CDNY is Ready for a Campaign toTurn NY-23 Blue!
The College Democrats would like to congratulate President Obama on continuing his campaign pledge to govern in a bipartisan manner by nominating Republican Congressman John McHugh to become the next Secretary of the Army. “This move shows the President’s dedication to naming the best qualified individual’s to initiate his agenda, regardless of party membership,” said Ian Rivera, President of the College Democrats of New York, “I believe that Congressman McHugh will make an outstanding Secretary of the Army, considering his experience on the House Armed Services Committee, and I am grateful for his service to the men and woman in uniform and their families at Fort Drum and look forward to his tenure as Secretary of the Army ensuring our men and women in uniform have everything they need to carry out the President’s Defense Agenda.”
If Congressman McHugh is confirmed, turning New York’s 23rd Congressional District blue will become a top priority of the organization. We are confident that under the leadership of Chairwoman June O’Neill – who has led New York Democrats to victories in thirteen of the fourteen Special Elections during her tenure as chair, the latest in the Bronx Borough President’s race – the eventual Democratic candidate will succeed Congressman McHugh and will head to Washington to help the president enact his agenda. CDNY is ready to mobilize our chapters in the North Country – as well as those across the state – to do all that we can to make sure that New York’s 23rd Congressional District turns blue.
In addition to mobilizing students from around the state to support the Democratic nominee, CDNY will also be watching very closely to ensure that students within the district are able to vote without facing a challenge or intimidation. “In close elections, we have seen student disenfranchisement as a tool to limit democratic votes. We saw this in the race for Senate District 11 in 2008, when students from St. John’s University were subpoenaed during finals to defend their ballot, and in 2009, when students at Skidmore College had their right to vote challenged in Scott Murphy's victory in the NY-20. We hope that all parties involved will respect the right of those students of St. Lawrence College, SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Plattsburg, and SUNY Oswego to participate in the upcoming election” said Rivera, in the hopes that the upcoming Special Election sees no student disenfranchisement.
CDNY is looking forward to a spirited campaign and cannot wait to learn whom we will be supporting to become the next Representative of New York’s 23rd Congressional District.