Tonko faces off against challenger Joy in rematch of 2020 race
ALBANIA – The two candidates for the twentieth Congressional District will face off once more subsequent week in a rematch of a 2020 race that gave incumbent U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko a decisive victory.
In a race that polls present is not shut, Republican challenger Liz Joy is doubling down on her get together ties, attending rallies with candidates who’ve extra widespread nationwide recognition — together with Republican gubernatorial nominee U.S. Rep. of, Lee Zeldin – and highlighting Democrats throughout the nation so typically. she does Tonko when she criticizes inflation and rising crime charges.
The twentieth District contains Albany County and Schenectady County, together with components of Rensselaer and Saratoga counties. Redistricting final 12 months positioned Tonko’s house of Amsterdam outdoors district strains, although he nonetheless ended up searching for re-election in the identical district, the place he has held the congressional seat since 2008.
Tonko has largely stayed away from direct criticism of his opponent, besides to quote what he claims are Joy’s “extremist views” and pointing to her connection to former President Donald J. Trump. Joy attended the rally on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, which became a violent rebellion the place protesters occupied the Capitol constructing. She has condemned the violence and stated most of the individuals who have been in the Capitol that day had authentic causes.
Tonko has centered on his analytical, technology-driven method to defending the county — he has a background as an engineer — and stated including high-tech jobs to the Capital Region is amongst his prime coverage accomplishments in The final 14 years. Prior to his stint in congress, Tonko was a state assemblyman.
He cited the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS Act as two key legislative actions that he and the Democratic get together contend will enhance financial development — and supply reduction to struggling households — each throughout the U.S. and in the area. The capital.
He additionally promotes his bipartisan method to discovering widespread floor amongst numerous lawmakers.
“People will embrace reasonable, science-based outcomes and not settle for extreme viewpoints,” Tonko stated. “And I think the extremes don’t help get things done in Washington. Most governance is from the middle.”
Joy, in the meantime, has turned to the 2 primary points of her marketing campaign, each standard appeals for her get together: lowering inflation and lowering crime by reversing insurance policies like parole reform.
Described as a veteran’s mom, grandmother and spouse, she has stated she is anxious in regards to the enhance in fentanyl and different opioid-related overdoses, blaming lax border safety and immigrant exercise on the southern border.
Tonko is a profession politician with a poor political document, Joy stated.
“I am very concerned about runaway government spending and as my opponent here, who has been in office, a career politician for 46 years,” Joy stated throughout a debate final week hosted by WMHT. “We need common sense back in Washington, and I’m going to provide it.”
Joy has additionally voiced her disapproval of the state’s gun management reform, including that she believes law-abiding residents shouldn’t face larger restrictions on their gun possession. In each elections, she has used a private anecdote for instance her perception in harder felony justice insurance policies: In 2018, Joy was at a nail salon when an worker’s husband got here in with a knife and attacked the worker.
Joy has stated she suffered accidents from the assault, which prompted her want to run on a platform of overturning parole reform and defending victims’ rights.
The district is rated Democratic by the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election tracker. In 2020, Tonko gained with 61 p.c of the vote, soundly beating Joy, who obtained 38 p.c.
