VOTE411 Voter Guide

Our country is facing a crisis of corruption, of abuse of federal power, and of attacks on working class people by this administration. I will introduce sweeping reforms to government - a congressional stock trading ban, add more justices to the Supreme Court, uncap the house, no more superPACs, matching funds for in-district donors, and term limits for Congress. I will introduce bills to claw back powers from the executive branch - no attacks of war without congressional approval, end ICE, and have congress reclaim the power of the purse string. I will fight daily for the working class, working to make it easier to form a union, protecting and expanding Medicare, and fixing up our infrastructure.

There is far too much money in politics, often come from PACs or billionaire donors. These donors often do not live in the districts they are donating towards. Federal elections should have in district matching funds for small dollar donors (like in New York), end superPACS, end the "roll over" loophole (where funds from previous campaigns can be used in future campaigns), and put in place stricter rules to prevent personal use of campaign funds.

This is an outrageous abuse of power by the Supreme Court that deprives black and brown voters of political power across the nation. It must be the goal of a future congress to undo this decision and restore the core protections of the Voting Rights Act. I will sponsor, vote for, and loudly champion a bill to undo the damage of the Callais decision. Every voice deserves to be heard in Congress.

Climate change is a crisis we risk handing over to our children without the tools to fix it. We have the ability, especially in NY-24, to build solar and wind power to reduce or emissions and build not only a clean energy future but an energy independent future for the region and for the United States. I will champion any bill that helps us both make our power grid cleaner and stronger.

US participation in these organizations is necessary for global stability and security. We should absolutely join the International Criminal Court, and remain a part of NATO and the United Nations. I am loudly and proudly anti-war, and the way we can best achieve peace is by loudly advocating for peaceful resolutions when we meet with other nations, and that we join in the rest of the world in arresting and punishing war criminals.

Healthcare and Affordability - Work to protect Medicaid and expand rural health access. Need to move towards universal healthcare. Take steps to reinforce the Affordable Care Act, introduce Medicare for All, and eventually lead to a single-payer system.

Housing is more expensive and is hard to find in rural communities. Seniors want to stay in their homes, but maintaining them is difficult as many are on fixed incomes. Young people cannot afford that first starter home. I will introduce legislation to help Seniors stay in their homes and make needed repairs and make sure good paying jobs are spread out rural areas and young people can have access to training.

Farmers are facing obstacles to hold onto their farms. Tariffs, fertilizer, trade agreements, lack of a Farm Bill, decline in foreign and domestic markets, lack of research funding, and deportations. I will advocate for our farms and USDA to get support we once had to ensure we have a healthy food supply and reform H2A visas.

In 2008, I worked with Ralph Nader's group Public Citizen and raised funds to fight Citizens United before it came into being in 2010. Citizens United needs to be overturned via a Constitutional Amendment. However, this would be very difficult and take some time.

In the interim, we can pass laws in Congress to be able to follow the dark money and expose who donates to these Super PACs. I will support legislation that will close disclosure loopholes and expose who those donors are and what their interests are.

I do not take corporate PAC money. My campaign financing comes from grassroots supporters. Our government would be better served by elections funded by the voters and not the corporate billionaires. I would also like to see a system where matching funds come with small donations and there is a limit to how much a campaign can raise per election cycle. This would allow the people to choose as opposed to corporations.

On 5/12/26, I put out a Press Release pledging to vote in support of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act if elected to Congress because of the recent Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais. Our voter protections under the Voting Rights Act have been significantly weakened and this will only lead to new redistricting fights which we are already seeing. The purpose of this case was to make sure people of color have limited voting rights. We need to restore federal oversight and make sure that discriminatory voting practices are non-existent.

We need fair elections, competitive districts, and a government that answers to the people. We need to restore confidence in our democratic institutions. This is about fairness, accountability, and protecting the voice of every American and their single vote. Our democracy only works when people trust that their vote matters.

I believe that we are reaching the tipping point or critical mass of climate change. I have always been a supporter of Vice President Al Gore and the NRDC since they sounded the alarm in the 1980s. His documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth" made a huge impact on me regarding our use of fossil fuels.

Today, I am a proponent of wind, solar, hydropower, and geothermal. However, I am not for nuclear energy because of the possible catastrophic events that can occur and the waste buildup and disposal issues associated with it.

The administration has taken away all incentives for renewable energy. I will fight back to make sure those incentives are returned and even more. Not only for companies in this renewable energy field, but for the consumers. Every homeowner should be able to get a rebate on any renewable energy installation for their home or business. They should not have to wait years to see the results, but should be given a discount or check up front if they move towards that end.

We used to be the leader in these international entities, but the current administration has actively seen to it that the U.S. is now no longer the leader or even has the respect of these institutions.

Our current standing in NATO is an embarrassment. As a result, nationalism is prevalent in this country and throughout Europe. We have forgotten the lessons of WWII and now emulate the ideology of Hitler. This move towards tyranny has not made us stronger, but has weakened our presence in the world. We act like the biggest bully in the schoolyard with no sense of common decency and abiding by the rule of law.

This is a disaster made by one man and one man only - our own President. It is up to Congress to find its backbone and stand up to the executive branch and curtail its authoritarian inclinations. Congress has the power to exercise its checks and balances on the executive branch. As a representative, I will fight for our adherence to international law and supporting NATO.