It may seem like the 2012 elections are barely behind us, but in New York’s 23rd congressional district the race for 2014 is on.
Democrat Martha Robertson has announced her candidacy in the race to unseat Republican incumbent Tom Reed in the district which covers parts of the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier. Last year’s race between Reed and Democrat challenger Nate Shinagawa was far tighter than many had expected in this traditionally conservative area. Shinagawa announced last month that he would not be running again, instead choosing to appear at Robertson’s side as her campaign chairman.
Robertson, who heads the Tompkins County Legislature, says she’ll use her experience working across party lines to move things forward in Washington, D.C.
My first job was as a kindergarten teacher, and the first things you learn are, you know, share, listen to each other, respect each other, compromise. There has got to be a better way to run the government," she said.
Robertson’s announcement comes just as the well-known Emily’s List political action committee named Reed as one of ten house Republicans “on notice” for 2014. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also targeted Reed as one of 17 “vulnerable” Republicans in a recent online advertising campaign.
Robertson says that while the Democratic National Committee has not made any promises of support, Shinagawa’s strong run has them talking.
"The great response he had across the district, sort of got everybody’s attention. So they know Nate is my campaign’s chair, they know we’re working so closely together. They know we’re going to be able to build an even stronger campaign on last year’s base," said Robertson.
