NY-22 Minute: Claudia Tenney and George Phillips make final pitch in GOP primary By Luke Perry
Today’s NY-22 Republican primary will determine who will challenge Rep. Anthony Brindisi this November. Claudia Tenney has emphasized continuity, seeking to resume her unwavering support for President Trump and his policies, while George Phillips has presented himself as a more fiscally conservative alternative to the controversies that surrounded Tenney in her two years in Congress.
Phillips believes Tenney has a “poor record” and “didn’t represent her constituency well in Congress.” Tenney defeated Phillips in 2016 in a three-way race that included Steve Wells. Phillips believes the 2020 outcome will be competitive because “anti-Tenney” Republicans voted for Wells.
Phillips said the reaction to his candidacy in the final push is the same as when he began his campaign: “Oh wow, we have an alternative to Claudia Tenney.”
Photo from WKTV
Phillips told Talk of the Town (WUTQ in Utica) that “overall you want the best person for the job.” Phillips touted his experience with economic policy, government, and education. Phillips is a social studies and theology teacher, and a regional director at Reclaim New York.
Phillips believes a “fresh face” is needed. Tenney “has been in it a long time.” People want better representation and are tired of the “controversies” that have followed her. Phillips said that Tenney was unwilling to do town halls while in Congress, and is unwilling to debate him now.
“I can’t tell you how many voters have told me ‘I’m Republican, and if it’s Tenney, I’m definitely voting for Brindisi.’ It’s not that they like Brindisi that much. It’s just that they’re tired of Tenney. They don’t like her style and it’s time for a fresh face. I know I’m the only one can beat him in the fall.”
Phillips thinks the main issue this primary is the meaning of being conservative. Phillips cited endorsements surrounding his “pro-life” position and support for gun rights, which Tenney has “been good on.” Phillips believes that fiscal issues are her major weakness.
Philips criticized Tenney’s votes in support of “transgender military surgeries,” “opposing welfare to work,” joining the House Climate Change Caucus, and “making the Department of Defense study climate change.”
“The economy is paramount” in light of COVID-19. There is no limit “to what free men, free women, and free markets can accomplish.”
Photo from WKTV
When asked about Phillips’ comments, Tenney said “almost everything he says” is “inaccurate.” For instance, “we actually passed legislation that would strengthen welfare to work,” Tenney said, and “would also strengthen so called ‘food stamps SNAP benefits,’ to make sure people who were not getting those benefits, who were truly needy, were getting it, and the system wasn’t getting scammed.”
Tenney emphasized working closely with President Trump, Vice-President Pence, Ivanka Trump, and Kellyanne Conway on issues such as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. House Republicans in Central New York were split on the legislation. Tenney and Rep. Katko (NY-24) voted for it. Rep. Stefanik (NY-21) and John Faso (NY-19) voted against. The “tax cut has made a huge difference,” Tenney said.
“The president actually called a friend of mine and said ‘can you get Claudia to run again? We really need her. We need her to win because so far we don’t have anyone in this race that can win this seat and we need Claudia to come back. ”
Tenney touted her endorsements from Republican leadership, including President Trump, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and regional House Republicans, including Reps. Stefanik and Lee Zeldin (NY-1).
Tenney pointed to her authorship of op-eds in differentiating herself from Phillips. “I haven’t seen anything by George Phillips lately in the Wall Street Journal or other major publications of which I’ve had many articles published on many topics, China, the tax cuts,” Tenney said.
Tenney is running to reclaim the seat “because we had such a successful term in the 115th Congress between the tax cuts, the regulations, bringing historic resources to Rome lab, the public health solutions that we came up.”
There are “really big issues” facing the country and world, Tenney said. (More on candidate stances on the issues here.) “We need someone with the gravitas, and the substance and the courage and to take tough fights, to get up there and do it,” Tenney explained. “I think that’s the reason I’m running because I don’t see anyone standing up for anything.”
Luke Perry (@PolSciLukePerry) is Professor of Government at Utica College
