DCCC Takes Sides In Empire State Primary

Taking sides in a competitive primary, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added Iraq war veteran Jonathan Powers to its “Red-to-Blue” list of top Democratic recruits today.

Powers, running to succeed retiring Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-N.Y.), is facing a self-funded primary challenger in businessman Jack Davis, who was the Democratic nominee the last two election cycles.

Davis received much publicity last week after he won a key Supreme Court ruling that declared the “Millionaire’s Amendment” – an election law limiting the financial advantage of wealthy candidates – unconstitutional. Davis has already indicated that he will be pouring a significant amount of money into the primary, and he already has high name identification from his two previous runs. He held Reynolds to 52 percent of the vote in 2006.

But the New York Democratic establishment has been squarely behind Powers. Powers has won the endorsement of all seven Democratic county chairs, and the New York AFL-CIO endorsed him last Friday. In addition, most Democratic members in the New York delegation have either donated to Powers’ campaign or campaigned with him.

“Jon Powers will bring the leadership skills he used in Iraq to the issues facing western New York – bringing good paying jobs to the district and fighting to reduce gas prices for middle class families,” said DCCC chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in a statement. “The Red to Blue Program will give Jon the financial and structural edge to be even more competitive.”
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