Congressional elections are not until next year, but an opponent has already surfaced for Southern Tier Congressman Tom Reed. The Republican would be running for a fourth term.
A U.S. Navy reserve commander, John Plumb, has announced he will seek the Democratic nomination for that 23rd district seat. Plumb, who grew up in Chautauqua County, resigned in May as director for defense policy and strategy at the White House National Security Council to run for Congress.
Plumb says he’s heard from too many families who feel Washington is not listening to the rural communities of Western New York, the Southern Tier and the Finger Lakes.
In a statement, Tom Reed said that “choice is what democracy is all about.” And he says his office has been a voice for putting people to work and defending the Social Security retirement fund.
Republicans outnumber Democrats in the district, but the seat has been hotly contested in some recent elections.
