New York state's powerful teachers unions are focusing on upstate Democrats in battleground congressional districts, with the goal of making Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jeffries the next speaker of the House.
The New York State United Teachers Union launches a full-scale attack on former high school teacher and union activist Sen. John Mannion in a bid to unseat first-term Republican Rep. Brandon Williams in the 22nd Congressional District, which includes the Syracuse area. I am doing it.
“He's one of our own,” NYSUT President Melinda Parson said over the loudspeaker Friday during Mannion's rally in Syracuse. “He's a friend. He's a great educator.”
NYSUT focuses on Mannion and six other Democrats in battleground states as the Empire State could help decide which party controls Congress for the second consecutive election. For the first time, he is deeply involved in the House of Representatives election.
“We know, and we saw last time, that Hakeem Jeffries' path to leadership is through New York state,” Parson told the Post in an interview after the rally. “So we decided we wanted to be actively involved in competitive Congress, up to seven seats or more, here in New York.”
The Republicans' four victories in deep blue New York give them a narrow majority this term, and a Democratic victory could reduce the size of the majority, with Democratic Minority Leader Jeffries appointed chairman. The path may become clearer.
Williams, a first-term incumbent, is considered one of the most vulnerable Republicans to win in 2022. The independent Cook Political Report rates the seat as “lean Democratic.”
Some critics questioned the union's full support for Mannion. Mr. Mannion taught biology and chemistry at local public high schools for nearly 30 years and served as president of the West Genesee Teachers Association, part of NYSUT, for eight years.
“He was born in the lab of the teachers' union, which has an impact not just on local school boards and Albany, but in all 50 states,” said Ken Girardin, director of research at the Empire Center for Public Policy. I'm trying to do that,” he said.
But Parson said he has known Mannion since his days as local union president.
“We were going door to door and talking to our members about issues,” Parson said. “And he fell in love. I remember very vividly that weekend knocking on doors and talking to people in his community about the things they cared about.” she said.
Union leaders also said the candidate has been a reliable ally in the Democratic-controlled state Senate for the past two years.
“While we are really sad to lose him at the state level, we are really proud of him and can’t wait to see what he accomplishes in Washington,” Parson said.
Mannion said her background as a teacher makes her an “easy sell.”
“I understand their issues and I understand the challenges that exist as a parent, as a teacher, as a teacher representative and as a legislator,” Mannion said.
But Williams said he was unfazed by the high-profile support.
“My wife and I both went to public high schools (although she was valedictorian…and I wasn't even close), and we are grateful to our teachers,” Williams told the Post. spoke.
“John Mannion has proven before his constituents that he is indebted to Albany's interests. I took the oath to my country for the second time when I entered Congress,” he added. Ta.
“I will serve all my constituents as an independent spokesperson, because I am only beholden to the Chinese Yuan constituents. [Central New York]”
Mr. Williams previously ran his own software company and owned a truffle farm in the Finger Lakes region with his wife, Stephanie. They moved to the area in 2010.
He served in the Navy as a nuclear submarine officer and strategic missile officer.
