Democratic Candidates for Congress Begin Circulating Petitions, Seeking Signatures on Tuesday, March 6

The Democratic candidates who want to run against Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning, NY 23) in November can start circulating nominating petitions Tuesday, March 6.

So far at least nine individuals have announced they would be seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for the 2018 General Election, with six of those individuals appearing in Jamestown last week to participate in Meet the Candidates forums on two separate occasions.

Those seeking the Democratic nomination include Linda Andrei (Ithaca), Max Della Pia (Owego), Rick Gallant (Corning), Ian Golden (Ithaca), Tracy Mitrano (Penn Yan), and Eddie Sundquist (Jamestown).  In addition Charles Whalen, James Clasby and John Hertzler have also said they would seek the party’s endorsement.

Candidates have to get at least 1,250 signatures from registered party members living within the district to get on the ballot. If a party member has signed a petition for a candidate, they are not allowed to sign the petition of another candidate. If that does take place, the signature with the the earlier date will count.

The dates to file designating petitions are April 9 to April 12.

If at least two of the candidates get the required number of signatures – which will most likely take place –  then a district-wide primary election will have to take place on Tuesday, June 26 to determine the party’s candidate.

Petitions can also be circulated for the other minor parties as well, such as the Working Families party, the Green Party, The Women’s Equality Party, the Independence Party, and the Conservative Party. For each of those parties, signatures from at least 5 percent of the district’s registered party enrollment total must be collected in order to have a name appear on the ballot.

Rep. Reed is seeking reelection to a fifth term in Congress and is not being challenged by any other Republican Party member.

The 23rd Congressional District covers 11 different counties and stretches from Chautauqua County in the west to Tompkins County in the east.