <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Democratic<\/a> Rep. Brian Higgins.<\/p>\n<p>Higgins, who announced he would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2434876\/democratic-ny-rep-brian-higgins-says-he-wont-finish-his-term-time-for-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>depart Congress early<\/a> in November, stepped down on Feb. 2 to become the president and CEO of Shea\u2019s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, New York. Local party committees selected their nominees for the Tuesday special election and the winner will finish the remainder of Higgins\u2019 term.<\/p>\n<p>Longtime New York state Sen. Tim Kennedy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/joe-biden-pitches-domestic-agenda-in-mich\/\" title=\"Joe Biden pitches domestic agenda in Mich.\">rallied support<\/a> and was selected in January as the Democratic Party\u2019s nominee. In a seat ranked \u201csolid Democratic\u201d by the Cook Political Report, the race is very favorable for him to become the sole Democratic Kennedy in Congress since the exit of former Massachusetts Rep. Joe Kennedy, who served from 2013 to 2021 and now serves as the United States special envoy for Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the district\u2019s D+10 rating, Dickson said in an interview with the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that he is proud of his team\u2019s active social media, radio ads, and text campaigns.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think we have an advantage in that we have a much better message, and that we have a message of inclusion that everybody in the district can get behind, which is: crime, ensuring we have safe streets; controlling the border, so that only people who we want in enter; and the economy, you know, cutting inflation,\u201d Dickson said. \u201cAs well as the fourth one, education. Every child, no matter who they are, deserves a good education up through high school.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>Gary Dickson, Republican special election candidate to replace former New York Rep. Brian Higgins. (Courtesy of Gary Dickson).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The winner of the special election will determine just how narrow of a majority Speaker Johnson has. With the recent death of Rep. Donald Payne Jr. and the recent resignations of Reps. Ken Buck (R-CO) and Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Johnson now holds a 217-212 majority and can afford to lose two seats on any given measure to pass along party lines.<\/p>\n<p>If Kennedy wins, Johnson\u2019s majority will narrow to just a one-seat majority. Regardless, whoever wins the contest will finish the remainder of Higgins\u2019s term through Jan. 3, 2025. The election for the full term is scheduled for June 25.<\/p>\n<p>Kennedy holds a significant advantage when it comes to fundraising and exposure. As a state official, he can count on recognition, boosted by TV ads circulating throughout the blue district. He also spent years becoming one of the top New York political fundraisers, raising $745,000 in the first six weeks after entering the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jims-gonna-be-dead-in-two-years-jennifer-carnahans-cynical-plot-to-replace-her-late-husband-jim-hagedorn-in-congress\/\" title=\"'Jim's Gonna' Be Dead in Two Years: Jennifer Carnahan's Cynical Plot to Replace Her Late Husband Jim Hagedorn in Congress\">special election race<\/a> in November.<\/p>\n<p>Dickson said he plans to spend around $50,000, which he said is likely unheard of in a congressional race. Though Kennedy possesses the coffers to support his campaign, Dickson said he thinks Kennedy has \u201ca number of vulnerabilities\u201d that could be the Democrat\u2019s downfall.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re taking advantage over the difference between me, a successful four-year town supervisor who hasn\u2019t raised taxes that entire time, and him, a 14-year state senator who has presided over a leader in the New York state Senate who has presided over out of control budgets, laws that \u2014 they\u2019re anti-law enforcement, and just everything else that he basically does whatever the New York City liberals tell him to do,\u201d Dickson said.<\/p>\n<p>Dickson has experience winning against the odds when they lean Democratic. In 2019, Dickson became the first Republican to be elected supervisor in half a century. He won a second term for the position with nearly 60% of the vote last year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I ran \u2014 and in recent times, there frequently had not even been a Republican candidate \u2014 so when I ran, I ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility, and good government, and respect for the taxpayers,\u201d Dickson said. \u201cAnd it turns out that that\u2019s the sort of thing that can appeal to everybody, you know, Republican, Democrat, and everybody else.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>New York Democratic state Sen. Tim Kennedy speaks during a service at the Antioch Baptist Church on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Buffalo, New York. (AP Photo\/Joshua Bessex)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>With special elections, turnout is historically lower than in full-term elections. So, Dickson could find success with unpredictable turnout. The 26th District is a seat President Joe Biden won with 56.2% compared to former President Donald Trump\u2019s 41.7% in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>However, Dickson said people are \u201cvery unhappy\u201d with New York state due to the loss of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-red-wave-of-conservative-women-elected-to-congress\/\" title=\"The Red Wave of Conservative Women Elected to Congress\">congressional district<\/a>, anti-police policies, and more.