Spectrum News 1 is taking an in-depth look at some of the political races in upstate New York, including the one in New York’s 25th Congressional District where a county legislator is trying to unseat the incumbent congressman.
Both candidates are working to get the message out. Virginia McIntyre is running on the Republican and Conservative lines.
“I have a track record right now of keeping my word,” said McIntyre.
McIntyre is a member of the Monroe County Legislature, hoping to become the next member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“I really believe that the people feel unheard by their representatives,” McIntyre said. “So more often than not, you get people that will come around at election time, and then you never see them again. You’re either on the Democrat team or the Republican team, and everybody wants to know your team all the time. And the thing is that there’s only one team, Team America. That’s it.”
McIntyre says she takes no funds from the PACs or the Republican Party.
“I want to be independent. I don’t want to be tethered to obligations or debts to the party,” she said.
As the candidate pounds the pavement, she tells people her biggest efforts will be lowering utility costs, focusing on the aging population, implementing term limits and ending government shutdowns.
“If the government shuts down and your federal workers are not getting paid, then the same people that made the decision to shut down that government should also not get paid, and they should not get back pay when the government opens,” said McIntyre.
“No matter where I go, I want to try to solve problems that people face,” said Democratic Rep. Joe Morelle, who is running for a sixth term in the House.
“I think the midterm election for the American people is probably the most significant midterm election since the Civil War, certainly one of the most consequential in American history, because it’s going to say a lot about what people believe America is all about,” said Morelle.
The ranking member of the Committee on House Administration is leading the charge for the Democrats’ efforts to protect election security and integrity.
“When it comes to election security and election protection, there’s really three things that are my goal. First is to make sure that every eligible American gets access to the ballot freely. And secondly, that every ballot is counted fairly and accurately. And then third, that the will of the American people is carried out in who they select,” said Morelle.
“The president said in the State of the Union address earlier this year that voting is a privilege in America. But he’s wrong. Voting is not a privilege. Voting is a right,” Morelle added. “Every American citizen has the right to vote.”
The question is, if Democrats in Congress regain control of the House, would they spend the next two years trying to impeach the president and members of his team?
“I think there is going to be accountability, but I think people care about ‘can I pay my bills? Is the cost of gasoline going to come down? The cost of diesel fuel? Is the cost of food? All these costs?’ So, our immediate concern has to be that,” Morelle said.
Morelle says he will work toward lowering costs, fighting corruption and restoring the trust of the American people.
But does he agree with members of the team supporting the socialist agenda?
“What I do think is at work is so many people are dissatisfied that what appeals to them isn’t so much socialism; I think they’re worried about the impact that a handful of billionaires has on the life of this country. And they want to resist that,” he said.
The candidates’ efforts to get their messages out will continue right through Election Day.
“I’m certainly asking people to get to know me and take a leap of faith,” said McIntyre.
“I am absolutely committed to trying to find solutions to problems that people face every day,” said Morelle.