Editor's Corner

Challengers need to spice up insipid races

As the month of July melts into the sunset, August begins to turn up the heat when it comes to this campaign season. In both Pennsylvania and New York, it appears incumbents are in complete control with the election 95 days away.

Republican gubernatorial challenger Bruce Blakeman is hoping that is not the case in the Empire State. Earlier this week, a poll released found 47% of those surveyed said they'd back Gov. Kathy Hochul, compared to 43% who supported the current Nassau County executive, with 10% of registered voters undecided. That poll, conducted by a pro-Blakeman super PAC found, brought some life to an otherwise dismal and stumbling effort.

"This latest poll confirms what we have consistently seen over the last two months in various polls, both statewide and in congressional districts, that have me neck and neck with Kathy Hochul," he said. "We are poised for a great victory which will cut taxes, reduce electric bills, and make for safer communities, which people are craving but not getting from the current governor."

A Blakeman victory would salvage some optimism for turning the politics of Albany in a different direction. But before the anti-Hochul crowd gets too optimistic, they need to understand that their candidate is hollow on solutions.

Sound bites focus on tax cuts and a pledge to lower skyrocketing energy costs. Both are appealing ideas that lack any real specifics for getting it done.

In the contest for state comptroller, longtime incumbent Thomas DiNapoli had a strong showing in the Democratic primary in June. His challenger, Republican Joseph Hernandez, says he aims "to restore discipline, independence, and accountability to an office that directly impacts every taxpayer and public worker."

On the federal level, U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy in District 23 is being challenged by Democrat Aaron Gies who considers health care and more funding for education as his priorities. "I've spent my life serving communities -- as a teacher, nonprofit leader, and person of faith," Gies says on his campaign website. "I've waited tables. I've balanced books for a Main Street business. I've worked on a nonprofit farm. I know what families carry. I know what rising costs do. ... I'm running for Congress to refocus government on what really matters to Western New Yorkers: making a good life affordable for everyone."

Gies said this week he will be doing a town hall event at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Prendergast Library in Jamestown.

For his part, Langworthy is a strong President Donald Trump supporter and has been seen -- by those who oppose his politics -- as someone who avoids his constituents by refusing to hold town hall meetings. In his two previous elections, Langworthy has handily defeated previous candidates by more than 29% each time.

In the area state races, incumbent Sen. George Borrello is facing opposition from Democratic candidate Victoria Guite-Williams in District 57. Since taking the seat in 2019, Borrello has been as popular as fireworks on the Fourth of July with his constituents. He did not face a challenge two years ago.

Guite-Williams says the lack of a challenger is a key reason she is in the race and notes on her website she believes "the housing instability, health care failures, and erosion of public trust are not accidental, but the result of deliberate policy choices that can and should be corrected."

Assemblyman Andrew Molitor, who represents District 150 as a Republican, is facing off against Tom Carle, former Chautauqua County legislator. Carle is undaunted by previous failed campaigns against powerhouses Langworthy in the 2024 race for Congress and PJ Wendel in the 2025 race for county executive.

In his two years of service, Molitor keeps gaining confidence while in the position and truly loves the interaction with the community. Carle, who has a conservative background from leading private-sector, strongly believes in keeping costs down. However, the party backing him is notorious for overspending in Albany.

Over the border, Gov. Josh Shapiro is seen as a rising star in the Democratic party. In the fairly bipartisan Pennsylvania, the incumbent holds a 13-point lead in a recent Quinnipiac poll over Stacy Garrity, the Republican candidate.

Similar to New York, the local Warren County federal and state races are leaning toward the Republicans. U.S. Rep. Glenn "G.T." Thompson is seeking his 10th Congressional term for the 15th District. He is facing former intelligence and Foreign Service officer Ray Bilger who resides in State College.

State Rep. Kathy Rapp, who has served since Dec. 1, 2004, is facing a competition for re-election. A recent poll done by Times Observer correspondent Jeff Haight found plenty of disappointment with the incumbent, while others sang her praises. Her opponent is Destiny Howard who grew up in Ellington, but has lived in Warren for the past seven years.

Mid-term elections have been in the national spotlight in recent months. On a local level, there does not seem to be a vocal dissatisfaction with the incumbents at the moment.

Over the next three months, however, that sentiment can always change for the voters.

John D'Agostino is the editor for The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-487-1111, ext. 253.