NEW YORK STATE — Democratic voters are set to select a candidate to go against U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney to represent New York’s 24th district, a district spanning Niagara to Jefferson County.
Alissa Ellman is one of two running in the Democratic primary.
“I’ve lived in Western New York my whole life, and I have slowly watched jobs erode, infrastructure erode,” she said. “I think we can do better.”
The Army veteran got into the race after her job at the VA was cut by Elon Musk last year, and she reached out to current Representative Claudia Tenney, but received no response.
“When I got ‘DOGEd,’ I have used every instance that maybe should have set me back to do better in life, and I want to help people around me,” Ellman said.
She faces off against Diana Kastenbaum, the former CEO of a tool-and-die casting company.
“You need somebody on day one who can go in there, who has sat in boardrooms and business meetings, and knows how to reach across the aisle and compromise and make things work,” she said.
In her second run at Congress, Kastenbaum says her experience with politics and in life puts her in a better position to lead.
“Every day, I had to solve problems,” she added. “The minute you wake up in the morning, there’s always something.”
Both candidates are focusing on affordability.
“Our farmers are really hurting now. They’re hurting because of input costs and tariffs and deportations,” said Kastenbaum.
She wants to push for reforms to H-2A visa programs, allowing for longer stays.
“The farmers, these people are their family. They they take care of them. They house them. […] They work side by side with them,” she explained. “They don’t want to see their workers deported.”
She also wants to work on healthcare, energy costs and education costs.
“If you’re gonna ask me what my first policy would be, it would be to look into energy costs,” Ellman said.
She is coming to the table with her own ideas.
“We could do subsidies or pay people to insulate their homes, not just their primary residence, but if you own a rental, because so many people are renting today, they can’t afford to own,” she explained.
She’s also focusing on healthcare, childcare and cutting down corruption.
Each candidate believes they’re more electable and more likely to appeal to independent voters in a heavily red district.
“My whole family are MAGA Republicans. Except for me, the little blue sheep of the family,” Ellman laughed and said. “However, I think that listening to people is a lot of what a representative should be doing … and showing up.”
“We may be on different parties, but you know what? They’re opening their minds. And I’m opening my mind to them, and we’re talking,” said Kastenbaum. “Those are the people that I’m going to win with.”
Whoever comes out on top, both Ellman and Kastenbaum pledge to support the winner in the general election against Tenney.