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo what he thinks may be his strongholds may, in fact, not be quite so strong,\u201d Dickson said of Kennedy. \u201cSo you know, we\u2019re optimistic \u2014 but you know, we do certainly understand that this would be quite a<strong> <\/strong>dramatic story if we win. But, you know, stranger things have happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Former Democratic congressional candidate Nate McMurray, who ran for the House on two occasions in the past 10 years, had considered an independent bid for the special election. Instead, he decided to challenge Kennedy as a Democrat in June for the full-term primary election. <\/p>\n<p>McMurray had submitted more than 1,400 designating petitions to secure a spot on the June ballot. However, last week, Kennedy <a href=\"https:\/\/spectrumlocalnews.com\/nys\/buffalo\/politics\/2024\/04\/16\/ny-26--kennedy-asks-judge-to-take-mcmurray-off-primary-ballot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"filed a lawsuit\">filed a lawsuit<\/a> against McMurray asking a judge to take McMurray off the ballot, alleging that most of the petition signatures are not valid and the person McMurray contracted to help him collect the signatures committed fraud, according to Spectrum News 1.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of the Republican June primary, Dickson said \u201cthere is no question\u201d that he will be running for a full term if he is elected on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause then I\u2019ll have the same message that got me in office,\u201d Dickson added. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll have the, you know, the advantage of incumbency, which is really, you know, the ability to get out and meet people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kennedy has been a member of the New York state Senate since January 2011. He began campaigning for the Democratic special election nomination almost immediately after Higgins announced his intention to resign. He rallied support, and serious Democratic contenders, such as Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, had declined to launch campaigns.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m really proud of all of the hundreds of individuals that have supported me over this process, that have stepped up and said they want a government that is reflective of the people,\u201d Kennedy said in an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wgrz.com\/article\/news\/politics\/elections\/26th-congressional-district-special-election-candidates\/71-f83a822a-4aa9-4e45-9d9f-c06a87136404\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>interview<\/a> on April 24 with NBC affiliate 2 On Your Side. \u201cThey want a government that is functional.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to Kennedy multiple times for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Other special elections are on the horizon, as well. A runoff for the special election to replace former California Rep. Kevin McCarthy is set for May, with Republicans Vince Fong and Mike Boudreaux set to compete against each other after neither could secure 50% of the vote in March. <\/p>\n<p>The special election for Buck\u2019s seat is set for June 25, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/2974813\/greg-lopez-colorado-gop-ken-buck\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Republican Greg Lopez\">Republican Greg Lopez<\/a> likely to win the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/boebert-catches-break-with-gop-selection-of-ken-buck-replacement\/\" title=\"Boebert gets lucky as GOP picks Ken Buck replacement\">solid red seat<\/a>. Though Gallagher retired early as well, because of the timing of his resignation, Wisconsin law does not allow for a special election. So, his seat will remain empty until January 2025.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>New Jersey will also need to hold a special election after Payne <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/2977823\/donald-payne-jr-dead-house-democrat-dies-after-cardiac-episode-over-a-week-ago\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"died on Wednesday\">died on Wednesday<\/a> after suffering a heart attack and other health problems over the years. Because the filing deadline has passed for the June 4 primary election, Payne will likely win the New Jersey Democratic nomination posthumously. According to the <em>New Jersey Globe<\/em>, Secretary of State Tahesha Way would <a href=\"https:\/\/newjerseyglobe.com\/congress\/donald-payne-will-win-the-primary-posthumously-heres-how-democrats-will-pick-his-replacement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"declare a vacancy\">declare a vacancy<\/a> after the June 17 certification of the results.<\/p>\n<p>There are no special primary elections once a candidate is nominated, so Democratic county committee members in the district would need to meet to pick a replacement. The statutory deadline to replace Payne on the ballot is Aug. 29.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In New York&#8217;s 26th Congressional District special election, House Democrats aim to shrink Speaker Mike Johnson&#8217;s majority. Republican Gary Dickson, an Army and FBI veteran, seeks a surprising win with his &#8220;better message.&#8221; West Seneca supervisor Dickson eyes a &#8220;dramatic&#8221; underdog triumph on Tuesday<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2231918,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MixCollage-26-Apr-2024-02-20-PM-862-1024x591.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2231917","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MixCollage-26-Apr-2024-02-20-PM-862-1024x591.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2231917","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2231917"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2231917\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2231918"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2231917"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2231917"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2231917"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}