Mar 3

Mar 3 Upstate scholars weigh in on competitive NY-24 primary By Luke Perry

Francis Conole is focusing on Rep. John Katko as he seeks to expand his name recognition and campaign for Congress in NY-24. Conole recently opened his campaign headquarters in Syracuse.

“I don’t think John Katko is fighting to protect our values as a country,” Conole told CNY Central, “and is fighting to protect our hardworking families here in Central New York.”

Last month, Conole won the designation from the Democratic Party Committee in Onondaga County, home to 74 percent of the NY-24 Democrats. He secured 54 percent of the vote on the first ballot.

Syracuse has long been a Democratic-strong hold. Recently, the surrounding suburbs have grown bluer, giving Democrats the voter registration edge countywide. Conole previously won the designation in Cayuga County, home to 10 percent of NY-24 Democrats.

“I think that the Democratic committees see me as somebody who can take on and beat John Katko in November.”

— Francis Conole

Tara Ross, Professor of History at Onondaga Community College, told Ivory Tower on WCNY that she was “very surprised” Dana Balter did not receive the Onondaga County endorsement, given she lost by just five points last cycle. Ross thinks you would “want to go with someone who has shown that with maybe a little more support, or broader organization, probably could beat Katko.”

Kristi Andersen, Professor Emeritus at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School, believes the decision reflected a “hometown boy dimension.”

Balter “did not necessarily do a good job explaining herself and her connection to how long she has been here and what her history was.” Balter’s residency was a subject of a controversial ad by the Katko campaign.

Conole “obviously has all that,” Andersen stated, and “one perk of that is that he is tied in with the local Democratic establishment,” enabling him to secure over a dozen endorsements from local elected officials. This began early when Onondaga County Legislator Peggy Chase endorsed Conole last May.

There is also a sense among some of Balter’s supporters that the committee is historically more inclined to favor moderate men than more progressive women and minorities.

Balter won the party designation in Oswego County. “This November,” Balter said upon receiving the designation, “we’re going to finish the job we started together.”

Wayne County opted not to designate. “We have three great candidates and we support all three great candidates,” said Wayne County Democratic Committee Chair Mark Alquist.

In 2018, Balter was supported by all four of the Democratic county committees, though the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee backed Juanita Perez-Williams just weeks before the primary, prompting criticism from local Democrats. Balter won by 24 points and went on to deliver strong debate performances and post new fundraising records for the district.

Roger Misso will provide an additional challenge for Balter. Misso decided to stay in the race after not receiving any designations from county committees, wanting to provide a voice for less affluent, rural areas, like his hometown of Red Creek.

Both candidates are more progressive than Conole, so Misso will likely absorb some votes that went to Balter in 2018.

Perspectives vary on whether a contested primary will be helpful to Democrats’ challenge to Rep. Katko in November.

“There are people who argue that a primary fight is actually good,” Andersen explained, by testing candidates and raising awareness about candidates among the electorate. On the other hand, “you could certainly argue that throwing all your attention and resources at one candidate from beginning would be preferable.”

The 2018 primary was helpful in mobilizing NY-24 Democrats early on, but challenges this year will include quickly unifying around the nominee and sustaining that enthusiasm throughout the general election campaign.

The midterm campaigns of nearby freshman Democrats Anthony Brindisi (NY-22) and Antonio Delgado (NY-19) provide some potential lessons for NY-24 challengers. Both defeated Republican incumbents in 2018.

Rep. Delgado won a crowded primary and benefited from his district shifting left following Trump’s election, while incumbent John Faso was never at ease with the president.

Rep. Brindisi benefited from combining a moderate, pragmatic approach with maintaining progressive enthusiasm via unprecedented grassroots mobilization.

NY-24 candidates will have three months to make their case to voters. The primary will be held on June 23.

Luke Perry (@PolSciLukePerry) is Professor of Government at Utica College